A California Superior Court has issued a tentative decision junking a lawsuit seeking million of dollars in moral and actual damages from Filipino boxing legend and Sen. Manny Pacquiao.

Pacquiao, who is expected to make a comeback in the political arena as senator, had previously been ordered by a n Orange Country jury to pay the plaintiff, Paradigm Sports $1.8 million in damages and return the $3.3 million advance the firm allegedly gave him.

In a tentative decision on the appeal made by Pacquiao, California Superior Court Judge Walter Schwarm wrote that the contract between Pacquiao and the sports marketing group is voidable.

On July 1, Schwarm wrote that Paradigm Sports was not properly licensed in California to act as manager, citing provisions of a state law.

“The court finds for Mr. Pacquiao on the Declaratory Relief caused of action and declares the Contract void due to illegality,” Schwarm said.

However, the judge said a tentative decision is only “the court’s proposed statement of a decision, subject to a party’s objection.”

The provisional decision was released 14 months after Pacquiao lost a decision issued by an Orange County jury that upheld Paradigm’s contention for monetary award.

In a statement, lawyer Jason Aniel, Pacquiao’s legal counsel, welcomed the ruling.

“Although the judgment is not presently final, we are pleased that the Court made its tentative decision on the legal issues in Mr. Pacquiao’s favor. The Court decided that the contract that Paradigm Sports Management sought to enforce against Mr. Pacquiao was illegal as Paradigm was not properly licensed,” noted Aniel.

Paradigm is expected to air its objection against the tentative ruling.