Floyd Mayweather Jr. sued by Rahman brothers over 'forced fights' aired on Showtime
- Rahmans claim they were not told fights were being filmed
- Brit Donovan Cameron involved in one 31 minute round
- Mayweather says fights were not real
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is the subject of a lawsuit from the Rahman brothers. Photograph: STEVE MARCUS/REUTERS
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is being sued by two brothers who were involved in fights used in the Showtime “All Access” segments before the
champion’s fight against Marcos Maidana in September.
According to to KTNV.com, Sharif Rahman and his brother Hasim Rahman Jr, members of the Mayweather Boxing Club, were asked to got the club for a sparring session on 21 August. That sparring session, against Briton Donovan Cameron, was then filmed for All Access without the brothers’ knowledge, and then broadcast by the Showtime network.
The lawsuit claims that the fight went on for several rounds lasting five to seven minutes, that when Sharif asked for shorter rounds the request was denied, and when he tried to leave the ring Mayweather “responded by telling Cameron and others that if Sharif left the ring to beat his ass outside the ring”.
Sharif allegedly “feared for his safety and was forced to continue the fight”. When Hasim came to the club after being told what was happening he challenged Cameron to a fight – and that fight lasted 31 minutes without any break. It is also alleged that Mayweather bet “large sums of money” against Hasim.
Donovan Cameron talks about the 31 minute round against Hasim Rahma Jr.
Both these fights were then aired on Showtime, allegedly without the permission of the Rahmans, and were edited so that Sharif was made to seem an “unskilled boxer”.
The Rahmans are seeking punitive damages for invasion of right of intrusion upon name or likeness, false light and defamation, battery, tortious assault, false imprisonment, negligence and intentional interference with potential economic advantage.
The Nevada State Athletic Commission demanded that Mayweather appear before them to explain the fights after the body saw them air – concerned about the fighters involved and the references to marijuana in the segment. Mayweather told the commission that the fights and the bets were not real, and that he would inform them in the future before any fake elements aired on Showtime. The commission accepted Mayweather’s assurances and no further action was taken.
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