BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (CN) - Rapper DMX (Earl Simmons) backed out of a mixed martial arts fight after the promoter refused to fix it in his favor, the promoter, Thunder Promotions, claims in Jefferson County Court. Thunder claims it was forced to find a replacement and the rapper refused to return his $6,000 advance.
Thunder Promotions says it scheduled the event for Dec. 12 in Birmingham and sought to book celebrities with a "tough guy" persona.
Simmons and his management team - codefendant Built For War Management - agreed to participate and accepted a deposit, but when Thunder Promotions refused to fix the bout, the rapper did not show up for a scheduled press conference and terminated all communications with the promoter, according to the complaint.
The third defendant, Nakia Walker, of Scottsdale, Ariz., is Built For War's management director. According to the complaint, "Walker demanded that Thunder agree to 'fix' the fight. In other words, defendants demanded that the celebrity opponent of Simmons intentionally lose the fight." Thunder said it refused, and the rapper and his team then breached the contract.
The promoter seeks damages of $1 million for breach of contract, fraud and conversion.
It is represented by William T. Fortune of Birmingham.
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