Showtime is suing Manny Pacquiao’s promoter, Top Rank Inc., in an attempt to get the promoter to help cover some legal expenses they have incurred.
You may recall that after Pacquiao lost to Floyd Mayweather Jr. last May, the Filipino immediately complained that he was fighting with a shoulder injury. Pacquiao’s injury was cited as a big reason why the fight was such a bust, and it led to some pay-per-view buyers to file lawsuits complaining about the fight.
Showtime would like some money from Top Rank to help pay their legal costs arising from defending themselves in these suits.
The Hollywood Reporter says Showtime filed a lawsuit in New York federal court Wednesday saying that Top Rank breached their indemnification agreement. Showtime accuses Top Rank of refusing to defend and indemnify them in the face of lawsuits from fans complaining about the fight.
They say their legal expenses eclipse $680,000.
THR also reports that Top Rank threatened Showtime last October over fight promotional materials.
The lawsuit and problems between the two sides should not come as a surprise. Promoter Bob Arum’s Top Rank has dealt almost exclusively with HBO for quite some time, while rival Golden Boy Promotions and Floyd Mayweather have worked with Showtime. The networks collaborated to make the blockbuster fight happen, but we’re seeing it’s not without some fallout and frostiness.
