Mayweather to Manny: My mom's home is not my castle

Mayweather to Manny: My mom's home is not my castle
By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA, GMANews.TV
05/27/2010 | 05:56 PM

CHICAGO – Floyd "Money" Mayweather, Jr. owns the home of his mother in Las Vegas, Nevada. But he does not live there on a full time, or even part time, basis. And besides, he has not authorized his mother to receive any court-related documents for him.

The undefeated boxing world champion told Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao that he could not have received the summons that was served on his mother's home in the block of Laguna Vista St. in Las Vegas because he does not live there.

The name of Mayweather's mother was not identified in the court records but a USA Today article identified her as Deborah Sinclair.

Mayweather added that he did not authorize Sinclair to receive the summons on April 2 on his behalf.

Mayweather told Pacman he was willing to overlook the defective service of process on condition that he be given “a reasonable extension" to file an answer to the Amended complaint as he needed time to consult his lawyers. Pacquiao agreed.

Mayweather, thru his lawyer Mark G. Tratos, filed a separate motion to dismiss Pacquiao's $5-million defamation suit.

In his motion to dismiss, Mayweather said Pacquiao failed to allege that he (Mayweather) "has made any actionable defamatory statements about him. Thus, Pacquiao has failed to state a claim upon which relief can be granted."

According to Pacquiao, Mayweather defamed him four times.

First was during an Oct. 29, 2009 interview on Sirius Satellite Radio where Mayweather was asked how his physical development differed from that of Pacquiao. Mayweather replied: "cause we know the Philippines got the best enhancing drugs."

Second, on Dec. 23, 2009, Mayweather issued a statement that he had "great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night."

Third, "in a deliberate effort to undermine Pacquiao’s reputation and professional credibility, Mayweather and his representatives falsely told the New York Daily News that during contract negotiations, Pacquiao had asked what penalties he would face if he tested dirty and if a dirty test could be kept secret."

And fourth, on or about March 4, 2010, at a press briefing for his upcoming fight, Mayweather said that "Pacquiao got the power pellets, yo, and the steroid juice. Pacquiao got the power pellets, you know."

Not defamatory
Mayweather said, none of the "statements are defamatory." Two of the statements "do not even expressly mention Pacquiao in response. In one, the country of the Philippines is mentioned and in the second, the question of fairness, as to the level of competition was raised.

Three of these four statements at worst are statements of opinion, which is never defamatory.

Meanwhile, Mayweather Promotions represented by chief executive offiver Leonard Ellerbe also filed a motion to dismiss Pacquiao’s defamation suit, saying there was no "defamation as a matter of law."

Pacquaio quoted Ellerbe as telling the New York Times on Dec. 23, 2009 that, "this is a simple question. If you have nothing to hide, then why not comply [with even more blood tests]?’"

Ellerbe said, this "[with even more blood test]" is not part of his actual quote. – GMANews.TV