US Court Rules Mayweather Must Compensate Nigerian Firm $2.4M for Contract Violation

Former world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been ordered by a U.S. court to pay $2.4 million in damages to Zinni Media Concept Limited, a Nigerian company, following a breach of contract.

The dispute stems from an agreement made in June 2017, which required Mayweather to make several promotional appearances in Africa, including one in Nigeria. However, the boxing superstar unilaterally terminated the contract and declined to refund the advance payment made by Zinni Media.

Alex Nwankwo, a media executive at Zinni Media, revealed that Mayweather’s legal team initially argued that the boxer was not obligated to refund the advance because the company was not based in the United States. “After multiple unsuccessful attempts to recover the appearance fees from Mayweather, we filed a lawsuit in 2018 for breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and fraud,” Nwankwo explained. He expressed gratitude that two courts have now ruled in favor of Zinni Media.

In October 2023, a California lower court ruled in favor of Zinni Media, awarding $1,638,542 in damages, along with $721,881.32 in prejudgment interest, $16,270 in attorney fees, and $285 in costs—bringing the total to $2,376,978. The Boxing-star subsequently appealed the decision.

However, in a recent ruling on August 27, 2024, the appellate court upheld the lower court’s verdict, confirming the damages owed. Despite the court’s ruling, Nwankwo noted that Mayweather has yet to make any payment, and the amount continues to accrue interest at a rate of 10 percent per annum.

To enforce the judgment, U.S. attorneys have been authorized to target Mayweather’s luxurious vehicles, including his 2015 Bugatti Veyron and 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, both valued at amounts exceeding the owed damages.