Don King issues cease-and-desist letter to Zuffa over Noel Mikaelian-Jai Opetaia fight

Veteran promoter Don King on Tuesday delivered a cease-and-desist letter to Zuffa Boxing and parent company TKO Group Holdings attempting to stop King-promoted WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian from fighting in Saturday’s co-main event bout versus former IBF champion Jai Opetaia.

Calling the bout’s creation “indefensible” and “disturbing,” King attorney Alejuandro Brito wrote, “TKO/Zuffa’s actions are outrageous and a clear tortious interference with DKP’s agreement. Based on emails between you and DKP’s legal counsel, there is absolutely no doubt that TKO/Zuffa was, and is, aware that DKP is Noel’s promoter.

“I understand that you were personally involved in discussions with [King counsel] regarding a potential fight or multi-fight deal for Mikaelian, which would include a fight with Opetaia, and that no agreement was consummated.”

Zuffa Boxing officials did not immediately respond to BoxingScene requests for comment on the cease-and-desist letter, but Mikaelian told BoxingScene last week that his contract with King allows him to identify and agree to competing offers, and that’s what has happened here.

Mikaelian-Opetaia is positioned as co-main event to Ryan Garcia’s WBC welterweight title defense versus England’s Conor Benn at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

Armenia’s Mikaelian won back the WBC cruiserweight title with a unanimous-decision victory over Badou Jack in Los Angeles in December.

Expressing frustration that King didn’t move to make him a fight, Mikaelian and his advisor were in talks with Zuffa to stage a bout versus unbeaten Zuffa cruiserweight champion Opetaia.

The WBC then ruled Mikaelian must first meet unified 200lbs champion and WBC light-heavyweight titlist David Benavidez. When negotiations stalled, Mikaelian went back to Zuffa’s Opetaia deal, and the fighter told BoxingScene last week he was no longer fretting about being stripped of his belt.

That is expected to happen Saturday night when the first bell rings.

King’s legal team, of course, is working to stop the fight entirely.

“It is particularly disturbing to know that TKO/Zuffa’s COO, Harrison Whitman, and the head of TKO/Zuffa, Dana White, had at least

one virtual conference with DKP’s President, Don King … in an effort to secure a provision of services deal for Mikaelian, again which included a fight with Opetaia,” Brito wrote to a TKO Group Holdings senior vice president and general counsel.

“Although no deal was reached, it is indefensible for Zuffa/TKO to completely ignore the DKP agreement, the promoter-fighter relationship between DKP and Mikaelian, and circumvent DKP and engage the services of Mikaelian for the bout with Opetaia.”

Mikaelian’s contention that he and his advisor were empowered to make fights on their own are disputed by King attorney Brito.

“The DKP agreement grants Mikaelian the right to ‘discuss and explore’ other fight opportunities, but only in consultation with DKP and under no circumstance can Mikaelian enter into an agreement with another party for his professional services without the expressed consent and permission of DKP,” Brito wrote.

“TKO/Zuffa’s actions … [are] a clear tortious interference of the agreement. DKP does not and has not granted TKO/Zuffa permission to engage the services of its fighter, Mikaelian. To be unequivocally clear, TKO/Zuffa’s actions constitute a knowing, intentional and unjustified tortious interference with the agreement. Any contracts that Mikaelian has entered into or shall enter into for his professional services as a fighter, without the express, written consent of DKP are void.

“The announced September 12 bout between Mikaelian and Opetaia cannot go forward. TKO/Zuffa must immediately cancel the bout between Mikaelian and Opetaia and announce such cancellation in the media immediately.”

A legal official familiar with Mikaelian’s agreement with King said they do not expect the fight to be stopped.