A federal magistrate judge in Florida has recommended that boxing promoter Triller pay about $6.16 million to Epic Sports and Entertainment, Inc. in a dispute arising from unpaid obligations connected to a 2022 boxing event and promises of future fights for two boxers. The two boxers were not identified in the ruling but were likely heavyweight Kubrat Pulev and his brother, cruiserweight Tervel Pulev. In a 25-page report issued November 2nd, U.S. Magistrate Judge Ryon M. McCabe recommended entering a default judgment against Triller Hold Co LLC and Triller Fight Club, LLC, jointly and severally, for $6,162,965.64. The ruling is not binding yet, as it is only a recommendation that remains subject to review by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon. The dispute dates to May 2022, when Triller promoted a boxing event in California. According to the lawsuit, Triller owed approximately $1 million following the event. Rather than immediately pursuing litigation, Epic entered into a settlement agreement with the companies in July 2022.
Under that agreement, Triller was required to pay $1.1 million in installments and arrange two additional bouts by February 2023. One fighter was promised a Triad Combat appearance, while the other was to receive a tune-up fight paying at least $150,000. Triller made an initial $100,000 payment but failed to make the remaining $1 million payment by the contractual deadline. According to the complaint, Triller representatives subsequently issued two checks totaling $1 million knowing the account contained insufficient funds. The checks bounced, although Triller ultimately made the payment on August 19, 2022, nineteen days late.
Neither of the promised future fights materialized. Epic also alleged that Triller had already decided to abandon the combat sports business before entering into the settlement agreement and therefore never intended to fulfill its promises concerning future bouts.
In March 2026, Judge Cannon granted partial summary judgment in Epic's favor, awarding $1.7 million for breach of contract, including $400,000 in liquidated damages, $1.25 million relating to the canceled fight opportunities and $50,000 in contractual legal fees. Triller's attorneys subsequently withdrew from the case, and the companies failed to retain replacement counsel despite a court order to do so. A default was entered in June. In his latest recommendation, Judge McCabe concluded that Epic had sufficiently established a fraudulent inducement claim based on Triller's alleged promises to arrange fights despite having already decided to exit the business.
The judge recommended an additional $2.2 million in consequential damages, relying on testimony from boxing industry expert David Berlin concerning lost promotional and marketing opportunities for the two fighters. Epic requested $10 million in punitive damages, but McCabe recommended $1 million, finding that amount sufficient for punishment and deterrence given the economic nature of the harm. The recommended judgment also includes approximately $1.12 million in prejudgment interest, $142,000 in attorneys' fees and $2,034 in costs.
McCabe rejected Epic's separate negligent misrepresentation claim and its attempt to treat the bounced checks as an independent fraud claim. Triller has seven days to object to the recommendation.
