Frank Warren and Queensberry Promotions are reportedly preparing to launch a $1 billion lawsuit against TKO Group and Saudi Arabia’s Sela, according to a report in The Telegraph.
The dispute centers on the partnership between Sela, TKO and Zuffa Boxing, and Warren’s exclusion from it. Queensberry contends that in 2023 they signed an agreement with Sela to provide boxing services for its events, granting access to their operational methods and show-building framework. The company also claims a contract with TKO gave the group access to Queensberry’s agreement with Sela, and that privileged information was later used after they were allegedly left out of the newly formed structure.
The Sela-TKO-Zuffa alliance, fronted by Turki Alalshikh, Dana White and Nick Khan, has quickly become a major force in boxing. The group has secured a broadcast deal with Paramount+, held talks with Sky Sports in the UK, signed cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia and Conor Benn, and reportedly recruited around 100 fighters after only a handful of shows.
Queensberry argues that the formation of the new entity without their involvement breached existing agreements and is seeking $1 billion in lost income. Legal correspondence has reportedly already been exchanged, and Warren is said to be prepared to take the matter to the High Court if no resolution is reached.
A Sela spokesperson told The Telegraph they were “disappointed” by the “unfounded claims” and said they “reject them in their entirety.”
Image Credit: Queensberry Promotions