Legendary promoter seeks to derail heavyweight championship bout

Legendary boxing promoter Don King has reportedly threatened a lawsuit in regards to the proposed match between Michael Hunter and Jarrell Miller.

The 93-year-old King, who has been sitting on the sidelines in boxing since his heydays in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, said that Hunter was still contracted to him. Earlier this month, it had been reported that he had won a $1.1m purse bid with the WBA to stage a fight in the US between Hunter, 24-1-2 (17), and Kubrat Pulev, 32-3 (14).

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That seems to have blown over now, with Hunter now set to face Jarrell Miller, 26-2-1 (22), in September in the build-up to the fight between Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Terence Crawford.

Now, King has issued a cease-and-desist order to SELA and TKO Group Holdings, which are putting on Canelo-Crawford, in order to block the match between Hunter and Miller.

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“They continue to disobey the WBA and its clear directive on the Pulev-Hunter championship fight,” said King, although it is unclear as to whom King is referring.  “Hunter is under contract to Don King Productions and he’ll be fighting for a world championship.”

Back in July, King posted on Instagram that he was looking to put the fight on between Hunter and Pulev by the end of the year.

“After a bunch of lies and disposing of two appeals,” wrote King, “we are moving forward with looking for possible sites and sponsorships for this heavyweight championship to be held before the end of the year. Michael Hunter is excited for this great opportunity, and he plans to show the world that he will take the title from Pulev.”

King also posted in the middle of July on Instagram a statement that said that he and Hunter were ‘inseparable’.

He added: “He is excited about being in the United Kingdom for the fight this week and he’ll continue to train and get ready to knock out Pulev. He’s been working hard to prepare for this important fight of his career and he’s looking forward to what follows as well. “He’s ready to prove to the world that he is the true heavyweight champion. Let’s make it happen.”

That, unfortunately, no longer seems to be the case.

SELA and TKO Group are yet to respond publicly to the cease-and-desist order.