By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(Journal Group Link International)

Manny Pacquiao Adds Status as a New Congressman in his Lawsuit Against De La Hoya, Et Al

C HICAGO (JGLi) – Manny Pacquiao has made his first known sworn declaration as a “professional boxer and Philippines’ Congressman” in court documents where he asked for the amendment of his $5-million defamation into a conspiracy against Golden Boy Promotions’s founder Oscar de la Hoya and CEO Richard Schaefer before the United States District Court of Nevada in Las Vegas.

In a declaration signed in General Santos in the Philippines on May 25 but whose original will be submitted later, Mr. Pacquiao said, “I am a professional boxer and Philippines’ Congressman. I have personal knowledge of the following facts and, if called and sworn as a witness, could and would competently testify thereto;

“Through hard work and dedication, I have achieved success in the sport of boxing.

“Throughout my career, I have taken numerous, random drug tests in various boxing jurisdictions. I have never failed a drug test.

“I have never used any performance-enhancing drug prohibited by the rules of the boxing commission with jurisdiction over my fights.

“I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the state of Nevada that the foregoing is true and correct.”

Nathanielsz’s Declaration

A nother sworn declaration submitted in the same court case was that of Ronald Fredrick William “Ronnie” Nathanielsz, a reporter and columnist of the Manila Standard and www.boxingscene.com and www.philboxing.com, COO of Viva Sports, Inc. and owner of website, www.insidesports.ph.

Nathanielsz said he flew to the United States in September 2009 to cover the Sept. 19, 2009, bout between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez. During the trip, he met with members of the boxing community, including Schaefer, who was promoting the Mayweather-Marquez bout.

During his conversation with Mr. Schaefer, where they discussed the upcoming bout between Mayweather and Marquez, their conversation turned to Pacquiao.

When Nathanielsz told Schaefer that that “Mr. Pacquiao had improved significantly since the fight (of Pacquiao) against Marquez, including knockouts over De la Hoya and Ricky Hatton, Mr. Schaefer, responded: “Ronnie, I am sure Manny is on performance-enhancing drugs.”

Nathanielsz noticed that Schaefer “did not qualify this statement in any way or indicate that he was offering his opinion." He said it gave him the impression that “he (Schaefer) possessed information and facts known to him but not to me.”

When he contacted Top Rank promoter Bob Arum about what Schaefer told him, he told Mr. Arum, “(j)ust between us what Mr. Schaefer said to me and said, if it were necessary, I would sign a declaration to that effect.

“I subsequently learned that Mr. Arum told a reporter at Yahoo! Sports about our conversation. When that reporter called me for comment, I declined because I did not want to do anything that might jeopardize the possibility of a Pacquiao-Mayweather bout.”

In a sworn deposition on May 7, 2010, Mr. Schaefer admitted meeting Nathanielsz at the Golden Boy Promotions boardroom, denying “saying he was sure Mr. Pacquiao was taking performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).”

Mr. Schaefer also testified, “a) I expressed great surprise over a Mr. Pacquiao’s perceived change in physical size and tried to “egg” on Mr. Schaefer; b) I asked Mr. Schaefer if Mr. Pacquiao was taking “something” to which he responded “I don’t know.” c) Mr. Schaefer showed me pictures of Mr. Pacquiao; and d) No one mentioned PEDS during our conversation.”

“No Picture” in Conversation

N athanielsz said, “This is not accurate. As I have described, when the conversation turned to Mr. Pacquiao, Mr. Schaefer stated, “Ronnie, I am sure Manny is on PEDs.”  I do not recall Mr. Schaefer showing me any picture of Mr. Pacquiao.”

In their motion to dismiss the motion to dismiss and the anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) motion, Pacquiao’s lawyers David Marroso and Daniel M Petrocelli also asked the court to amend their defamation complaint into a conspiracy.

Their motion claimed that shortly after Pacquiao beat Oscar de la Hoya and Ricky Hatton, a flurry of suggestions from reporters, commentators and the public led to a call for a match-up between Pacquiao and Mayweather.

To make sure that the match-up happens, Mayweather, Jr., himself, got into the act by asking “boxing promoter Golden Boy Promotions to become involved in the discussions.”

But in so doing, the Golden Boy and the Mayweather Promotions have drawn up a strategy to place Pacquiao in a defensive mode.

Angry and jealous of Pacquiao’s accomplishments, De La Hoya and Schaefer conspired with the Mayweathers (father and son and Uncle Roger) to destroy Pacquiao’s reputation and called into question the legitimacy of Pacquiao’s victories over De La Hoya, Hatton and a host of other boxers in GBP’s stable, his professional achievements and his legacy as one of the greatest fighters of all time.

Acting on behalf of one another and in concert, they agreed to make and ratify false statements about Pacquiao. (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net) # # #