Controversial boxing promoter Don King and his Florida-based production company are being sued by BYD Sports and its CEO Cecil Miller in a civil case for fraud, defamation, breach of contract, and other charges. They are seeking $3 billion in damages, according to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
The complaint and court documents outline that King encouraged Miller to organize a 50th-anniversary event called Rumble in the Jungle 2 in Africa, which Miller pursued despite not having a formal agreement.
After setting up plans for a major boxing event in Nigeria, which included performances by stars like John Legend, Alicia Keys, and Wyclef Jean, King allegedly withdrew when Miller asked for his help promoting it, distancing himself from Miller before the event could be finalized.
Attorney Anthony J.M. Jones, representing Miller, said King caused the event to fall apart at the last minute after trying to stay uninvolved in the planning. Jones called it “a sad day for the sport,” adding that it was now too late to stage the anniversary of the historic 1974 Ali vs. Foreman fight in Africa.
King did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The court documents also include a cease-and-desist letter from King that was similar to one he posted on Instagram, accusing Miller of falsely claiming that King had authorized the event. Miller’s lawyer denied these accusations, calling King’s actions “sabotage.”
The complaint reveals that King and Miller had a good relationship early on. King claimed his past controversies were behind him and that he had turned to religion after his wife’s death in 2010. He told Miller, referred to in the complaint as “a preacher’s son,” that working together could help improve his reputation.
They made a deal for a fight involving boxer Alonzo “Big Zo” Butler and King’s company, Don King Productions. The fight took place in August 2021, but both fighters have since passed away.
Afterward, King mentioned plans for Rumble in the Jungle 2 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the famous Ali vs. Foreman fight. The original 1974 bout, held in the Democratic Republic of Congo, is remembered for Ali’s strategic victory over the undefeated Foreman, and it helped make King famous. Miller was excited about King’s idea, according to the complaint.
As their friendship grew, King gave Miller a rare coin and spoke to his father and daughter. A year later, Miller followed up with King about the anniversary event. At the time, King was 92 years old, and Miller believed he could help organize the event in Africa in 2024.
Miller claims BYD sent King a proposal to make their partnership official, but King did not provide a written response. Despite this, King continued to check in verbally with Miller about the event’s progress.
Miller brought in bankers from Africa and the U.S. to help, and King was aware of the event’s development. Instead of signing an agreement, they decided to post a video on social media where King confirmed his involvement.
In January 2024, they discussed Nigeria as a possible venue for the event, along with the Global Entrepreneurship Festival. Miller’s BYD and festival organizers entered into a memorandum of understanding for five boxing matches in front of invited guests, including world leaders and industry heads.
But when BYD invited King to join a Zoom meeting to promote the event in July, King allegedly ignored calls and emails between July and October.
Miller then found out that King allegedly did not own the rights to the Rumble in the Jungle name. Despite this, Miller continued to pursue the event, exploring licensing the name and seeking other options. He also recruited boxing champions and began working with a pay-per-view partner and potential sponsors.
But in October, King claimed he knew nothing about Miller’s plans and sent cease-and-desist letters to Nigerian officials, causing the event to fall apart.
The complaint also states that the original Ali vs. Foreman fight earned $100 million at the time, which would be equivalent to $600 million today. Miller is seeking $600 million in damages and an additional $2.4 billion in potential damages, along with a formal apology from King.
