The attorney for Don King sent a cease and desist letter to Zuffa Boxing demanding that his promoted fighter Noel Mikaelian should not be fighting Jai Opetaia as the co-main event of Saturday’s event in Las Vegas.
King argues that Zuffa Boxing did not negotiate with Don King Promotions (DKP) for the services of Mikaelian. King asserts that his promotion company has world-wide rights of Mikaelian and since Zuffa Boxing did not negotiate with King, the fight with Opetaia should be cancelled.
A letter was sent to Isabelle Mercer, Senior VP and Associate General Counsel from a law firm stating it represented Don King Productions.
Don King attorney sends cease and desist letter demanding cancellation of Opetaia-Mikaelian fight that is on Saturday’s #GarciaBenn card. #boxinc pic.twitter.com/Vqe3qoER8w
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) September 8, 2026
Based on, inter alia, emails between you and DKP’s legal counsel, Carl Lewis, Esq. (“Mr. Lewis”), there is absolutely no doubt that TKO/Zuffa was and is aware that DKP is Noel’s promoter. I understand that you were personally involved in discussions with Mr. Lewis regarding a potential fight or multi-fight deal for Mikaelian, which would include a fight with Opetaia, and that no agreement was consummated. It is particularly disturbing to know that TKO/Zuffa’s Chief Operating Officer, Harrison Whitman, Esq., and the head of TKO/Zuffa, Dana White, had at least one virtual conference with DKP’s President, Mr. Don King, and Mr. Lewis in an effort to secure a Provision of Services (“POS”) deal for Mikaelian, again which included a fight with Opetaia.
…it is indefensible for Zuffa/TKO to completely ignore the DKP Agreement, the promoter-fighter relationship between DKP and Mikaelian, and circumvent DKP and engage the services of Mikaelian for the Bout with Opetaia. TKO/Zuffa cannot justify its actions by claiming that you negotiated with Mikaelian’s Manager, Anthony Girges and Mikaelian’s attorney, James Greeley, Esq., as again only DKP can negotiate and enter into an agreement with a third party for Mikaelian’s services. The DKP Agreement grants Mikaelian the right to “discuss and explore” other fight opportunities, but only in consultation with DKP and under no circumstance can Mikaelian enter into an agreement with
another party for his professional services without the expressed consent and permission of DKP. As stated above, TKO/Zuffa’s actions in promoting Mikaelian, without DKP’s knowledge, consent or permission, is a clear tortious interference of the Agreement. DKP does not and has not granted TKO/Zuffa permission to engage the services of its fighter, Mikaelian. To be unequivocally clear, TKO/Zuffa’s actions constitute a knowing, intentional and unjustified tortious interference with the Agreement. Any contracts that Mikaelian has entered into or shall enter into for his professional services as a fighter, without the express, written consent of DKP are void. The announced September 12, 2026, Bout between Mikaelian and Opetaia cannot go forward. TKO/Zuffa must immediately cancel the Bout between Mikaelian and Opetaia and announce such cancellation in the media immediately. Furthermore, TKO/Zuffa cannot engage Mikaelian for any match without DKP’s express, written consent and permission.Dana White stated in his post-fight press conference after Dana White’s Contender Series that the fight will go on. Thus, he’s calling DKP’s bluff or we will see a lawsuit filed by Wednesday seeking to halt the fight.
MPO will keep you updated.
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