A new boxing lawsuit was filed earlier this week in the Federal District Court of Nevada. This one was filed by Robert Brant as he is suing Greg Cohen and Rapacz Boxing and Top Rank. The thrust of the lawsuit mainly concerns Cohen and Rapacz Boxing, Brant’s former representatives.
A middleweight title holder from Texas, Brant was represented by Cohen starting in 2015 and then the agreement was amended to include Rapacz Boxing in April 2018. Later in the year, he learned that Top Rank wanted him to be his promoter. However, according to the lawsuit, Cohen demanded that all negotiations flow through him
Brant was on his honeymoon while negotiations with Top Rank took place.
Cohen contacted Brant and let him know that ‘time was of the essence’ with signing with Top Rank. Brant claims this was a misrepresentation. Cohen and Rapacz entered into a letter agreement with Top Rank which allowed Brant’s reps to receive a portion of the money not known to Brant.
There was an alleged misrepresentation as to “step aside” money that was available for Mr. Brant. Cohen and Rapacz stated there was no “step aside” money, a sum given to fighters to allow their spot to fight the champion be taken for someone behind them in the rankings.
Brant filed claims for violations of the Ali Act, fraud and other contractual claims stemming from the purported misrepresentations and omissions from his former coaches. Specifically, one of the claims asserted was that Cohen/Rapacz Boxing was acting as both manager and promoter for Brant which would be a violation of the federal statute.
He also claimed a fraud upon Cohen/Rapacz.
Payout Perspective:
The lawsuit is in the infancy stages at this point but it would seem that these are clear violations of the Ali Act as well as potential fraud claims for misrepresenting to Brant the terms of the deal. Top Rank may be unknowing defendants here as Cohen likely informed them that Brant was away on his honeymoon. MPO will continue to follow.
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