Manny Pacquiao victorious over Conor McGregor's agency as California court overturns breach of contract verdict
Manny Pacquiao has seemingly achieved a major victory over Conor McGregor's agency in their long-running legal battle. Pacquiao had been sued by Paradigm Sports, the sports management company that manages McGregor.
Following Manny Pacquiao's signing with Paradigm Sports in February 2020, speculation abounded that the long-awaited McGregor-Pacquiao boxing matchup could materialize soon. McGregor is believed to own stakes in Paradigm.
However, Audie Attar sued Pacquiao for breach of contract in 2021, emphasizing that the boxer ought to return the $3.3 million advance payment they'd given him. Pacquiao had signed a two-fight deal with Paradigm to represent him in fight negotiations.
While Paradigm was negotiating for a fight between him and Mikey Garcia, 'PacMan' agreed to fight Errol Spence Jr. Attar attempted to acquire an injunction to stop Pacquiao from competing against Spence but didn't receive it.
Spence later withdrew from the August 2021 clash due to an eye injury and was replaced by Yordenis Ugas, who defeated Pacquiao via unanimous decision. The Filipino boxing icon subsequently retired from professional boxing but has engaged in a legal dispute with Paradigm since 2021.
In addition, Pacquiao has competed in exhibition boxing matches in the ensuing years.
Moreover, in May 2023, a California jury gave a 9-3 verdict in favor of Paradigm Sports. The company had initially demanded compensation of over $20 million from Pacquiao. However, they were ultimately deemed eligible to receive the $3.3 million they'd paid him and $1.8 million in damages - $5.1 million overall.
Paradigm added that he owed them a 10 percent interest over the three-year period and $2 million worth of legal fees. Ergo, the belief was that Pacquiao could end up paying Paradigm over $8 million courtesy of the jury's verdict.
But in a verdict issued on Aug. 12, 2024, Judge Walter P. Schwarm of the Superior Court of California overturned the 2023 verdict, declaring the Paradigm-Pacquiao contract "void due to illegality."
For context, Pacquiao's legal team had filed a motion in 2023 questioning Paradigm's improper managerial license under California law. The judge's decision this year indicated that, per Attar's testimony, neither Attar nor anyone else at Paradigm had a manager's license for boxers in 2019, 2020, and 2021 in the U.S. state of California.
Per the CSAC (California State Athletic Commission), Attar was licensed as a manager from April 14, 2016, to April 30, 2017, but he hadn't gone through the annual renewal process thereafter.
MMA Fighting reported that, per court documents, the judge has ruled that "the contract is illegal" and "unenforceable."
Manny Pacquiao's attorney on win over Conor McGregor's agency
The combat sports community has been abuzz with discussions regarding Manny Pacquiao's potential return to professional boxing.
Speaking to Boxing Scene this past February, Pacquiao's agent and advisor Sean Gibbons suggested that 'PacMan' would be interested in competing in big fights, including a possible matchup against Conor McGregor in Saudi Arabia.
Manny Pacquiao's most recent fight was an exhibition boxing match against Rukiya Anpo at Super RIZIN 3 in July 2024. He hasn't competed in professional boxing since August 2021.
After the court verdict earlier this month, Pacquiao's attorney Jason Aniel expressed the legal team and Pacquiao's gratitude toward the court for its time and efforts in the case.
Speaking to The Philippine Star, Aniel noted that the 45-year-old boxing icon was thankful to his fans for supporting him in the lengthy legal battle. The attorney reiterated that the court found that Paradigm couldn't legally enforce the contract on Manny Pacquiao, as the management company "was not properly licensed."