MANNY Pacquiao just scored a victory not on the ring, but on the court.
The three-year legal battle of the only eight-time world division champion against Paradigm Sports Management (PSM) finally came to a final decision in favor of the Filipino boxing legend.
Superior Court of the State of California County of Orange Central Justice Center Judge Walter Schwarm issued his final statement of decision last August 12, 2024, declaring the contract void owing to illegality.
According to the final statement signed by judge Schwarm, “The court finds for Mr. Pacquiao on the declaratory relief cause of action and declares the contract void due to illegality.”
PSM is headed by CEO Audie Attar.
The decision was a huge victory for the Pacquiao camp as it meant the ring great could fight again on US soil should he decide to unretire and seek a potential fight against reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios later this year or early in 2025.
Manny Pacquiao’s US lawyer Atty. Jason Aniel said the former senator was glad to hear the court’s final decision and thanked everyone who prayed for the resolution of the legal issue.
“We are pleased that the court made its final decision on the legal issues in Mr. Pacquiao’s favor,” Aniel said. “After hearing Paradigm Sports Management’s objections to the tentative decision, the court decided the contract that Paradigm sought to enforce Mr Pacquiao was illegal as Paradigm was not properly licensed.
Aniel added: “This decision negates the jury’s findings back in May of 2023. We thank the court’s time and effort in this matter. Mr. Pacquiao thanks his fans for their patience while the court fully resolved all the legal issues.”
Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons confirmed the latest documents from Orange County, saying the former senator did nothing wrong and that the Paradigm Sports Management contract was illegal.
“Manny Pacquiao was finally proven innocent. He did nothing wrong as the Superior Court of California has already announced its final statement of decision declaring that the contract offered by Paradigm was void due to illegality,” Gibbons said, referring to the judge’s final decision.
“God bless Manny Pacquiao,” Gibbons added.
The Filipino boxing legend was completely vindicated after winning the final battle on court despite the US jury’s May 2023 ruling ordering him to pay $5.1 million to Paradigm broken as follows -$3.3 million for breach of contract and $1.8 million for breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
But Pacquiao’s legal camp waited for the whole process to be completed, before the same judge found out that Paradigm was not licensed as a manager under the California law and nullified the jury’s earlier verdict and not reverse it as earlier reported.
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