Don King, the legendary boxing promoter who worked with icons like Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and George Foreman, is facing a $3 billion civil lawsuit over his failed attempt to revive the “Rumble in the Jungle” to mark the 50th anniversary of Ali and Foreman’s historic bout.
Cecil Miller accuses Don King of fraud, defamation and other claims
The legal complaint was filed by BYD Sports and its CEO, Cecil Miller, in the Southern District of New York, alleging fraud, defamation, breach of contract and other claims, according to the New York Law Journal.
In the suit, Miller accuses Don King, his production company Don King Productions and others involved in the project of sending a cease-and-desist letter to halt the anniversary event before it could launch. The event coincided with the 2024 Global Entrepreneurship Festival in Nigeria. It was set to feature a reputed match between “Sugar” Shane Mosley and Victor Ortiz, per the New York Law Journal.
What did King’s cease-and-desist letter say?
King sent the letter to Miller, asserting that he was not authorized to organize Rumble in the Jungle 2 and claiming that all of Miller’s efforts were fraudulent.
“My clients have received information that you are falsly representing to the Nigerian Government and others that DK/DKP has authorized you to stage an event know as ‘Rumble In The Jungle 50th Anniversary/The Freedom Belt (RJ50/Freedom Belt)’, this, as you well know, is not true. DK/DKP does not and has not granted you permission to solicit, discuss, negotiate or arrange this Event or any event under the guide of being affiliated with DK or DKP,” the letter states.
‘This is just a sad day for the sport’
Attorney Anthony J.M. Jones, representing Miller, told Fortune that King tried to halt the event during its final stages.
“It’s confounding when you look at how many people were working on this,” Jones told the outlet.
“This is just a sad day for the sport,” he added. “We are now in 2025 and there will never be a chance to do a 50th anniversary of a fight between Foreman and Ali — and to do it in Africa.”
What happened between King and Miller?
Before their falling out, King and Miller were on good terms, according to the complaint. The controversial promoter confided in Miller about his troubling past and wanted to do things differently after his wife died in 2010. The pair agreed to work together, striking a deal with boxer Alonzo “Big Zo” Butler and King’s production company, Don King Productions, per Fortune. King then mentioned the project to Miller.
He said Rumble in the Jungle 2 would be a 50th-anniversary event to celebrate the historic fight between the two legends that initially happened on Oct. 30, 1974, when Ali knocked out Foreman in the eighth round in Zaire, what is now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Miller was ready to move forward with it and alleged that King had given his verbal agreement for the project before going silent in the final months. Miller later found out King did not own the rights to Rumble in the Jungle, the suit states.
Miller is seeking $2.4 million in prospective damages based on the amount of money the historic fight brought in 51 years ago, along with a written apology, per Fortune.
