Manny Pacquiao Supporters Want Revenge: Over 1,500 Sign Petition

Kevin RileyJan 4, 2010

Manny Pacquiao supporters are circulating an online petition asking that AT&T Inc. and other prospective sponsors "discontinue and forgo all endorsement relationships" with Floyd Mayweather Jr. As of Monday morning, at least 1,500 signatures had been collected.

The petition comes after Mayweather Jr. and his camp decided to engage in an all-out smear campaign against the Filipino boxing champion and the Philippines, accusing him of cheating the sport by using performance enhancing drugs and accusing his country of being the producers of the best performance enhancing drugs.

Pacquiao's response to these claims:

"I maintain and assure everyone that I have not used any form or kind of steroids and that my way to the top is a result of hard work, hard work, hard work and a lot of blood spilled from my past battles in the ring, not outside of it. I have no idea what steroids look like and my fear in God has kept me safe and victorious through all these years."

Pacquiao has also stated, "Liars go to hell."

Stop Endorsing Floyd Mayweather Jr. Petition

To: Randall L. Stephenson, Chairman and CEO, AT&T Inc., And All Prospective Floyd Mayweather Jr. Endorsers

December 28, 2009

Randall L. Stephenson
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
AT&T Incorporated
208 South Akard St.
Dallas, TX. 75202-4206

Dear Mr. Stephenson and To Whom It May Concern:

We are writing to express the deep concerns we have with one of your representatives, Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mr. Mayweather as you know is a professional boxer. He has a tentatively scheduled bout on March 13th, 2010 with Manny Pacquiao, another professional boxer from the Philippines.

For reasons unbeknownst to us, Mr. Mayweather, his father, Floyd Mayweather Sr., his adviser, Leonard Ellerbe and his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions have decided to engage in a smear campaign against Mr. Pacquiao. Their efforts have included press releases, interviews and internet blogs. And their unfounded, unwarranted and unjustified accusations have all centered around the illegal use of steroids, human growth hormones & other chemicals.

Mr. Pacquiao has never before been accused of using the aforementioned products and he has passed every drug test that he has ever been administered throughout the course of his career. Yet this did not stop Mr. Mayweather and his associates from engaging in cowardly, malicious and defaming tactics against him.

Up until this point, Mr. Pacquiao has enjoyed the fruits of a pristine image everywhere he has gone throughout the Philippines and the world. An image which he established through hard work and dedication to his God, his Country and his fans. He will no longer be able to enjoy the fruits of his hard-earned image thanks to Mr. Mayweather and his associates.

These claims which bring into question Mr. Pacquiao's character, honesty and integrity become even more damaging when you take into account the fact he is currently seeking public office in his native Philippines.

In response to their actions, Mr. Pacquiao has decided to immediately file a defamation suit against Mr. Mayweather and his associates.

And in response to those same actions, we are now formally asking you to discontinue and forgo all endorsement relationships, and future endorsement relationships, with Mr. Mayweather and his associates.

We believe there is no place in the world of sport, nor the world in general for this type of behavior. And we earnestly hope that you will also find there is no place for this type of behavior in your upstanding organization as well.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned