Top Rank says it has right to promote Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. until April 2016
Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.'s decision on Monday to announce he had hired Al Haymon as his manager was another way of saying that he no longer wants to be promoted by Top Rank.
Haymon and Top Rank CEO Bob Arum have a bitter feud and do not do business together. Arum told Yahoo Sports he could work with Haymon for one fight, if need be, but the significance of Chavez's announcement was that he would be moving forward and away from Top Rank.
Haymon is a licensed manager in Nevada, where Top Rank is based. Many in the boxing industry, however, believes that Haymon is actually a promoter and not a manager, which is illegal under federal law.
Top Rank filed suit against Chavez in U.S. District Court on Aug. 11 in Las Vegas, asking a judge to enforce its contract. According to the suit, Top Rank alleges it has the right to promote one more Chavez bout, until April 6, 2016.
"Top Rank has exclusive rights to another Chavez fight," Top Rank attorney Dan Petrocelli said. "The matter is pending in court, and anyone, including Mr. Haymon, who disregards this runs the risk of serious liability for interfering with Top Rank’s rights."
According to its lawsuit, a copy of which has been obtained by Yahoo Sports, Top Rank originally signed Chavez in October 2005. On April 26, 2010, the sides agreed to extend the deal until Oct. 6, 2012, according to the suit.
That deal had a clause which granted Top Rank an extension if Chavez won a recognized world championship, which he did when he defeated Sebastian Zbik by unanimous decision on June 4, 2011, in Los Angeles to capture the WBC middleweight title.
According to the suit, "By its terms, the Promotional Rights Agreement grants Top Rank additional rights under certain circumstances. For example, pursuant to Section 6 of the Promotional Rights Agreement, if Chavez were to become recognized as a world champion in any weight class by certain boxing organizations, then Top Rank “shall have the exclusive right and option to promote [Chavez’s] first five (5) title defenses or Bouts.
"Furthermore, Section 6(c) states that the "Term" of the Promotional Rights Agreement, culminating on Oct. 6, 2012, "shall be extended for such period of time as is required for presentation of the five (5) title defenses or bouts.' However, the extension "shall not exceed thirty (30) months beyond the Term."
Top Rank alleges that by defeating Zbik, the extension in Chavez's contract was triggered until April 6, 2015. But then Top Rank says in the suit that Chavez agreed on March 19, 2012, to grant Top Rank "an additional two (2) title defenses or bouts," on top of the "title defneses or bouts already provided pursuant to Section 6(c) of the Promotional Rights Agreement."
That agreement pushed the date to April 6, 2016, the suit argues. According to Top Rank's suit, Chavez believes the deal expired in September.
Top Rank is asking that a judge declare its contract valid and that Chavez be forced to be reasonable attorney fees and all costs of the suit.
