Diana Marti-The boxer was ordered by a Miami judge to pay $8.5 million in damages for unjust enrichment to the promoter that he had prior to joining Oscar de la Hoya's, Golden Boy Promotions.
Felix "Tutico" Zabala, who originally brought Álvarez from Mexico to fight in the United States, received a verdict six years after he filed the lawsuit against the fighter for tortious interference and breach of contract.
According to ESPN, in 2011, Zabala contended that he signed Alvarez to a four-year promotional deal in 2008 and that Golden Boy interfered and stole Álvarez.
The trial lasted three weeks before Judge Migna Sanchez, then the jury deliberated for three hours before coming to a verdict.
"I'm very happy. This case was about dignity and to create a precedent in the sport. I did it for my father's legacy, for my son who is coming up in the business, and for all promoters," Zabala told ESPN. "This is a very momentous moment in my company's and family's history, and bottom line: We won an $8.5 million dollar verdict against Canelo Álvarez."
But the story doesn't stop here—Álvarez plans to appeal.
"It is absurd to think that All-Star Boxing provided anywhere near that amount [$8.5 million] of value that the jury awarded under a separate claim. We will appeal this part of the decision, and are confident we will win, just as we did on the contract dispute," Golden Boy said in a statement. "Outside of appealing the financial damages, we now look forward to putting this episode behind us and working with Canelo to continue his meteoric rise though the boxing ranks."
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