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King of the castle: Floyd Mayweather at a press conference - Source: Reuters
Boxer Floyd Mayweather has been ordered by a US judge to pay over $US100,000 in legal costs after the American failed to answer questions from Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao's lawyers in a defamation case.
American federal judge Larry Hicks awarded Pacquiao about $US113,000 in legal fees for his lawyers and $US774 in costs, because of "Mayweather's obviously intentional decision not to appear for his court ordered deposition".
Pacquiao filed a lawsuit three years ago in Las Vegas, saying that Mayweather defamed him by suggesting Pacquiao used performance-enhancing substances. The lawsuit seeks unspecific damages.
"Calling a professional athlete a cheater is the most serious charge one can make," the lawsuit said.
"Accusing an athlete of using performance-enhancing drugs - however baseless and lacking in evidence - is toxic."
Pacquiao and the undefeated Mayweather have never faced each other in the ring and the suit is viewed as one of the road blocks to a much-anticipated mega fight.