PATERSON, N.J. — A former world boxing champion has pleaded guilty to a money laundering charge in New Jersey.

Prosecutors say the charge against Kendall Holt of Woodland Park stemmed from drug deals made by his manager, Henry Cortes, who pleaded guilty to drug charges in February.

In court Friday, the 27-year-old boxer admitted that several times in 2007 and early 2008 he picked up bags of money and delivered them to Cortes. Holt told the judge he knew the money was from drug transactions.

Holt will be allowed to enter a pretrial intervention program, and the charge could be dismissed if he completes it.

Holt won the WBO light welterweight title in July and defended it once before losing a unification bout to WBC champ Timothy Bradley on April 4.