decorated amateur andy cruzwho signed with match room Boxing earlier this year and who so far has a 2-0 professional record, has filed an eight-count complaint against New Champions Promotions, LLC (NCP) and the company’s president, Jesse Rodriguez, individually. BoxeoEscena.com and and rafael Both have reported the filing of the lawsuit.
Andy Cruz files suit against New Champion Promotions
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Cruz takes action over non-payment of signing bonus
BoxingScene.com reported that 2020 Olympic gold medalist Andy Cruz has filed an eight-count complaint against New Champions Promotions and his company’s president, Jesse Rodriguez. The lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
As explained in the report, the complaint refers to the Ali LawViolation of California Business and Professions Code §§18628, Breach of Contract, Breach of Duty of Good Faith and Fair Dealing, Breach of Fiduciary Duty, Conversion, Account and Declaratory Relief.
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Gregory Smith, as Cruz’s representative said about the lawsuit. “Tragically, Cruz’s promoter, New Champions Promotions, LLC. and its director, Jesse Rodríguez, have abused Cruz’s trust by taking his money, which constitutes both a breach of their contract and a violation of the law.” Smith added: “Despite having participated in only two professional boxing fights, Cruz is recognized as one of the best boxers in the world in his division.”
The Cuban boxer is seeking compensation of more than $100,000, and Matchroom Boxing is also named in the lawsuit, but only as Cruz’s co-promoter and not for any crime. The report also mentions that Rodriguez signed Cruz with the promise that they would promote his fights, but instead he arranged a co-promotion deal with Matchroom. The suggestion is that Rodríguez acted as manager and promoter, a violation of the Ali Law.
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The agreement allows Cruz’s payments to be made from Matchroom to NCP, with the expectation that he receives the correct amount. The complaint says that the Cuban fighter only received a portion of his signing bonus, and the rest was retained by NCP for the benefit of the company and Rodríguez.
The Miami resident acknowledges in the lawsuit that Matchroom has made all agreed-upon payments, but NCP intends to act as his manager and not his co-promoter. In the report, Smith also said: “A judicial determination of party rights is necessary and appropriate to ensure that NCP and/or NO steal more money from Cruz or interfere with his career.”
