An appellate court in the United States has upheld the ruling of a lower court which ordered former World Champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. to pay a Nigerian company, Zinni Media Concept Limited the sum of N4.2 billion in damages in a breach of contract and fraud case.

A statement by the company’s media executive, Alex Nwankwo says the appellate court found merit in the ruling of a lower court which found Mayweather guilty of breach of contract, expressing satisfaction of the organisation over the ruling.

CITY LAWYER gathered that the agreement with Zinni Media Concept Limited required Mayweather to make different appearances in Africa, including one in Nigeria in June 2017.

The former world boxing champion did not however fulfill his side of the bargain. Instead, he terminated the contract and refused to reimburse advance payment made by the company for the service.

Though the CEO of Zinni Media Ltd, Prince Donatus Okonkwo, had only sought reimbursement for the company’s deposits, but Mayweather and his initial set of legal representatives implied that because the company was not based in the United States, he could not make any refund.

“Feeling violated and robbed, Zinni Media Ltd had no option but to seek and retain legal assistance within the USA to address the breach of contract,” the statement noted.

“After several unsuccessful attempts to recover the appearance fees from the American boxer, the company instituted a legal action against Mayweather in 2018 where it alleged breach of contract, unjust enrichment and fraud against the former champion. We are grateful that two courts have granted a prayer by Zinni Media Ltd to impose terminating sanctions against Mayweather.”

It would be recalled that on October 31, 2023, a lower court had ordered Mayweather to pay Zinni $1,638,542 in damages, $721,881.32 in prejudgment interest, $16,270 in sanctioned attorney fees, as well as $285 in costs.

Dissatisfied with the judgement, Mayweather however filed an appeal. On August 27, 2024, the California Court of Appeal upheld the ruling of the lower court. The judgment was confirmed by court documents dated August 27, 2024 and endorsed by Eva McClintock, Clerk of the Court of Appeals of the State of California.

The document is referenced Second Appellate District, Case No. B334403; County Super. Ct. No. 19VECV00170). Okeke & Associates, PC., by Patrick I. Okeke, Esq., represented the Plaintiff and Appellant (Zinni), while the Defendant and Respondent (Mayweather) was represented by Eisner LLP, by Jeremiah Reynolds, Esq., and Benjamin Kassis, Esq.

The statement said despite the ruling of the court of appeal and finality on the case, Mayweather had still refused to pay the judgment sum which continues to grow at 10% per annum.

In a bid to enforce the judgement, the court has instructed the US attorneys to target Mayweather’s 2015 Bugatti GSV or his 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, both valued over the judgment amount, Zinni Media Ltd further stated.

“We have already defeated Mayweather and his attorneys on numerous occasions during the proceedings so the enforcement of the judgement will be duly applied,” the statement read.

“Our forensic investigators have also uncovered a substantial number of Mayweather’s valued assets showing that he was very successful but clearly overstating his true net worth.”

Prince Okonkwo was an Anambra governorship aspirant and currently the Honorary Counsel of Democratic Republic of Congo to Nigeria. He also owns the popular eatery, Tetrazzini.

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