Floyd Mayweather's exhibition fight against Mike Zambidis, scheduled for June 27 in Athens, Greece, has been canceled. The fight was called off amid a lawsuit filed by promotion company CSI Sports Events.
What happened?
The lawsuit claims Mayweather breached his contract by agreeing to the fight with Zambidis. CSI Sports Events paid Mayweather $4.65 million to exclusively promote fights with Manny Pacquiao and Mike Tyson.
Why was the fight canceled?
The cancellation was due to the lawsuit and the significant damage to the commercial viability of the event. Attorney Melissa Glass stated that the fight doesn't have a broadcaster attached.
The payments to Mayweather were made last year, with an initial payment of $4.5 million and an additional $150,000. Front Row CEO Keane Anis said his company spent or committed approximately $7 million in connection with the event.
What comes next?
The event may be rescheduled for a later date, depending on the court's ruling. CSI Entertainment sued Mayweather earlier this month, seeking monetary damages for the breach of contract.
Mayweather announced the fight with Zambidis, an 18-time world kickboxing champion, the day after receiving the payments. The lawsuit was filed in the Southern District of New York, and U.S. District Court Judge Vernon S. Broderick will rule on the motion for a temporary restraining order.
The cancellation has caused substantial harm to Front Row and numerous third parties. Glass requested that the court require only a nominal bond, as the temporary restraining order will not be the cause of Mayweather not going forward with the Zambidis fight.
On June 24, Judge Broderick presided over a two-hour hearing conducted by phone and said he would rule on the motion on June 25. The outcome of the lawsuit and the potential rescheduling of the fight remain uncertain.
Floyd Mayweather's team has not commented on the cancellation. The boxing champion's fans will have to wait and see what happens next in this developing story.
The lawsuit and cancellation of the fight have raised questions about Mayweather's future in the boxing world. As the situation unfolds, fans and critics alike will be watching to see what's next for the former welterweight boxing champion.