Nike drops Pacquiao over gay slur; fight with Bradley at risk

By Nick Giongco and AFP US sports equipment giant Nike on Wednesday axed Manny Pacquiao, while prospective sponsors for his April 9 fight with Tim Bradley are withdrawing after he described gay couples as “worse than animals.” A Nike statement said the company had severed its ties with Pacquiao, who triggered a firestorm of controversy with his comments to a Filipino broadcaster earlier this week. Pacquiao “We find Manny Pacquiao’s comments abhorrent,” a Nike statement said. “Nike strongly opposes discrimination of any kind and has a long history of supporting and standing up for the rights of the LGBT community… we no longer have a relationship with Manny Pacquiao.” Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum revealed yesterday that Top Rank prospective sponsors are withdrawing from the April 9 fight between Pacquiao and Bradley. “They’re pulling out,” a problematic-sounding Arum told the Manila Bulletin yesterday in an interview from the US. [...]