Manny Pacquiao threatens Top Rank, Bob Arum with legal action over ‘unpaid fees’ from Lucas Matthysse fight
Filipino icon claims he has not received broadcast fees worth reported US$1.7 million from former promoters before social media posts removed
Manny Pacquiao has appeared to suggest he is taking legal action against his former promoter Bob Arum and Top Rank, according to posts on his social media accounts.
The Filipino boxing legend announced the decision in an Instagram post on Monday, which he also posted as a snapshot on Twitter, claiming he has not received his broadcast fees for the bout, reportedly worth around US$1.7 million at 85 per cent of the revenue for the US rights.
“Congratulations and good luck to @TRboxing and @ESPN on your 7-year partnership agreement. I know both of you have been very busy finalising the deal,” Pacquiao wrote in a caption alongside an image of him fighting Lucas Matthysse.
“However, I have not received the US rights payment for my July 15 fight against Lucas Matthysse that was broadcast on ESPN plus.
“Therefore, I am initiating legal proceedings against Top Rank and all other parties based on the non-payment and attempt to restrict my future rights.”
However, the caption from the Instagram post was later removed, and the tweet deleted.
Pacquiao won the WBA regular welterweight title from Argentine Matthysse with an emphatic seventh-round knockout in Kuala Lumpur.
The fight was staged by Pacquiao’s MP Promotions and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, who handle Matthysse.
It was Pacquiao’s first fight in more than 10 years that was not under Top Rank, though Arum’s promotion, along with ESPN, were still involved in broadcasting the bout in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico.
