Boxing Podcast with Brin-Jonathan Butler Reviewing 2017 in Boxing

I had a chance to sit down with author and preeminent boxing journalist Brin-Jonathan Butler to review the year in boxing for 2017.  We spoke about the comeback of the Heavyweight division and the magic of Joshua-Klitschko; Top Rank bringing big time boxing to ESPN; recapped the best fights of 2017 and the positives that the World Boxing Super Series has brought to the sport.

To enjoy more of Brin's work, check out his critically acclaimed memoir of his time living in Cuba and training with Cuban Olympic boxing coaches, The Domino Diaries, as well as his biography of Guillermo Rigondeaux, A Cuban Boxer's Journey.  Brin's pieces have appeared on SBNation.com, ESPN.com, Vice.com, Salon.com, and Bloomberg.com, as well as many other sites and publications. To track Brin's goings on and latest work, follow him on Twitter at @brinicio.

Enjoy the podcast and Happy New Year!  You can listen to my podcast on Soundcloud or subscribe to the podcast on either iTunes or Stitcher.

Judge Denies Bobby Hitz Partial Summary Judgment on Tortious Interference with Contract Claim Against Shane Mosley's GoBox Promotions

Shane Mosley (c/o Keith Hinle/Wikimedia Commons)

Federal District Judge Michael Fitzgerald, of the Central District of California, recently denied Chicago promoter Bobby Hitz's promotional company Hitz Entertainment Corporation ("HEC") partial summary judgment on its first cause of action for tortious interference with contract against former three division world champion Shane Mosley and Mosley's promotional company GoBox Promotions, Inc. ("GBP").

HEC filed its complaint in February 2017 alleging that Mosley had poached its fighter, Cruiserweight prospect Dimar Ortuz, to fight on GBP's PPV card in August 2015 that featured Mosley versus Ricardo Mayorga in the main event.  According to the complaint, Mosley had been a participant in a reality TV show called "Knockout" where he was one of three legendary trainers and he was designated to train Ortuz.  As HEC was negotiating with representatives from the show to enable Ortuz's participation, Mosley allegedly promoted an Ortuz bout on the Mosley-Mayorga PPV undercard.  Mosley and GBP also allegedly promoted two fights of Ortuz subsequent to the PPV card, without HEC's consent.  HEC claimed two causes of action, tortious interference with contract and tortious interference with prospective economic relations.

According to HEC's partial summary judgment motion papers, Mosley and GBP initially tried to work with the "Knockout" show's producers to have Ortuz fight in the show's "finale" on NuvoTV as a free TV lead-in to the PPV.  But negotiations allegedly broke down and Mosley and GBP ended up using Ortuz on the televised PPV undercard instead, outside of the "Knockout" program.  HEC's papers further allege that Mosley and GBP were aware (via text messages to both Mosley and his partner at GBP, Trista Pisani) that HEC had a valid promotional agreement with Ortuz and went ahead and put him on their PPV card anyway, in breach of the promotional agreement and without the consent of or compensation to HEC.  HEC also argued that even if they breached the promotional agreement, Ortuz reaffirmed its existence and validity by signing a deal memo with the "Knockout" producers that acknowledged the agreement and by Ortuz posting on Facebook in December 2015 that he was finally free of the agreement.

In their opposition papers, Mosley and GBP argued that HEC waived its claims due to the fact they had breached the promotional agreement.  Mosley and GBP alleged that HEC had not promoted Ortuz in the requisite number of fights in any of the three years of the promotional agreement's term.  Further, Mosley and GBP argued that genuine issues of material fact existed regarding their knowledge of the existence of the promotional agreement (both Mosley and Pisani denied receiving the texts from HEC) and without knowledge there could be no intent to interfere.

Judge Fitzgerald agreed with Mosley and GBP that there was a genuine "dispute of material fact as to whether there was a valid, enforceable contract" when GBP promoted Ortuz on the PPV undercard.  The Court further found that there was not sufficient evidence to find as a matter of law that Mosley or GBP had knowledge of the promotional agreement or the intent to breach it.

See HEC's complaint below:
See Judge Fitzgerald's order:

Boxing Esq. Podcast #3 - John Hornewer

It was my great pleasure to speak with one of the premier attorneys in the sport of boxing, John Hornewer.  John had some amazing behind the scenes stories about his superstar roster of clients, including Lennox Lewis, Chris Byrd, Roy Jones, Jr., Floyd Mayweather and Vasyl Lomachenko.

I'd like to thank John for taking the time to speak with me and I wish him and Team Lomachenko luck against the very formidable Guillermo Rigondeaux this Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Please check it out!  You can also subscribe to the podcast on either iTunes or Stitcher.

Demetrius Andrade Drops Suit Against Roc Nation

Demetrius Andrade (courtesy Wikimedia Commons)

Attorneys for former WBA Junior Middleweight Champion Demetrius Andrade have filed a Stipulation of Discontinuance in order to end Andrade's suit against Roc Nation Sports and other Roc Nation/Jay-Z related entities ("Roc Nation") for promissory estoppel and breach of contract.  No other details were available on whether this suit was settled or merely dropped.

Andrade commenced suit in July 2015, alleging that representatives of Roc Nation promised him $550,000 if he would turn down a fight with Jermell Charlo that was scheduled for December 13, 2014 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Showtime.  The suit also claimed that Showtime was offering a lucrative multi-fight deal to Andrade which Roc Nation allegedly told him to turn down because they had a deal for him with HBO.  Roc Nation also allegedly promised to buy Andrade out of his promotional contract with Star Boxing and Banner Promotions.  Andrade alleged that he was not paid the $550,000 nor did Roc Nation buy out his promotional contract.

Recently, Andrade signed a multi-fight deal with HBO through his current promoters (Star Boxing and Banner).

Star Boxing and Banner have their own suit against Roc Nation that is still pending.  In their complaint, they allege intentional interference with their promotional contract, as well as tortious interference with prospective business relations based on the same set of facts as stated above.  They recently received an extension of discovery deadlines from the court in order to finish up depositions in the case.

See Andrade's Complaint and Stipulation of Discontinuance below:

Andrade's Complaint:
Stipulation of Discontinuance:
Star Boxing and Banner Promotions Complaint:
Star Boxing and Banner Promotions discovery extention: