Fans Sue Manny Pacquiao For $5M For Not Disclosing Shoulder Injury Before Fight

Two boxing fans have filed a class-action lawsuit against Manny Pacquiao for failing to disclose a shoulder injury before his defeat by Floyd Mayweather.

The 36-year-old will spend up to a year on the sidelines as he prepares to undergo surgery on his torn rotator cuff - an injury that he failed to disclose before his mega-fight with Mayweather on May 2 in Las Vegas.

ESPN reports that Nevada residents Stephane Vanel and Kami Rahbaran are suing on behalf of 'all persons who purchased tickets; purchased the pay-per-view event; or who wagered money on the event'.

Pacquiao's pre-fight questionnaire which shows he did not disclose his shoulder injury

Prior to his bout with Mayweather, Pacquiao signed a pre-fight questionnaire without revealing his injury.

Earlier on Tuesday, Sportsmail obtained a copy of the document and although it shows that Pacquiao was taking several painkillers, the word 'No' is marked next to the question: 'Have you had any injury to your shoulders, elbows, or hands that needed evaluation or examination?

Subsequently, Vanel and Rahbaran are seeking more than $5m (£3.2m) from Pacquiao, his manager Michael Koncz and his promoters Top Rank for fraudulently concealing his injury before the big fight.

'Defendants prior to and at the time the plaintiffs and the class decided to purchase tickets; purchase pay per view showings or wagered on the event the defendants knew and had full knowledge and information that defendant Pacquiao had been seriously injured and was suffering from a torn rotator cuff,' the lawsuit states.

'Defendants further know that such injury would severely affect his performance.'

Pay-per-view revenues could top $300m (£197m) while ticket revenues for the 'Fight of the Century' have been estimated at around $72m (£47m) - even though only roughly 500 tickets went on general sale for the 16,500 capacity MGM Grand venue.

After 12 rounds of action, Pacquiao lost out to Mayweather with the Money Man winning by unanimous points decision but the Las Vegas pair argue it was not a fair contest due to the concealed injury.

'The allegations in this lawsuit are demonstrably false,' attorney Daniel Petrocelli, who represents Top Rank, told ESPN. 'There are documents that explicitly show the medications that Manny was using to treat his shoulder and it was fully disclosed with USADA, which we contracted for this fight.'

'This is a frivolous lawsuit and we are confident it will be dismissed,' he added.

Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, said earlier the injury suffered four weeks before the fight appeared to have sufficiently healed, but Pacquiao's handlers still unsuccessfully sought to get a pain-killing shot in the shoulder in the dressing room before the fight.

Pacquiao said he reinjured the shoulder in the fourth round when he landed his best punches of the night against Mayweather.

Meanwhile, Mayweather said in a text to ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith that he would welcome a rematch with Pacquiao.

'I will fight him in a year after his surgery,' the text read.