Oscar De La Hoya issues legal letter to Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing that could collapse Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn fight

Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions have issued a cease-and-desist letter to Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

The letter, which was obtained by talkSPORT.com on Thursday, has called for Zuffa and TKO Group Holdings, as well as broadcaster Paramount to immediately halt any discussions with Ryan Garcia.

Golden Boy claims that Zuffa went behind its back to negotiate a fight between Garcia, whom De La Hoya’s promotional outfit represents, and Conor Benn for September 12.

Attorney Ricardo P. Cestero alleges that Golden Boy are obligated to engage in discussions alongside Garcia’s King Ryan Promotions.

The letter also states that Garcia is contracted to fight on Golden Boy’s broadcast partner, DAZN, and not Paramount+, which streams Zuffa’s fights.

Among the legal jargon, Cestero writes that the fight is a ‘direct violation of Golden Boy’s and DAZN’s rights’.

What does the cease and desist letter say?

“Golden Boy has not approved of or agreed to the terms of any such bout, nor has Golden Boy been involved in the negotiations of any such bout,” reads the letter.

“Accordingly, Golden Boy hereby demands that you immediately cease and desist from any negotiations or discussions regarding any potential boxing match featuring Ryan Garcia, unless Golden Boy is a direct participant in any and all such negotiations.”

The letter goes on to add that any such agreement is ‘unauthorised, void, and subject to immediate termination’.

De La Hoya told BoxingScene earlier this week that he had not been contacted about a fight between Garcia and Benn.

“I’m hearing rumblings and rumours. Nobody’s talked to me,” he said.

“We obviously have the final say because I am Ryan Garcia’s promoter.

Getty

Getty

‘This is the one thing I can tell you: We work with every promoter, even if it has to be Dana White and Zuffa.”

Zuffa’s legal issues pile up

Golden Boy is the latest promotional company to take action against Zuffa.

Last week, Ben Shalom’s BOXXER sued the rising promotion for unlawfully poaching fighters from its roster.

BOXXER sought ‘injunctive relief’ against Zuffa and broadcaster Sky Sports for featuring fighters who are alleged to have been ‘subject to binding contractual obligations’ with the British promoter on a card in Bournemouth last weekend.

Chris Billam-Smith and Sam Hickey are reportedly the fighters at the centre of the dispute.

Zuffa also ran into legal issues with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions in February.

Queensberry sent letters of intended action for a $1billion lawsuit against TKO and Saudi financer Sela over alleged breached contracts through the formation of Zuffa Boxing.

talkSPORT.com has reached out to Zuffa Boxing for comment.

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