Boxing great Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. isn’t just fighting in the courtroom now — he’s going for the knockout in one of the most explosive legal battles in combat sports history.
On February 4, 2026, Mayweather filed a $340 million lawsuit against Showtime Networks and former Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinoza in Los Angeles Superior Court, accusing them of helping orchestrate a long-running scheme that allegedly misappropriated hundreds of millions of dollars from his biggest fight purses, including the record-setting bouts against Manny Pacquiao and Conor McGregor.
Legendary Career, Missing Money?
Mayweather — who retired with an undefeated 50-0 record and has generated more than $1.2 billion in career fight earnings — claims at least $340 million of that money is missing and unaccounted for.
According to the complaint, the alleged misdirection of funds happened through a complex web of hidden accounts, unauthorized transactions, and a deliberate concealment of financial records that Mayweather’s team says was enabled by Showtime and Espinoza.
While the lawsuit directly targets Showtime and Espinoza, it places much of the blame on Mayweather’s long-time former manager and advisor Al Haymon, alleging he masterminded much of the financial maneuvering — yet Haymon himself is not named as a defendant.
High Stakes: Pacquiao, McGregor & More
Central to Mayweather’s case are some of the biggest money-makers in boxing history — especially the Pacquiao superfight (still one of the highest-grossing pay-per-views ever) and the blockbuster McGregor crossover event in 2017.
The lawsuit alleges that instead of being paid directly to Mayweather, significant portions of fight revenue were routed into bank accounts controlled by others, including entities associated with Haymon. When Mayweather’s current team requested detailed financial breakdowns in 2024, Showtime reportedly told them that key records were either lost due to a flood or were inaccessible.
On top of the alleged missing winnings, the suit also claims that Showtime still owes Mayweather approximately $20 million from his 2015 bout against Andre Berto, money that was allegedly misclassified or used improperly.
Legal Allegations: Fraud, Conspiracy, Breach of Duty
The beef in the lawsuit isn’t just about unpaid money — Mayweather’s attorneys assert multiple serious causes of action, including:
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Breach of fiduciary duty
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Civil conspiracy to commit fraud
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Conversion
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Unjust enrichment
Mayweather is seeking not only the $340 million in compensatory damages, but also punitive damages potentially equal to or greater than the amount he claims is owed.
Showtime and Paramount have already issued statements rejecting the claims, calling them without merit and pledging to vigorously defend themselves in court.
Public Reaction & Social Media Heat
As news of the lawsuit broke, reactions across the combat sports world were swift — and not all sympathetic. Rap icon and longtime Mayweather critic 50 Cent roasted the boxing legend on social media, suggesting Mayweather should have read the contracts and poking fun at his alleged financial mismanagement.
Fans have taken to forums and Reddit threads, with a mix of disbelief, humor, and serious speculation about the boxer’s financial savvy — or lack thereof.
What’s Next in the Fight?
Mayweather’s lawsuit throws a giant spotlight on how elite fighters are compensated — and how transparent (or not) the accounting really is behind massive pay-per-view deals. Regardless of how the legal battle plays out, the case is already shaping up as one of the most talked-about off-ring controversies in combat sports history.
With Mayweather’s legacy already cemented in the ring, this fight in the courtroom could define his post-career narrative — and potentially reshape how boxing contracts and payouts are handled for future generations.
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