Pacquiao, Mayweather may finally meet in ring after settling lawsuit

Washington: Speculations in the boxing world are rife that ace boxers Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr may fight each other after it was revealed both of them have reached a confidential settlement in their federal defamation case in Las Vegas.

According to reports, Malcolm LaVergne, a lawyer who is representing Mayweather`s father in the case, said on Tuesday that documents have been signed, and will be filed in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas. LaVergne maintained that the terms of the lawsuit settlement are confidential. Pacquiao filed the lawsuit in December 2009 after charging Mayweather of defaming him by suggesting he used performance-enhancing substances. Pacquiao denied the claim and sought unspecified damages from Mayweather. The 33-year-old has a record of 54-4 with two draws and is due to fight Juan Manuel Marquez in December in Las Vegas. The biggest stumbling block for Pacquiao and Mayweather meeting in the ring appears to have been Mayweather`s insistence he get a lion`s share of what many assume will be the biggest payday in boxing history. Recently, however, Pacquaio claimed he is okay with giving Mayweather a larger slice of the earnings, and added that a split of 55-45 is fine with him. Another stumbling block had been Mayweather`s insistence on random blood and urine drug screening throughout the buildup to the fight. Pacquaio now insists he would consent to that, even on the night of the fight. ANI