Golden Boy Boxing has filed a Notice of Appeal to the 9th Circuit as it relates to the federal court’s ruling in the Moises Heredia lawsuit against MTK Global, Daniel Kinahan and Golden Boy Boxing. Golden Boy filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit against it stemming from alleged interference with an economic relationship and breach of contract.
The bulk of the lawsuit deals with allegations from Jojo Diaz’s former manager, Moises Heredia, that MTK Global interfered with his relationship with Diaz. He claims that the relationship was severed due to the meddling of Kinahan and MTK Global. Diaz entered into a “business advisory agreement” with MTK while Heredia was still his manager. But, Heredia was blocked off from his business relationship with the boxer.
Golden Boy’s purported liability comes when it negotiated with MTK Global with respect to a Jojo Diaz fight with Shavkat Rakhimov. An attorney for Diaz asked that Golden Boy communicate with the attorney and not Heredia. The attorney for Golden Boy was directed to
Golden Boy filed a Motion to Dismiss the lawsuit against it and/or move the allegations to arbitration.
Golden Boy claims that the allegations against it by Moses Heredia would fall under the terms of the promotional contract between Heredia, Golden Boy and Jojo Diaz. Also the claims that Golden Boy interfered with the contractual relationship between Heredia and Luis Felicano.
Golden Boy points to a broad arbitration provision found in the Golden Boy Promotional Contract with Diaz and Feliciano.
In the alternative, it believed that the claims against it for Interference with the contract of Jojo Diaz, breach of the implied covenant and fair deal in the Diaz contract, interference with the contract of Feliciano should be dismissed. In the case of Feliciano, Golden Boy claims that Heredia states that the promotion made multiple phone calls to Feliciano. Golden Boy argues that there was no intent to interfere or disrupt with Feliciano’s contract.
The court held that it could analyze Heredia’s claims for tortious interference with a contract, inducing breach of contract and interference with prospective economic relations together. Golden Boy argued that the relationship between Heredia and Diaz had soured and those it had nothing to do with interfering in their business relationship. The Court dismissed the claims stating that there was no evidence that Golden Boy interfered with the Heredia and Diaz contract. But it allowed Heredia to amend his complaint to include such evidence.
The Court denied Golden Boy’s request to dismiss Heredia’s Motion to Dismiss the claim that it violated the contractual duty of good faith and fair dealing. This is based on the allegation that Golden Boy did not pay Heredia 18% of Diaz’s purse from a February 2021 Bout that it negotiated with MTK Global. Heredia claims that he was due $90,000 (Heredia’s manager fee) or $72,000 (due to the failure for Diaz to make weight and subsequent fine).
The Court did side with Golden Boy in pushing the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing claim to arbitration. This is based on the promotional agreement contract demanding arbitration. The allegation is based on the alleged oral agreement for payment of certain fees due based on the Promotional Agreement between Heredia, Golden Boy and Diaz.
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