Mike Tyson faces $2.3 million lawsuit as Jake Paul considers his next opponent
Mike Tyson has been sued for more than $2.3 million AUD by a Cyprus-based company that claims the former heavyweight boxing champion wrongfully broke a promotional contract in order to fight Jake Paul.
Medier, which promotes betting company Rabona, filed suit in London's High Court against Tyson and his company Tyrannic.
The suit claims Tyson terminated the deal in March by alleging that Medier breached their agreement, which had been signed in January.
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"The true reason for Mr. Tyson and Tyrannic’s hasty and unlawful termination was because Mr. Tyson had agreed a deal, sponsored by Netflix, to fight the influencer Jake Paul,” the lawsuit states.
Jake Paul and Tyson shake hands after taking home massive pay cheques. Al Bello/Getty Images for Netflix
Medier seeks the return of more than $1.2 million in fees paid to Tyson “in return for which no services were provided” and $1.1 million in “wasted production and promotion costs,” according to the filing.
The 58-year-old made a reported $31 million in last month's lacklustre bout against the 27-year-old Paul in front of more than 70,000 fans at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys. Paul won an eight-round unanimous decision. It was streamed live on Netflix.
Tyson's lawyers argue that Medier breached the contract by failing to obtain Tyson's approval of promotional materials.
The news comes as Paul considers his next opponent and a rematch with former foe Tommy Fury.
Fury's January fight with former UFC star Darren Till was called off by the former heavyweight champ's brother, over fears Till would use MMA tactics.
Tommy Fury is looking for a fight. PA Images via Getty Images
The YouTube performer has called for the bout for to be over 12 rounds, while his trainer sent a message to Fury regarding his asking price.
"Tommy's unreasonable with the money and he's unreasonable with what he's worth. So I don't feel like it's mandatory for Jake to fight Tommy again before anybody else. If it made sense business-wise, if not then no," BJ Flores told the The Mirror US.
"Tommy's not gonna get an opportunity like that with anybody else in the world. Trust me, that'll will never come Tommy's way again. So if he's reasonable on the money and reasonable on the price, yeah, get the fight again."
Paul's only defeat is a split decision loss to Fury in 2023.
