Floyd Mayweather is facing a new lawsuit from a boxing promoter alleging it paid him $4.65 million for blockbuster fights against Mike Tyson and Manny Pacquiao, only for the retired champion to pursue other plans.
CSI Entertainment filed the lawsuit on Thursday in New York, alleging that they paid millions for exclusive rights tied to two Mayweather events, according to court documents obtained by TMZ Sports. The company claims one fight was supposed to be an exhibition against “Iron Mike,” followed by a rematch with Pacquiao, a bout that would have put Mayweather’s 50-0 record on the line.
The promoter alleges it paid $4.5 million to Mayweather’s management company, Frist Apex Ventures, and says Mayweather personally signed off on the deal. CSI also claims it paid Mayweather a separate $150,000 advance. According to the lawsuit, the relationship went left and CSI alleges that one day after the $150,000 payment, Mayweather announced a fight against Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis with a different promoter.
The company also claims Mayweather secretly made a separate agreement with another business to stream a Pacquiao fight on Netflix from the Sphere in Las Vegas.
CSI says it spent considerable time and money preparing the Tyson and Pacquiao events and could suffer lasting harm if the fights move ahead elsewhere.
The promoter is seeking damages, repayment, and court orders blocking the Zambidis fight and the alleged Netflix event.
