LAWSUIT: DON KING PAID AGBEKO JUST $4000 FOR 2008 TITLE DEFENSE!
By Scott Shaffer

Promoter charged with fraud, violations of Ali Act

Ex-IBF bantamweight champion Joseph Agbeko has sued Don King in New Jersey federal court, saying that the promoter defrauded him and violated the Muhammad Ali Act.  According to the lawsuit, King made huge deductions from Agbeko's purses, leaving the boxer with less than $20,000 per fight for several world title fights televised on Showtime and Versus. The most egregious claim says King paid Agbeko just $4000 for a 2008 title defense against William Gonzalez that was televised by Versus. Another shocker is the allegation that Agbeko got less than a third of what Abner Mares made in their first 2011 fight even though Agbeko was the defending champion for that bout. Agbeko, now managed by the respected Tom Moran but formerly managed by Vinny Scolpino at the time he fought for King, alleges he was not paid at all for one fight until he signed an extension of his promotional contract with King. Agbeko also says he never received the Muhammad Ali Act disclosures that federal law requires all promoters to make. Such disclosures would have revealed how much King was paid by the networks for each fight and allowed Agbeko a chance at meaningful negotiations for future bouts. King is also charged with fraud for allegedly making false deductions to Agbeko's purses.