Zabala on Paying Golden Boy's Legal Fees: 100% False, Inaccurate

By Jake Donovan

The court case may be done, but the bad blood continues between All-Star Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions.

Upon the official verdict being handed down in the Dade County court house Monday evening, both sides claimed victory from separate rulings over the manner in which Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez made his way from All-Star Boxing to Golden Boy Promotions.

The final jury deliberation revealed that Golden Boy was fully exonerated of any wrongdoing, rejecting the suggestion of tortious interference on the part of the California-based promotional outfit in nabbing Alvarez from All-Star Boxing.

However, it was determined that Alvarez benefited from “unjust enrichment” over that time frame. By working with All-Star Boxing head Felix ‘Tutico’ Zabala Jr. and moving his career from his native Mexico to the United States, the jury found that such relationship built the foundation in becoming the star that he is today, even if the past several years were under Golden Boy’s watch.

Still, his meteoric rise to stardom was enough to have the jury turn in an $8.5 million settlement in All-Star Boxing’s favor. Because Golden Boy was cleared, punitive damages do not apply to the final tally.

What is now up for debate is whom will be required to pick up the tab for legal fees incurred. The trial began on May 23, but the wheels were put in motion way back in 2010, shortly after Alvarez stopped reporting to All-Star Boxing, who insisted there existed a four-year promotional contract dating back to 2008, with several of their nine fights together including Golden Boy as at least a co-promoter.

Golden Boy claimed in a statement through its press office that the company is “extremely pleased that not only did the jury find that no contract ever existed between Canelo and All-Star Boxing, but issued a judgment against All-Star boxing and ordered them to pay Golden Boy’s substantial legal fees.

“However, it is absurd to think that All-Star Boxing provided anywhere near that amount of value that the jury awarded under a separate claim. We will appeal this part of the decision, and are confident we will win, just as we did on the contract dispute. Outside of appealing the financial damages, we now look forward to putting this episode behind us and working with Canelo to continue his meteoric rise though the boxing ranks.”

While Golden Boy celebrates its name being cleared and moving toward hoping to win an appeal on Alvarez’ behalf, the other side sees it plain and simple as a clean victory.

“The claims that the Court has ruled that Golden Boy's attorney fees and costs have to be paid by All Star Boxing are 100% false and inaccurate,” Zabala Jr. told BoxingScene.com via email Monday evening. “This is a very momentous moment in my company's and family's history, and bottom line we won an $8.5 million verdict against Canelo Alvarez.”

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Follow his shiny new Twitter account: @JakeNDaBox_v2