Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been ordered by a U.S. Appellate Court to pay ₦4.2 billion in damages to the Nigerian company Zinni Media Concept Limited for breach of contract and allegations of fraud.
Court documents obtained by Gistmania reveal that the California Court of Appeal upheld a previous ruling declaring Floyd Mayweather Jr. in breach of contract. The contract required the former world champion to make several appearances in Africa, including a scheduled event in Nigeria in June 2017. However, Mayweather failed to fulfill the agreement, abruptly terminating it without justification and refusing to return the advance payment made by Zinni Media.
Despite multiple attempts by Zinni’s CEO, Prince Donatus Okonkwo, to negotiate a refund, Mayweather and his legal team argued they were not liable because the company operated outside U.S. jurisdiction.
Zinni Media subsequently filed a lawsuit against Mayweather, resulting in a judgment on October 31, 2023. The lower court ordered him to pay $1,638,542 in damages, $721,881.32 in prejudgment interest, $16,270 in attorney fees, and $285 in costs.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, Mayweather appealed, but the California Court of Appeal upheld the lower court’s decision on August 27, 2024. Following the verdict, Zinni Media’s media executive, Alex Nwankwo, expressed satisfaction with the appellate court’s findings, which confirmed Mayweather’s liability.
“After several unsuccessful attempts to recover the appearance fees from the American boxer, the company instituted legal action against Mayweather in 2018, alleging breach of contract, unjust enrichment, and fraud,”
the statement read.
In an effort to enforce the judgment, the court has instructed U.S. attorneys to target Mayweather’s high-value assets, including a 2015 Bugatti Veyron and a 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, both of which are valued well above the judgment amount.
“We have consistently succeeded against Mayweather and his attorneys throughout this process, and we are committed to ensuring the enforcement of the judgment,”
