Sportswear firm Nike have terminated their contract with six-weight world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao over controversial comments made about homosexuals.

Pacquiao described homosexuals as “worse than animals” but has since apologised for the comments.

“We find Manny Pacquiao’s comments abhorrent. 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” said Nike in a statement.

Pacquiao is running for a seat in the senate in the Philippines. He made his derogatory comments in a TV interview before writing on Instagram that he was “just telling the truth of what the Bible says”. He wrote on Facebook he was not condemning homosexuals, but said he would oppose gay marriage.

Pacquiao is due to fight Timothy Bradley Jr in his final professional fight in Las Vegas in April before turning to a prospective in politics in his native Philippines, where is a national icon.

Source: Eurosport