A U.S. court has confirmed that former world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. must pay $2.4 million in damages to Zinni Media Concept Limited, a Nigerian firm, for breach of contract.
According to Alex Nwankwo, the company’s media executive, Zinni Media entered into an agreement with Mayweather in June 2017 for him to make appearances across Africa, including Nigeria. However, Mayweather unilaterally terminated the agreement and refused to return the advance payment.
Nwankwo claimed that Mayweather’s legal team suggested the boxer could avoid the refund since Zinni Media was not based in the U.S. “After several unsuccessful attempts to recover the fees, we filed a lawsuit in 2018, citing breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and fraud. We’re pleased that two courts have ruled in favor of Zinni Media Ltd,” he said.
In October 2023, a California court ordered Mayweather to pay $1,638,542 in damages, $721,881.32 in prejudgment interest, $16,270 in attorney fees, and $285 in costs, totaling $2,376,978. Mayweather later appealed the ruling.
In a ruling on August 27, 2024, appellate court clerk Eva McClintock upheld the lower court’s decision. Nwankwo noted that despite the ruling, Mayweather has yet to pay the sum, which is accruing 10% annual interest.
The court has allowed U.S. attorneys to enforce the judgment by targeting Mayweather’s assets, including his 2015 Bugatti Veyron or 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, both worth more than the owed amount.
