Floyd Mayweather is squaring off against Manny Pacquiao ... and once again it's NOT in the ring -- this time they're fighting over gay marriage.
With the media still buzzing over Manny's controversial condemnation of gay marriage ... Pretty Boy Floyd released a counter-statement on Twitter ... saying, "I stand behind President Obama & support gay marriage."
He added, "I'm an American citizen & I believe people should live their life the way they want."
These two can't agree on anything ... so we gotta ask ...
Manny Pacquiao says he DOES NOT believe gay people should be put to death ... and blames the media for twisting his words about his stance on gay marriage.
Manny has been under fire ever since the National Conservative Examiner published an interview in which Pacquiao says gay marriage is against the will of God.
The Examiner article includes a reference to Leviticus 20:13 -- which says gays "must be put to death." But now the journalist who conducted the interview is admitting Pacquiao NEVER specifically referenced that bible verse.
Pacquiao has now released a statement saying, "I didn’t say that, that’s a lie ... I didn’t know that quote from Leviticus because I haven’t read the Book of Leviticus yet."
He continues, "I’m not against gay people ... I have a relative who is also gay. We can’t help it if they were born that way."
Still, Manny says he's AGAINST same-sex marriage -- "What I’m critical off [sic] are actions that violate the word of God. I only gave out my opinion that same sex marriage is against the law of God.”
Hours after a report surfaced in which Manny Pacquiao allegedly insinuated that all gay people should be put to death ... the boxer rolled over to his L.A. gym ... where he was SWARMED by adoring fans.
Manny ignited a media firestorm yesterday over an interview with National Conservative Examiner. Manny was asked about Obama's stance on gay marriage ... and the report made it seem as though he referenced Leviticus 20:13.
"If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads."
After the report surfaced, Manny was reportedly banned from The Grove in L.A. -- where he was supposed to do an interview with Mario Lopez from "Extra."
Instead, Manny hit the gym ... cheered on by his fans.
A rep for "Extra" tells us the interview has been rescheduled to a different location.
The Manny Pacquaio Foundation is learning the hard way ... used clothes do NOT count as "relief goods" in the Philippines ... this according to a lawsuit obtained by TMZ.
Manny's charity is being sued by a logistics company which claims they were hired by the MPF to ship several containers filled with "relief goods" to Manny's home country back in 2009.
But according to the lawsuit, "The containers were inspected by the Philippines authorities and found to have contained used clothing rather than relief goods and have held such containers as a violation of Philippines law."
The logistics company says the goods never made it to the people in need ... because they were confiscated by Philippine officials.
In the suit, the company implies Manny's Foundation is using the incident as an excuse to dodge the $35,805.36 bill ... even though it clearly believes it was the Foundation's responsibility to correctly label the goods.
The shipping company is now demanding the full payment -- plus interest.
Calls to the Manny Pacquiao Foundation have not been returned.
Manny Pacquiao's wife Jinkee says the Pac-Man is too wiped out after fights to go another round in the bedroom -- but karaoke? Well, that's a whole other story.
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If New York Knicks sensation Jeremy Lin wasn't a big ass deal before, he sure as hell is now -- because Manny Pacquiao tells TMZ ... even HE'S Linsane in the membrane.
Manny was on his way into Loews Regency hotel in New York yesterday -- we asked if he's succumbed to the wave of Linsanity sweeping across the planet, and the boxing legend said YES ... claiming, "He's good ... from Asia."
DID YOU HEAR THAT?!?!?!?!?!! Manny Pacquiao said Jeremy Lin is GOOD!!!
Manny Pacquiao could decide today or tomorrow whether he will fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 5th -- this according to Manny's trainer.
Freddie Roach just told TMZ Manny and promoter Bob Arum are in the Philippines, figuring out if they can put off several deals to fight other boxers ... to clear the decks for a Mayweather fight in May.
Roach is scoffing at Mayweather's tweet, in which he calls Pacquiao a "punk," saying, "He should look in the mirror. He's been ducking us for 2 years."
As for what weight class Pacquiao will fight Mayweather ... Roach said 147 lbs -- that's the upper limit of welterweight.
Of course, even if Pacquiao can rearrange his schedule, both sides have to agree on a financial deal. Roach says, "We'll do it on even terms."
Floyd Mayweather Jr. just issued the challenge the world has been waiting for -- demanding Manny Pacquiao fight him once and for all ... May 5th in Vegas.
As we reported, Floyd's jail sentence was postponed to June so he could fight at the MGM Grand on May 5th -- but so far, his opponent hasn't been determined.
Fight fans have been clamoring for Mayweather-Pacquiao for years -- and now Floyd himself is calling out Manny with the message, "Manny Pacquiao I'm calling you out let's fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see."
Floyd sounded off in the tough and hardcore forums of Twitter and Facebook -- and punctuated his challenge with, "Step up Punk."
Manny is in the Philippines ... and has yet to respond to the challenge.
It wasn't enough for Manny Pacquaio to beat Juan Manuel Marquez in a close decision last night in Las Vegas -- later on in the evening, Manny took the stage at the House of Blues and performed "La Bamba" ... perhaps the most famous song from Marquez's native Mexico.
Kobe slipped unnoticed into Manny's LA workout spot ... Wild Card Boxing Club on Thursday afternoon -- and just over an hour later, we spotted him leaving through the back door.
We're told Manny was definitely working out while Kobe was there -- people outside heard Manny punching the crap out of stuff -- but we're pretty sure Kobe was not IN the ring ... Black Mamba was unscathed when he left.
Before Justin Bieber went toe-to-toe with a photographer -- sparking a police investigation -- he trained with "Iron" Mike Tyson! Wondering how they ended up together? Well, we got Tyson on the phone ... and you won't believe his excuse for kicking it with Biebs. Plus,…
