Make sure your manager’s license is filed, paid for, and up to date, kids. Otherwise you too could find yourself out several million dollars in a failed deal with a boxing legend.
That’s what’s happened in the case of Conor McGregor’s Paradigm Sports Management company and Manny Pacquiao, who have been embroiled in a bitter lawsuit since 2020. Paradigm paid Pacquiao a $3.3 million dollar advance when they signed the aging boxer to a deal, only for “Pac-Man” to keep the money, walk away from the deal, and continue organizing his own fights.
An initial court decision went Paradigm’s way to the tune of $5 million, but a more recent filing on August 12th from State of California Superior Court judge Walter Schwarm reversed that, dubbing the deal ‘illegal.’
The ruling hinged on Paradigm manager Audie Attar not having a manager’s license in the state of California during a key period between 2019 and 2021. Whoops.
“The court finds for Mr. Pacquiao on the declaratory relief cause of action and declares the contract void due to illegality,” the court decision read.
“This decision negates the jury’s findings back in May of 2023,” Pacquiao’s lawyer Jason Aniel wrote in a statement (via the Philadelphia Star). “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 has fought three times since the lawsuit was brought against him: he suffered a decision loss boxing Yordenis Ugas in November 2021, and fought two exhibition bouts in South Korea and Japan respectively. His most recent bout, a custom rules affair against kickboxer Rukiya Anpo, saw Manny get picked apart by his much larger opponent at Super Rizin 3. Due to the specific ruleset, the bout was declared a draw.
What the future holds for Pacquiao is uncertain, but Paradigm part-owner Conor McGregor has expressed interest in fighting the Filipino boxer in Saudi Arabia, and so has Manny’s (legal) management team. So perhaps we could get one more round of Pacquiao vs. Paradigm, sorted out in the ring instead of a courtroom.
But first McGregor needs to get two more fights out of the UFC, fights the promotion is in no rush to deliver.
Bump
Did Pacman at least have to pay the 3 million back?
Cliffs?
No
Judge overturns verdict, rules for Manny Pacquiao against agency that also represents Conor McGregor
Manny Pacquiao signed with Paradigm Sports Management back in early 2020, with the expectation that “Pac Man” would (eventually) fight UFC star Conor McGregor. But then “Notorious” got knocked unconscious by Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 and his big-money boxing match fell apart.
In addition, Pacquiao kept his signing bonus and moved on to greener pastures.
McGregor’s team tried to sue the hall-of-fame pugilist and appeared to have the upper hand; however, it was later revealed that Paradigm’s Audi Attar didn’t hold a valid promoter’s license at the time the deal was signed, making their contract “illegal.”
Now it appears they’ll appeal to a higher court.
“I don’t know,” Pacquiao said when asked if his McGregor fight was dead (via Covers.com). “We have a problem with his manager, they don’t listen to me. I told them the situation, that I’ve been in boxing for many, many years. I told him I’m a nice person, I’m fair like that, but they don’t listen. They don’t believe me. I can’t tell you right now, because we still have the cases that they’re appealing to the higher court.”
Whether or not “Pac Man” has anything left in the tank at age 46 remains to be seen. The former eight-division world champion, who briefly retired in late 2021, returns to the “sweet science” to battle reigning WBC welterweight titleholder Mario Barrios on July 19 in Las Vegas, streaming on Prime.