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Pacquiao vows to sue Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao says he is planning to file a defamation lawsuit against Floyd Mayweather Jr., the fighter's father, and Golden Boy Promotions.

Manny Pacquiao (left) says his reputation has been tarnished by Floyd Mayweather Jr. (right).
Manny Pacquiao (left) says his reputation has been tarnished by Floyd Mayweather Jr. (right).Read morePhotos: Associated Press

Manny Pacquiao

says he is planning to file a defamation lawsuit against

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

, the fighter's father, and Golden Boy Promotions.

In a statement posted yesterday on his Web site, Pacquiao claims that his character has been damaged and tarnished by accusations he says are untrue.

"Enough is enough," Pacquiao said in the statement. "These people, Mayweather Sr., Jr., and Golden Boy Promotions, think it is a joke and a right to accuse someone wrongly of using steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs. I have tried to just brush it off as a mere pre-fight ploy but I think they have gone overboard."

The proposed megafight between Pacquiao and Mayweather is in danger because the sides have failed to find a compromise to a dispute over blood testing. Promoter Bob Arum declared the bout dead Thursday.

Arum had set a Thursday deadline for an agreement on testing, the only issue not resolved for the planned March 13 fight. But with the Mayweather camp still insisting on using the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency to conduct the tests, Arum said there wasn't much left to discuss.

At the core of the dispute is the insistence of the Mayweather camp of using Olympic-style drug testing for the fight, even though both fighters have never been linked to any performance-enhancing substances. Under Nevada regulations, boxers are generally only tested just before the fight and in the dressing room afterward, and only urine is given.

Mayweather's camp wants blood tests that can find things urine tests can't, such as use of human growth hormone, and they want them done by USADA from the time the fight is signed until the fight is held. Pacquiao's side has agreed to both urine and blood testing, but doesn't want testing immediately before the fight because Pacquiao believes giving blood so soon before a fight will weaken him.

Pacquiao's Web site states that Mayweather's camp is "asking too many unrealistic and unprecedented items on the bargaining table, including that of an Olympic-style drug testing."

"I maintain and assure everyone that I have not used any form or kind of steroids and that my way to the top is a result of hard work, hard work, hard work and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles in the ring, not outside of it," Pacquiao's statement said. "I have no idea what steroids look like, and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years.

"Now, I say to Floyd Mayweather Jr., don't be a coward, and face me in the ring, mano-a-mano, and shut your big, pretty mouth, so we can show the world who is the true king of the ring."

Baseball

* Reliever Fernando Rodney signed a 2-year, $11 million deal with the Angels. He spent his first seven major league seasons with the Detroit Tigers, including the last 2 years as their closer.

* Righthander Justin Duchscherer reached a preliminary agreement on a 1-year contract to remain with Oakland.

* Reliever Matt Capps reached a preliminary agreement on a $3.5 million, 1-year contract with Washington.

* Stan Benjamin, a Houston Astros scout for nearly 40 years, died at 95 in Massachusetts.

Sport Stops

* Emporia, Kansas, honored hometown son Clint Bowyer by naming a street after the NASCAR driver. He has donated thousands of dollars to the town.

* Alicia Molik, two-time junior Grand Slam winner Bernard Tomic and Melbourne teenager Olivia Rogowska have wild cards into next month's Australian Open. *