Arum confident about resolution after Pacquiao lawsuit threat

MANILA, Philippines – Top Rank Inc. chief Bob Arum is aware of Manny Pacquiao’s plan to sue his company over what the boxer claims as non-payment of broadcast fees in his fight with Lucas Matthysse last July.

And the veteran promoter is confident that they can sort things out with his former fighter.

Pacquiao had wrote on Instagram the other day that he seeks to take Top Rank to court for not giving him his share of the revenue for the live streaming of his fight with Matthysse on ESPN plus.

"Congratulations and good luck to Top Rank Boxing and ESPN on your 7-year partnership agreement," Pacquiao wrote in the caption of a photo of him and Matthysse during their fight. 

"I know both of you have been very busy finalizing the deal. However, I have not received the U.S. rights payment for my July 15 fight against Lucas Matthysse that was broadcast on ESPN plus. Therefore, I am initiating legal proceedings against Top Rank and all other parties based on the non-payment and attempt to restrict my future rights. Thank you," he added.

The caption has since been removed from the photo.

In a report by Dan Rafael of ESPN.com, Arum said they are now handling the issue with Pacquiao’s lawyer.

"We read the Instagram post and [Top Rank attorney] Harrison [Whitman] handled it with Pacquiao's attorney, and it looks like everything will be resolved," Arum said.

Pacquiao knocked Matthysse out in the seventh round to become the new WBA welterweight champion in their clash last July 15 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was his first fight as a promotional free agent, with Pacquiao’s MP Promotions staging the event in partnership with Oscar Dela Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions, which represents Matthysse.

Arum’s Top Rank, meanwhile, handled the fight’s broadcast component in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico.