Heavyweight boxer Kubrat Pulev asked a New York federal court access to obtain Andy Ruiz’s contract from the short-lived lawsuit in August between Ruiz’s management and that of Anthony Joshua. The Court denied the letter request but left open the question if Pulev were to bring a motion before the Court.
The lawsuit was filed to the parties agreeing to a rematch of Ruiz’s upset victory this past June. In the lawsuit filed in New York, Matchroom Boxing, Joshua’s promoter, sued TGB Promotions and Ruiz for breach of contract.
Matchroom Boxing claimed that the Provision of Services Agreement entered into by Ruiz included language which allowed Matchroom the right to choose the venue for the fight. Ruiz claimed that he would have any rematch with Joshua in the United States despite the inference that Matchroom controlled the rights to a rematch. Notably, the lawsuit has redacted passages from the contract which Pulev’s camp would like to see as a potential next opponent for the winner.
Matchroom claims that TGB Promotions has done nothing to correct Ruiz about solidifying the rematch in terms of place and price. Moreover, Matchroom claims that TGB has threatened to sue based on defamation charges.
While the squabble over venue has been rectified with the dismissal of the lawsuit, an interesting ex parte motion took place last week when Pulev’s attorney sought the POS Agreement from Ruiz that was filed under seal in the lawsuit. The Court was to decide the sealing of the contract on August 30th but the parties resolved the matter on August 26th rendering the sealing of the POS Agreement moot. However, the Court noted that Plaintiffs had failed to show adequate support for sealing of the POS Agreement which Pulev used as argument to unseal the document for public view.
Endorsed Letter Re Pulev – … by Jason Cruz on Scribd
The Court denied the request by Pulev but noted that if it were to bring it with proper notice to Joshua and Ruiz it would consider the request. This would allow the parties to argue their points to seal or not seal the contract.
Pulev is contending that Ruiz should have to defend the IBF heavyweight title against the number 1 challenger, Pulev, instead of a rematch with Ruiz. Also, it argues that Ruiz was to have requested and paid the exception fee to allow for a “step-aside” to defend against Pulev. Pulev claims that Joshua paid the $20,000 exception fee on behalf of Ruiz.
Specifically, Pulev believes that there is a prohibited rematch clause per IBF Rule 3.B:
No contract for a Championship contest shall contain any clause or any provision, whatsoever, guaranteeing or in any way assuring or promising either contestant a return Championship contest where such clause or provision interferes with the mandatory defense of a title.
Pulev appealed the exception allowed by the IBF last week. One has to believe that this was denied since the $20,000 fee was paid. Pulev is looking for the contract to see if it might have legal grounds to sue and prevent the Joshua-Ruiz fight from having the fight. One has to think that the strategy is to seek an injunction of the fight scheduled for Saudi Arabia. While this may not happen, this uprising by Pulev may get it some sort of assurance to fight the winner of Joshua-Ruiz. MMA Payout will keep you posted.