LAS VEGAS (CN) - WBO super featherweight champion Miguel Angel "Mikey" Garcia wants to break his contract with Top Rank, owned by fight promoter Bob Arum. But he'll have to spar with Arum in Federal Court to do so.
Garcia, who has a career record of 34-0, claims Top Rank violates the Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act, which protects boxers against "economic injury," by "failing to provide plaintiff with certain specific financial information related to his bouts."
Garcia says Top Rank has not disclosed "all fees, charges and expenses" and "any portion of the boxer's purse that the promoter will receive and training expenses," as required by the Muhammad Ali Act.
Garcia also claims his contract with Top Rank has expired and that other contractual provisions violate California law.
He accuses Top Rank of an "unlawful attempt to exploit, own and permanently control" his boxing career.
Top Rank President Todd Duboef says in an attachment to the lawsuit that the company has promoted nine fights for Garcia and paid him and his management team more than $500,000 for each of his past three bouts and more than $75,000 for each of the other six fights.
Duboef says that "Top Rank has worked hard and invested significant amounts of time, energy and money to develop Mr. Garcia's career."
Garcia seeks declaratory relief to end his contract with Top Rank.
He is represented by Bryan J. Freedman and Brian E. Turnauer.
Garcia initially filed his lawsuit April 11 in California's Riverside County Court. The dollar amount in question exceeds the lower court's $25,000 maximum jurisdiction. The case was transferred this week to Las Vegas Federal Court after earlier being removed to the California's Central District.
Top Rank is represented by Daniel M. Petrocceli, David Marroso and Harrison A. Whitman of O'Melveny & Myers.
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