Top Rank Boxing president Todd duBoef sued for alleged withholding of millions, organized crime links involving Daniel Kinahan

Top Rank Boxing president Todd duBoef has been charged with a lawsuit that alleges duBoef of withholding millions in unpaid fees from former company associate William Keane and misleading ESPN about financial dealings involving an alleged crime boss, Daniel Kinahan. The lawsuit, filed on February 27 in a California federal court, accuses duBoef of breach of contract, promissory fraud, and unjust enrichment. It also claims Keane is is seeking damages exceeding $25 million.

Top Rank and ESPN contract at stake following the legal turmoil involving Todd duBoef and organized crime boss Daniel Kinahan

Keane, a boxing manager, joined Top Rank in 2018 and played a key role in signing high-profile fighters such as Tyson Fury. According to the lawsuit, Top Rank founder Bob Arum personally assured Keane that his efforts to secure major fighters for the company’s exclusive deal with ESPN would be rewarded with 10% of the earnings from each fighter whom he helped sign in. However, duBoef eventually ceased payments, which has also encouraged ESPN's recent decision not to renew its broadcasting partnership with Top Rank.

A key revelation in the lawsuit involves the financing of the Tyson Fury vs. Deontay Wilder fight. The lawsuit alleges that due to lack of funds required to cover the fight, duBoef had to secretly rely on financial assistance from Kinahan, an alleged organized crime boss rumoured to be linked to Fury. The filing claims that duBoef authorized Keane to collaborate with Kinahan but instructed him to ensure ESPN remained unaware of the arrangement. The lawsuit notes that Kinahan had been publicly identified by Irish media as the leader of a drug cartel, which could put Top Rank’s standing with ESPN at stake, had the connection been exposed.

“DuBoef authorized Keane to move forward [with Kinahan], but he admonished Keane that ESPN could not find out that Kinahan was involved. According to duBoef, the Irish press had reported that Kinahan was the head of a drug cartel, and if duBoef were linked to Kinahan, ESPN might be forced to terminate their deal,” the suit, filed by Los Angeles lawyer Patricia Glaser, alleges.

The legal battle came at a time when Top Rank’s long-standing relationship with ESPN is set to end in August and awaits renewal. Besides duBoef’s inability to match his stepfather Arum’s influence and credibility as Top Rank’s leader contributed to the company's difficulties in maintaining its stack of elite fighters.

Keane asserts that duBoef never disputed his unpaid earnings but chose to withhold payments to conserve Top Rank’s financial resources following ESPN’s decision to part ways. Neither duBoef, Top Rank, nor Keane have publicly commented on the lawsuit.

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This case marks another legal challenge for Top Rank, which was previously sued by boxer Terence Crawford over breach of contract and allegations of racial bias.