LAS VEGAS - Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao have agreed to settle a defamation case in Las Vegas, according to a lawyer involved in the case, a move that avoids trial and clears a key hurdle to a long-awaited bout between two top fighters who've traded verbal jabs for years but have never met in the ring.
Terms of the deal are confidential, Malcolm LaVergne, a lawyer representing Floyd Mayweather Jr's father in the case, told The Associated Press yesterday.
LaVergne said the various parties to the case have signed documents to be filed under seal asking US District Judge Larry Hicks to dismiss the case. He said others involved in the case were preparing a public statement.
"The matter has been resolved," LaVergne said. "Any alleged terms of the resolution would be strictly confidential. Floyd Mayweather Sr is very happy that this lengthy case has finally come to a conclusion."
The judge last week ordered Floyd Mayweather Jr to pay about $US114,000 ($F201,767) in legal fees and court costs for avoiding questioning under oath from Pacquiao's lawyers in the case.
Lawyers for Pacquiao earlier lost a bid to end the lawsuit with a more severe sanction — a default judgment for Pacquiao.
LaVergne said yesterday he had no information about whether the court settlement means Mayweather and Pacquiao will meet in the ring.