ON THE WARPATH

By Gerry Ramos

STRESSING he had enough of being falsely suspected of using performance-enhancing drugs, Manny Pacquiao announced on Christmas Day the filing of a lawsuit against Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his father, Floyd Sr., along with Golden Boy Promotions.

In a statement from Saranggani, Davao Del Sur, where he is spending the holidays, the 31-year old Pacquiao said the lawsuit is intended to clear out his name, which he believed was tarnished and damaged by the false accusations being floated by the Mayweathers and Golden Boy, the lead promotion representing Floyd Jr. in his aborted March 13 fight with the Filipino champion.

“Enough is enough. These people, Mayweather Sr., Jr., and Golden Boy Promotions, think it is a joke and a right to accuse someone wrongly of using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard,” said Pacquiao.

“I have instructed my promoter, Bob Arum, head of Top Rank Inc., to help me out in the filing of the case as soon as possible because I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and I have cheated my way into becoming the No. 1 boxer in the world,” he added.

Floyd Jr. and Golden Boy Promotions floated the idea Pacquiao is into performance-enhancing drug following his refusal to submit himself into a random, Olympic-style drug testing to be administered by the US Anti-Doping Agency.

Pacquiao agreed to undergo blood-testing procedure, but to be handled by an outside agency involved with other professional sports such as the National Basketball Association, the National Football League and the major league.

The dispute in blood testing led to the cancellation of the fight that is expected to generate around $200 million in earnings.

Floyd Sr. has accused Pacquiao of taking illegal drugs since he beat Ricky Hatton in just two rounds during their junior welterweight title fight last May. The elder Mayweather serves as Hatton’s chief trainer.

Pacquiao said libel, slander and defamation suits will be filed against the involved personalities.

The current pound-for-pound king stressed he’s not into any kind of drug use.

“I maintain and assure everyone that I have not used any form or kind of steroids and that my way to the top is a result of hard work, hard work, hard work and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles in the ring, not outside of it.

“I have no idea what steroids look like and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years.”

“Now, I say to Floyd Mayweather Jr., don’t be a coward and face me in the ring, mano-a-mano and shut your big, pretty mouth, so we can show the world who is the true king of the ring,” said Pacquiao, who has been contemplating on filing a case against Mayweather Sr. even before the start of his Nov. 14 fight with Miguel Angel Cotto.

“Pretty Boy Floyd, face me instead on March 13 in Las Vegas and not in some talk show forum or in press releases written for you by people who don’t even know me. Face me in a fight where I get to punch back.

“You and your cohorts have accused me of using performance-enhancing drugs. Now, I say, the burden of proof should now come from you, not me,” said Pacquiao, the only seven-time, seven-weight division champion in the history of the sport.