Golden Boy Promotions is sending a cease-and-desist letter to Zuffa Boxing, TKO Group Holdings, Paramount and Saudi Arabia’s Sela over alleged interference involving Ryan Garcia.
According to the letter, Golden Boy claims it has not approved or participated in negotiations for a rumored Garcia vs. Conor Benn fight, even though the bout has been linked to September 12 in Las Vegas. The issue reportedly escalated after Golden Boy learned Zuffa could announce Garcia-Benn during UFC 328 on Paramount+.
Garcia recently won the WBC welterweight title by defeating Mario Barrios, and Golden Boy says it still has final say as his promoter. The letter also states that Garcia is contractually tied to Golden Boy’s streaming partner DAZN, not Paramount+.
“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,” attorney Ricardo P. Cestero wrote in the letter.
Oscar De La Hoya had said just a day earlier that he was willing to work with all major promoters, including Dana White and Zuffa, if Garcia wanted the Benn fight. But he also made clear that any deal would need to go through Golden Boy.
Image Credit: DAZN