Boxing promoter faces N3m lawsuit over fight cancellation
A boxing promotion company, Awilla Boxing Promotion, is facing legal action over alleged multiple postponements and eventual cancellation of a boxing event initially scheduled for September 2024.
The CEO of Bulkhead Global, Olanrewaju Yusuf, through his lawyers, Gravis Lex Practice, has issued a pre-action notice demanding N3m in damages and compensation from the promotion company.
According to the notice dated October 24, 2024, Yusuf is seeking N2.5m as reimbursement for expenses incurred and an additional N500,000 for “fraudulent misrepresentation.”
Speaking with our correspondent, Yusuf said, “My client is Rilwan Lawal, a featherweight fighter. His (Awilla’s) partner from America sent us a contract with his content, and we signed. As time goes on, he told us the show is happening on September 26. I have put fighters in camp with coaches paying for their accommodation and feeding.”
He added that the promoter later changed the date to October 26 before another postponement to November 26.
“Three weeks to the fight, I discovered he had not booked an event centre, and I began to doubt the fight was going to take place,” Yusuf said.
However, the MD/CEO of Awilla Boxing Promotion, Williams Awila, denied having any contractual relationship with the parties involved.
“I don’t have anything to do with Bulkhead Global or Lawal because I don’t have any contract with him,” Awila told our correspondent.
The Secretary-General of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control, Remi Aboderin, while commenting on the situation, said, “The NBBofC is not against Yusuf suing Mr. Awila; it is his legal right.
“However, it is our hope and belief that the issue between all parties involved is resolved amicably.”
The pre-action notice also demands a public apology to be published in three Nigerian dailies and the revocation of Awilla Boxing Promotion’s license for six years.
This development comes as the promotion company recently announced plans for a “President Belt Boxing Championship” scheduled for November 27, 2024, despite the ongoing controversy.
Earlier, the company’s former matchmaker, Jeffrey Maxwell, resigned citing “unprofessional activities” within the organisation and warned boxers to proceed with “extreme caution” when dealing with the promotion company.
