Pacquiao (right) faces Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas in December

The World Boxing Council has threatened to strip Manny Pacquiao of his WBC lightweight title unless he pays them$30,000 (�19,000) within 15 days.

WBC president Jose Sulaiman claims the Filipino fighter owes them the money in sanctioning fees.

He said: "If Pacquiao doesn't want to do it, he goes his way and we go ours. He is a friend, but I feel bad because of the way we have been treated."

Pacquiao's lawyer said if there was a legitimate shortfall, it would be paid.

However, the lawyer also stressed they had not received any formal request from the WBC for payment of fees.

The WBC is also insisting Pacquiao pays $100,000 (�63,000) within 15 days of his next fight, a non-title affair against Oscar De Le Hoya on 6 December, or face the same punishment.

Sulaiman added: "Pacquiao believes he is the ruler of the organisation and that is not going to happen.

"He became famous fighting WBC Champions like Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales and now he's trying to kick us in the back and send us home.

"But the phone is there and the door is open."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version