Judge denies Mayweather appeal on Pacquiao case

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Undefeated prizefighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. may have to give testimony to lawyers for rival Manny Pacquiao sooner than he wants after a federal judge in Las Vegas denied his request to push back a deposition in a defamation case.

In a lawsuit first filed in 2009, Pacquiao claims Mayweather and his camp defamed him by saying he used performance-enhancing drugs.

U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks this week denied Mayweather a protective order excusing him from a deposition that was scheduled June 17. Mayweather missed the deposition, and Pacquiao's lawyers said at the time that they planned to seek a default judgment as a result.

Mayweather gave no legal basis for asking to overturn a lower judge's order to hold the deposition, Hicks said in his ruling.

"Mayweather Jr. does not provide any points and authorities in support of his motion other than to state that this court should reverse the magistrate's order," Hicks said.
Hicks did not award Pacquiao a default judgment.

Mayweather's lawyer didn't return messages seeking comment from The Associated Press. In the appeal, he asked to hold a hearing to talk about the boxer's training regimen as he prepares for a Sept. 17 fight against welterweight champion Victor Ortiz.

Pacquiao's lawyers countered that the appeal was irrelevant, in part because they tried several times to set a date that would have worked for Mayweather before his training camp and promotional tour started. Ten previous dates were rejected, Pacquiao's attorneys said.

The suit was originally filed as both sides were negotiating terms on what many believe would be the richest fight in history. The talks fell apart over demands from Mayweather that the fight use more stringent drug testing than what is required under Nevada regulations. Mayweather wanted blood tests up to 14 days before the fight, while Pacquiao claimed he feels weak after drawing blood and would not agree to testing within 24 days.

In New York this week, Mayweather said he has talked about athletes overall using drugs, not specifically Pacquiao.

"I've never said that Manny Pacquiao was taking steroids, I never said he was taking enhancement drugs," Mayweather said.

"It's not just Pacquiao, it's sports, period," Mayweather said. "If you look at sports in the Olympics, they're cheating. Everyone is cheating. And I never once said Manny Pacquiao was cheating, only thing I said was this: Me and any other opponent I face must take the test."

Source: sportsillustrated.cnn.com