Jake Paul hit with $100m lawsuit over ‘fight repair’ claims – Reuters

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has launched a $100 million lawsuit against his former co-promoter Jake Paul, as the Matchroom Boxing chief paid off judges in two recent world title fights.

According to TMZ Sports, Hearn and his legal advisers say Matchroom Boxing’s reputation was damaged after Paul said in a Sept. 20 interview that he believed Hearn was involved in fight-fixing in recent title fights. between Anthony Joshua and Aleksandr Usyk, as well as Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.

Ukrainian world champion Usyk beat Hearn fighter Anthony Joshua by split decision last month, while Katie Taylor – who is also promoted by Hearn – beat Amanda Serrano, also by split decision, earlier this year. Serrano is represented by Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions.

« [Judge] Glenn Feldman shows up in Saudi Arabia and tags Anthony Joshua to win the fight as everyone who watched the fight said it wasn’t a split decisionsaid Paul this month.

« Obviously this guy is paid by Matchroom Boxing.”

He added that it was « a bold statement and an accusation that I probably don’t take, but it’s just plain blatant. And they don’t even try to hide it.”

However, Hearn’s attorney Frank Salzano harshly rebuked the claims, adding that Paul and his team had ample opportunity to distance themselves from the statement, but chose not to.

“Both legally and ethically, there is a clear line between opinion and defamatory lies., » he said.

“Jake Paul knows this, and he deliberately crossed that line by falsely accusing Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn of fixing fights.

“Nevertheless, he was still given the opportunity to retract his defamatory statements and refused. Now he will face the legal consequences of his actions as Matchroom and Mr Hearn will seek damages well in excess of $100 million given the value and goodwill attached to the Matchroom business and the the prejudicial nature of Mr. Paul’s comments..”

The lawsuit appears to represent a rift in the relationship between Hearn, one of boxing’s most influential figures, and Paul, who has become an unlikely fighting product over the past 18 months.

Hearn previously promoted one of Paul’s boxing matches against another internet celebrity. This relationship saw them on equal footing while co-promoting Taylor’s recent match against Serrano – a fight billed as the greatest women’s boxing match in history.

Irishman Taylor won a close split decision, with the majority of boxing pundits seeming to indicate the correct winner had been picked by the judges.

Joshua, meanwhile, suffered his second straight loss to Usyk in their recent fight in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

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