Floyd Mayweather Jr. Sues Showtime For Fraud

Allegations of Fraud and Missing Funds

Per TMZ, Mayweather is suing Showtime and Espinoza for aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, civil conspiracy to commit fraud, conversion, and unjust enrichment, while also seeking punitive damages on top of the alleged $340 million.

The complaint claims the funds are still “missing and unaccounted for,” alleging that Showtime and Espinoza routed money owed directly to Mayweather into accounts effectively controlled by Haymon.

Mayweather further alleges that when he and his new management team requested access to Showtime’s financial records, the network claimed the books were “lost in a flood” and therefore unavailable.

Mayweather’s attorney Bobby Samini told TMZ: “Floyd is one of boxing’s biggest pay-per-view draws. He generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for Showtime. Mr. Mayweather now takes this fight to the courtroom to recover what he rightfully earned. Retiring undefeated at 50-0, Mr. Mayweather will go the distance in the courtroom just as he has in the ring.”

The Showtime Era

The final seven professional bouts of Mayweather’s career from 2013 to 2017 were all staged on Showtime pay-per-view against Robert Guerrero, Canelo Álvarez, Marcos Maidana (twice), Manny Pacquiao, Andre Berto, and Conor McGregor.

“Money” Mayweather originally signed a six-fight, 30-month deal with Showtime/CBS in February 2013 after ending his long association with HBO. Throughout that run, he was consistently listed among the world’s highest-paid athletes.

While Espinoza served as the public face of Showtime’s boxing operation, Haymon founder of Premier Boxing Champions remained famously behind the scenes, as he has for decades.

Ironically, Mayweather often praised Haymon publicly during that period. In 2014, he said: “Me and Al Haymon work hand in hand. Al Haymon is a great guy, a tremendous guy… a man of his word.”

Fallout and Context

Mayweather last fought professionally in 2017 against McGregor and later boxed Logan Paul in a 2021 exhibition presented by Showtime. Since then, he has continued to participate in high-profile exhibitions worldwide.

In December, Business Insider published an investigation titled “Inside Floyd Mayweather’s lavish, debt-filled post-boxing life,” detailing a series of financial pressures the former champion is reportedly facing.

Mayweather, who turns 49 later this month, has been linked to a March exhibition against Mike Tyson, though details remain scarce. A potential rematch with Pacquiao has also been discussed publicly.

Showtime Sports shuttered operations in December 2023, and Espinoza exited the company at that time. He now works in advisory roles across boxing and other sports and is himself a lawyer, having previously represented fighters such as Tyson and Oscar De La Hoya.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has filed a sweeping lawsuit against Showtime, alleging he was defrauded of hundreds of millions of dollars during the most lucrative stretch of his Hall of Fame career.

According to a report published Tuesday by TMZ, Floyd Mayweather Jr. is seeking to recover “hundreds of millions of dollars in misappropriated funds and damages resulting from a long-running and elaborate scheme of financial fraud.”

The lawsuit, filed in a California court and obtained by TMZ, accuses longtime adviser Al Haymon of misappropriating a “significant portion” of Mayweather’s career earnings nearly $340 million with the alleged “substantial participation and aid” of former Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinoza.

Notably, Haymon is not named as a defendant. Instead, Showtime and Espinoza are listed in the suit.

Allegations of Fraud and Missing Funds

Per TMZ, Mayweather is suing Showtime and Espinoza for aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty, civil conspiracy to commit fraud, conversion, and unjust enrichment, while also seeking punitive damages on top of the alleged $340 million.

The complaint claims the funds are still “missing and unaccounted for,” alleging that Showtime and Espinoza routed money owed directly to Mayweather into accounts effectively controlled by Haymon.

Mayweather further alleges that when he and his new management team requested access to Showtime’s financial records. The network claimed the books were “lost in a flood” and therefore unavailable.

Mayweather’s attorney Bobby Samini told TMZ: “Floyd is one of boxing’s biggest pay-per-view draws. He generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue for Showtime. Mr. Mayweather now takes this fight to the courtroom to recover what he rightfully earned. Retiring undefeated at 50-0, Mr. Mayweather will go the distance in the courtroom just as he has in the ring.”

The Showtime Era

The final seven professional bouts of Mayweather’s career from 2013 to 2017 were all staged on Showtime pay-per-view. Against Robert Guerrero, Canelo Álvarez, Marcos Maidana (twice), Manny Pacquiao, Andre Berto, and Conor McGregor.

“Money” Mayweather originally signed a six-fight, 30-month deal with Showtime/CBS in February 2013 after ending his long association with HBO. Throughout that run, he was consistently listed among the world’s highest-paid athletes.

While Espinoza served as the public face of Showtime’s boxing operation. Haymon founder of Premier Boxing Champions remained famously behind the scenes, as he has for decades.

Ironically, Mayweather often praised Haymon publicly during that period. In 2014, he said: “Me and Al Haymon work hand in hand. Al Haymon is a great guy, a tremendous guy… a man of his word.”

Fallout and Context

Mayweather last fought professionally in 2017 against McGregor and later boxed Logan Paul in a 2021 exhibition presented by Showtime. Since then, he has continued to participate in high-profile exhibitions worldwide.

In December, Business Insider published an investigation titled “Inside Floyd Mayweather’s lavish, debt-filled post-boxing life,” detailing a series of financial pressures the former champion is reportedly facing.

Mayweather, who turns 49 later this month. Has been linked to a March exhibition against Mike Tyson, though details remain scarce. A potential rematch with Pacquiao has also been discussed publicly.

Showtime Sports shuttered operations in December 2023, and Espinoza exited the company at that time. He now works in advisory roles across boxing and other sports and is himself a lawyer. Having previously represented fighters such as Tyson and Oscar De La Hoya.