According to a report by Telegraph.co.uk’s Gareth Davies, Roach filed the libel rap against the former International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior welterweight champion several weeks ago for implying that Pacquiao and Khan might be using performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).
“Amir and Manny work with me and my trainers. I know what goes on in my gym and I've had enough of this rubbish. That's why we've issued a libel suit,” said Roach.
Malignaggi is set to battle Khan in New York City on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) for the World Boxing Association (WBA) junior welterweight title.
The boxers nearly came to blows during the official weigh-in on Friday (Saturday in Manila) when tension between the fighters and their entourages sparked a hysterical outbreak of pushing and shoving that security officers had to break up.
"Paulie brought it up that Amir might be on something because he trains with us. My guys are clean. It's an insult because the success of my fighters is down to hard work," said Roach.
Malignaggi has repeatedly been harping about Pacquiao possibly taking drugs since he has been able to beat bigger opponents like Miguel Cotto and Oscar de la Hoya.
“I'm not a complete idiot that just accuses people of something without having my reasons to believe what it is I'm saying,” Malignaggi said in an earlier report.
Malignaggi sided with Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s insinuations that PEDs were the reason for Pacquiao’s recent successes against bigger fighters.
Mayweather’s camp had demanded that the Filipino undergo Olympic-style blood testing before their supposed super fight in March. This led to the collapse of negotiations between the two boxers.
When pressed to specify his reasons for the PED claim, Malignaggi only cited Pacquiao’s “sheer size”.
“All the lean muscle he's put on in such a short amount of time, the size of his head. And how does a guy just jump from featherweight and just walking through welterweight killer like [Miguel] Cotto? It just doesn't make any sense,” he said.
Updated as of 05/16/2010 2:09 AM
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