Attorney: Mayweather a no-show at federal defamation deposition

By Dave Toplikar

Friday, June 17, 2011 | 12:29 p.m.

The boxing world would like to see Floyd Mayweather Jr. go up against rival boxing champ Manny Pacquiao in the ring. But it seems even a federal judge couldn't get them together today for a deposition.

Mayweather had been ordered to begin giving testimony Friday morning in a defamation case against him filed by rival fighter Manny Pacquiao — but he didn't show, according to a statement put out by Pacquiao's attorney.

"Mr. Mayweather maliciously leveled false accusations about Mr. Pacquiao. We are anxious to examine him under oath about those statements. He is just dodging his deposition because he is afraid to testify, but he has no right to defy a Court Order," Pacquiao's attorney, Daniel Petrocelli of O'Melveny & Myers, said in a prepared statement.

Petrocelli told The Associated Press he'll seek a default finding that Mayweather defamed Pacquiao with statements accusing Pacquiao of taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Mayweather's lawyers didn't immediately respond to messages.

The two, considered the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, have repeatedly failed to reach terms on what could be the richest bout in boxing history.

Federal magistrate Judge Robert Johnston denied an emergency motion Thursday that would have allowed Mayweather to delay testifying. Mayweather claimed that he needed to concentrate on his upcoming fight against Victor Ortiz, which is scheduled for Sept. 17.

Mayweather also faces felony charges stemming from a domestic argument and misdemeanor harassment and battery charges in separate cases pending in Las Vegas Justice Court.

Mayweather is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. Oct. 20 before Justice of the Peace Melissa Saragosa on the felony charges, and a bench trial at 9 a.m. Sept. 1 before Justice of the Peace Janiece Marshall on the misdemeanor charge.

The misdemeanor battery charge stems from a Nov. 15 confrontation over parking tickets between the undefeated champion and a security guard outside Mayweather's Southern Highlands home.

Mayweather faces a six-month jail sentence and a $1,000 fine if convicted on that charge.

Meanwhile, Mayweather faces more serious charges at his October preliminary hearing: felony coercion, grand larceny and robbery, and misdemeanor domestic battery and harassment after allegedly beating his ex-girlfriend and stealing her cell phone during an argument in front of their three children.

The coercion counts stem from Mayweather allegedly threatening to "beat" two of his children if they called 911 or left the house, according to the complaint.

During the Sept. 9 argument with Harris, Mayweather allegedly grabbed her hair and threw her to the floor, the complaint stated.

He also allegedly threatened to kill Harris and her boyfriend or make her boyfriend "disappear," according to the criminal complaint.

Mayweather is out on bail for the felony charges and could face up to 34 years in state prison if convicted of all charges.

- The Associated Press also contributed to this story.