Nike pulls the plug on Pacquiao

Manny Pacquiao's latest disparaging comments about gays have cost him his contract with Nike.

It might not be the only endorsement the eight-time world champion loses, even as he and promoter Bob Arum scramble to contain the damage done by a television interview in the Philippines in which the boxer said gay people "are worse than animals".

"What he's saying is diametrically opposed to what I believe," said Arum, who is promoting Pacquiao's upcoming fight with Timothy Bradley. "I'm in favor of gay rights and same sex marriage. I'm apologetic personally to the gay movement in the United States."