Mike Tyson, the legendary former heavyweight boxing champion, is under fire yet again—not for his performance in the ring, but for a lawsuit alleging he breached a $1.6 million promotional deal. The lawsuit, filed by Cyprus-based gambling promotion company Medier, accuses Tyson and his company Tyrannic of prematurely ending a contract to promote the online casino Rabona in favor of his high-profile fight with Jake Paul.
The fight, which aired on Netflix and took place at AT&T Stadium last month, saw Tyson lose to the YouTuber-turned-boxer in a lackluster eight-round match. Fans were disappointed with Tyson’s performance, as he only landed 18 punches in the entire bout. Jake Paul walked away with $40 million, while Tyson earned $20 million, with the event attracting 108 million viewers globally. Despite the hype, the fight faced criticism from both fans and top-tier boxers, many calling the spectacle an embarrassment to the sport.
The Legal Dispute
Medier alleges that Tyson and Tyrannic terminated their agreement in March, the same month the Netflix fight was announced, citing scheduling conflicts. The company’s lawyers claim Tyson unlawfully backed out to focus on promoting the fight, which included partnerships with brands like DraftKings.
“The true reason for Mr. Tyson and Tyrannic’s hasty and unlawful termination was because Mr. Tyson had agreed to a deal, sponsored by Netflix, to fight the influencer Jake Paul,” Medier’s legal representatives argued in documents released Friday.
However, Tyson’s team fired back, accusing Medier of breaching their contract first. In a public statement, they asserted that:
“Medier, Ltd. materially breached the terms of its license agreement on multiple occasions and in various ways. As such, Tyrannic, LLC was well within its legal and contractual rights to terminate the license agreement for material breach in an effort to mitigate additional reputational harm to the Tyson brand.”
A Fight to Forget
The Tyson-Paul fight has been shrouded in controversy. Critics like Terence Crawford lambasted Tyson’s performance, calling it “trash,” and even some fans questioned the legitimacy of the match.
“He looked like trash. To train that long and only throw 97 punches the whole fight is crazy,” Crawford said on X.
Adding to the chaos, Netflix is now facing a $50 million class-action lawsuit over poor streaming quality during the event, filed by a disgruntled Florida man. The combination of legal battles, disappointing performance, and public backlash has made Tyson’s recent fight one of the most polarizing moments in his storied career.
Read also: Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul: Jake Paul Shocks the World with Unanimous Decision Victory
Fallout in the Boxing World
The fight also attracted criticism from boxing elites like Canelo Alvarez and Gervonta Davis. Alvarez called the event an “injustice” and admitted that it even made him reconsider Jake Paul’s challenge to face him in the ring. Other boxers and fans alike labeled the bout a “circus” that tarnished the reputation of the sport.
While Tyson’s legal team remains firm in their defense, Medier is pushing forward with their claim, arguing that the alleged breach has cost them significant financial losses. This lawsuit adds another layer of complexity to an already controversial chapter in Tyson’s post-retirement career.
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