The camp of Manny Pacquiao, still hurting from all the allegations that the Filipino fighter is using performance-enhancing drugs, said on Friday that Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum has reached out to American Paulie Malignaggi, who is being eyed to replace Floyd Mayweather in a fight set for March 13, 2010.
''Bob and I spoke and Paulie Malignaggi is being looked at as a possible opponent,'' said Pacquiao lawyer Franklin Gacal yesterday from General Santos City.
Arum has given up hope for the Pacquiao-Mayweather slugfest after Mayweather and Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) continued to issue statements in the media alleging that Pacquiao is using banned substances in preparation for his fights.
Malignaggi, who sports a 27-3-0 win-loss-draw record with five knockouts, is coming off a points win over rugged Juan Diaz two weeks ago and is willing to come in as a replacement for Mayweather.
Pacquiao said he is willing to undergo a drug test but not the one being imposed by Mayweather because ''it would weaken him going into the final days leading up to the fight.''
Malignaggi's losses were dealt by Miguel Cotto, Ricky Hatton, and Diaz (in their first fight).
Meanwhile, there are reports circulating that Pacquiao is preparing a lawsuit against Mayweather and GBP in relation with the drugs issue although Gacal said he had no idea about it.
''I don't know. Manny hasn't talked to me about it,'' Gacal said. ''I have no idea.''
The Los Angeles Times has reported that Pacquiao has decided to file a case with the help of Arum ''because I have had people coming over to me now asking if I really take performance-enhancing drugs and I have cheated my way into becoming the No. 1 boxer in the world.''
Pacquiao said in a written statement released to media outlets that he had never used banned substances and that his success is a result of hard work.
Source: Yahoo News
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