Canelo Alvarez files lawsuit against DAZN and Golden Boy Promotions claiming $280m in damages

Canelo Alvarez believes that DAZN and Golden Boy Promotions have breached $365 million contract and are stopping him from fighting the top opponents

Canelo Alvarez has filed a lawsuit against DAZN and Golden Boy Promotions, claiming that they have failed to fulfill the conditions of the bumper 11-fight contract that was signed back in 2018.

The Mexican is also seeking payment of damages of up to $280 million for the breach of contract, and believes that he will be succesful in doing so after the belief that they have failed to deliver the top fights that were promised for the top pound-for-pound fighter.

A feud has been ongoing between Oscar De La Hoya, DAZN and the four-weight world champion, with many opponents touted in upcoming fights including Callum Smith and Billy Joe Saunders, but fight offers have failed to materialise as a result of financial disagreements, and the uncertainty the pandemic has caused on the sport and it's financial capabilities.

The lawsuit that has been proposed is believed to heavily criticise DAZN and Golden Boy's attempt at listening to lucrative offers and allowing the 30-year-old to pursue adequate fighting opportunitys since his last fight with Sergey Kovalev back in November 2019.

It states: "Despite repeated promises that an alternative offer was imminent, Dazn failed to make a proposal to either Golden Boy Promotions or Álvarez for several months. When Golden Boy Promotions and Álvarez proposed opponents, Dazn refused to confirm that it was prepared to broadcast Álvarez’ September 2020 bout or that it would pay the contracted $40 million license fee.”

"The complaint alleges Dazn offered to pay Álvarez and Golden Boy a fraction of the contracted fee in cash and an unspecified amount of stock in the UK-based company in advance of a potential IPO, but the value of the offer was “substantially less than Álvarez’s guarantee.

“Given that Dazn had made it clear that it would not honor its contract, throughout the spring and summer of 2020, Álvarez repeatedly asked Golden Boy Promotions to explore alternative broadcast options for a fall 2020 bout,” the complaint stated. “Although Golden Boy Promotions reported that it was talking to various broadcasters, it failed to put forth a single alternative plan by which it would pay Álvarez the $35 million it had promised him for each of his fights.

“Álvarez has fought the first three of his eleven fights under the Álvarez and Dazn Contracts. He is owed remaining guaranteed payments of $280 million.”

Alvarez has reportedly held a long dispute over DAZN's unhappiness of not pursuing a third fight with Gennady Golovkin, and according to the cntract Canelo believes that DAZN have no right to reject any choices of his opponents, should e wish to fight in a lower-profile bout as he did with Jacobs and Kovalev bouts as previous.

Canelo has released a statement supporting his actions to file a lawsuit and believes that he is entitled to damages and feels let down by the his promoters and DAZN for failing to help his career.

He said:“I’m the pound-for-pound No 1 in the world. I’m not scared of any opponent in the ring, and I’m not going to let failures of my broadcaster or promoters keep me out of the ring, I filed the lawsuit so I can get back to boxing and give my fans the show they deserve.”

Golden Boy also released a statement condemning the action, and distanced themselves from the lawsuit, putting the entire blame on DAZN for the lack of fights for Canelo in 2020, and believe theyhave honoured their side of the contract.

They concluded: "Canelo’s beef is with Dazn. They’re the ones refusing to honor the contract by not approving the outstanding opponents we have presented to them and by refusing to pay the contractually required amount, even though our contract specifically gives Golden Boy the right to wait until the pandemic is over and fans can return; in the best interest of boxing, Golden Boy is doing everything it can to make great fights happen. We remain ready, willing and able to make a fight for Canelo as soon as possible.”

The saga could continue without resolution for a longer period of time, after Canelo filed the lawsuit, and it now appears unlikely that Canelo will fight again in 2020 as a result of the pandemic and the complications between Golden Boy Promotions, DAZN and Canelo.

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