While promoter Don King has been looking to formally block a scheduled fight between Jai Opetaia and Noel Mikaelian on a Zuffa card headlined by Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn this weekend, ESPN reports that Zuffa plans to follow through with the cruiserweight bout as currently scheduled, despite King’s legal objections.
Zuffa promoter Dana White told media members of his plans to carry on with the fight, noting that he’s never been in the business of tortious interference as has been alleged by King.
“He’s fighting this weekend,” White told reporters at Contender Series in Las Vegas. “If you look at us over the last 25 years, and now that we’re in boxing — this f—ing sport is the most unsophisticated sport I have ever seen in my life, it’s f—ed up for a reason. I’ve always had good dealings with Don. When have you ever seen a scenario with us where we go and try to interfere with someone’s contract? We don’t do it.”
I can only imagine with Zuffa taking this position that King may now try to look to the courts for some kind of injunctive relief to prevent the fight from taking place. But as of now, steady is the course.
