FANMIO has filed a lawsuit against Ryan Garcia and Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.
The US entertainment company is suing both parties for alleged fraudulent inducement, tortious interference, and other serious claims.
GETTYGarcia was set to box Anpo on New Year’s Eve[/caption]
FANMIO’s lawsuit centres around Garcia‘s cancelled exhibition bout with Ruikya Anpo, a Japanese kickboxer best-known for his non-scoring clash with Manny Pacquiao last year.
The pair were set to square off this past New Year’s Eve at the Saitama Super Arena in Tokyo, Japan under the FANMIO banner.
However, Garcia pulled out of the fight with a wrist injury.
The lawsuit claims that Garcia withdrew from the contest as a result of Golden Boy allegedly working to sabotage the event.
“Specifically, Garcia agreed to participate in an exhibition fight in Japan — a fight which Fanmio agreed to promote and broadcast to millions of viewers through its worldwide pay-per-view streaming network,” the lawsuit reads.
“Thereafter, Golden Boy — threatened by Fanmio’s involvement — improperly used its influence over and contract with Garcia to prevent the match from happening.
“But not only was the boxing match not prohibited by the Golden Boy contract, but also the king’s ransom demanded by Golden Boy to allow the fight to go forward ultimately led to the boxer relying on a pre-existing injury and backing out of the fight — when Fanmio refused to agree to Golden Boy’s terms.
“This, however, was not until Fanmio had already incurred over $1 million in expenses working to promote the Dec. 31, 2024 fight.”
The lawsuit goes on to state that FANMIO was “deceived into organizing an event in which Ryan never intended to participate.”
FANMIO is suing for in excess of $75,000, exclusive of interest, attorneys’ fees and costs.
Tom Hogan – Hogan Photos/Golden BoyFANMIO allege that Golden Boy Promotions ‘sabotaged’ the event[/caption]
The complaint states: “This action is the story of a suspended boxer, Garcia—in dire need of earning opportunities—who found a promoter and a worldwide entertainment broadcast company (Fanmio)willing to take a chance on him; only for Garcia to abandon them when another promoter (Golden Boy) improperly claimed that an exhibition boxing match – in which Garcia was contractually obligated to participate – could not happen because of Golden Boy’s contract with Garcia.”
At the time, Garcia was serving a one-year suspension from the New York State Athletic Commission (NYSAC) after testing positive for the banned substance clomifene in two tests taken around his fight with Devin Haney in April 2024.
Most commissions honoured the ban, although Garcia was permitted to compete in Japan.
‘King Ry’s suspension ends on April 20, 2025.
After which, he has signed to fight Rolly Romero on May 2 at Times Square, New York.
“Garcia could have fought in both the exhibition and the Times Square fight,” the lawsuit adds.
“Both Fanmio and Golden Boy and Garcia could have made substantial profits.
“However, Fanmio is left holding the bag — quite literally — for the sums that it had already expanded in order to promote the exhibitions, as well as the millions in lost profits it sustained as a result of Garcia and Golden Boy’s misconduct.
“Those costs had already been incurred prior to Garcia feigning injury in Dec. 2024.
“Upon information and belief, Garcia is being paid $40million for the Times Square fight and his next fight through Golden Boy.
“Golden Boy is expected to see profits well in excess of that given Garcia’s popularity.
“On the other hand, in addition to losing out on the $1million that Fanmio had already incurred promoting the exhibition, Fanmio will not take home any profits on a fight which will not take place — profits that could have totaled in excess of $10million.”
