A U.S. court has upheld an earlier ruling requiring former boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. to pay $2.4 million to Nigerian company Zinni Media Concept Limited for breaching a 2017 contract.
The agreement was intended to facilitate a series of Mayweather’s appearances in Africa, including Nigeria, but the boxer abruptly canceled without refunding the advance payment.
Zinni Media’s media executive, Alex Nwankwo, explained, “After several unsuccessful attempts to recover the appearance fees from the American boxer, the company instituted a legal action against Mayweather in 2018, alleging breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and fraud.”
In October 2023, a California court ruled in favor of Zinni Media, awarding $1.6 million in damages, $721,881 in prejudgment interest, $16,270 in attorney fees, and $285 in other costs, totaling $2.4 million. Mayweather’s appeal was rejected by the California Court of Appeals in August 2024, confirming the earlier judgment. Despite the ruling, Mayweather has yet to pay the damages.
Nwankwo added, “We are grateful that two courts have granted a prayer by Zinni Media Ltd to impose terminating sanctions against Mayweather.” The court has directed U.S. attorneys to enforce the judgment, allowing them to seize Mayweather’s assets, including luxury vehicles like a 2015 Bugatti GSV and a 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, to cover the owed amount. The unpaid judgment is accruing interest at 10% annually.
