Edgardo Lopez, the Filipino lawyer who is currently based in California filed the case against respondents members of Team Pacquiao including Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum, Manager/Adviser Michael Koncz and Trainer Freddie Roach.
Lopez filed the case in behalf of the Filipino Lawyers Group (FLG) in California.
In his complaint, Lopez said that Team Pacquiao did not disclose before Pacquiao’s May 2 fight against Mayweather that Pacquiao suffered a severe shoulder injury.
“The attempt to conceal Pacquiao’s injury is evidenced by Koncz’s overact of indicating in the Nevada State Athletic Commission questionnaire that Pacquiao had no shoulder injury,” Lopez said.
Lopez also stated that Team Pacquiao’s concealment of the injury is considered false advertising which is prohibited under the California Deceptive Advertising Practices of the Business and Professions Code section 17200, he said.
“Millions who paid $100 for pay per view felt robbed after learning that Pacquiao essentially fought with one hand when it was revealed that he suffered a rotator cuff injury on his right shoulder during sparring sessions,” Lopez added.
Lopez said Pacquiao is not a respondent in the lawsuit because his group believes that his team or handlers are the culpable party in the case.
Multiple lawsuits have been filed in various courts against Pacquiao and his team for misrepresentation and concealment of the injury.
“Our state has a law that prohibits concealing or misrepresenting material information with consumers and, within the context of boxing, Manny Pacquiao’s shoulder injury is a material fact,” said Bob Duncan, one of the lawyers for the Illinois plaintiffs. “Had our clients known that the underdog had a shoulder injury, they wouldn’t have thought that this fight was worth watching.”
Skip Bayless, host of ESPN‘s “First Take”, says Pacquiao is being unfairly vilified by partisan fans despite his reported shoulder injury.
Bayless maintains that Pacquiao won over Mayweather based on his scorecard, giving the Filipino star seven rounds to Mayweather’s five (115-113).
