By Miguel Rivera
Former two division world champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez insists that he was deceived by All Star Boxing President Felix 'Tutico' Zabala - when the two of them were working together several years ago.
Zabala has sued Canelo Alvarez and Golden Boy Promotions in Miami, Florida - and they are currently engaged in an ongoing trial. In the legal documents, Zabala claims to have signed Canelo to a four-year promotional agreement in 2008. There was a clause that extending that agreement if Canelo became world champion during the time frame of the deal - but Zabala claims the Mexican superstar violated the terms of that contract by signing with Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy the following year.
Zabala filed the lawsuit in 2011 and the trial started a few weeks ago. The witnesses were finished up on Friday and on Monday both sides are expected to give their closing arguments before the jury is ordered to decide on a verdict.
Canelo has long claimed that he was under the impression that Zabala presented him with a document to sign for the purposes of obtaining a work visa for the United States. He says the document was written in English and he knew nothing of a promotional agreement.
"For me this was a work visa application and never a [promotional] contract. I signed [with Golden Boy] because that was my intention from the beginning, being with Golden Boy, and we had no [promotional contract] contract with anyone else," Canelo said.
Zabala is seeking $27 million in damages, plus other expenses caused by the breakdown of his relationship with Alvarez, who is now one of the kings of pay-per-view and generated, according to estimates, more than $300 million in revenue over the years.
Canelo had nine fights under the promotion of All Star Boxing. The first on the 24th of November 2008 and the last on December 5, 2009 against Lanardo Tyner. For these fights in a span of 13 months, Zabala claims Canelo pocketed about $180,000. Canelo then accepted an offer from De La Hoya and signed with Golden Boy Promotions. Since leaving Zabala, he's had 17 fights.
