Lawsuit: Ex-promoter's misrepresentations cost boxer undercard appearance

GALVESTON - Alleging a former promoter cost him a chance to be the undercard at a recent highly anticipated fight, Austin Trout has filed a lawsuit.

Recent court papers filed Sept. 12 in Galveston County District Court accuse Livingston, N.J., resident Gregory D. Cohen of lying to Showtime about his now-defunct relationship with Trout, a professional boxer.

Cohen's purported misrepresentations killed negotiations the plaintiff was conducting with the network in an effort to land a spot leading up to the Sept. 14 match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Saul "Camelo" Alvarez, the suit says.

Trout previously had an agreement with Cohen in which the latter would serve as his exclusive promoter for future matches in exchange for 20 per cent of the revenues.

Said agreement was terminated earlier this year, the plaintiff says.

According to the original petition, before negotiations between the complainant and Showtime could be consummated, Cohen approached the network's executives and "threatened to take legal action unless Showtime negotiated with Trout through (him)."

"As a result of Cohen's actions, Showtime's negotiations with Trout ended," it says.

"Cohen not only fraudulently misrepresented his relationship with Trout to Showtime, but has also misguided several other prominent people in the boxing industry by asserting that no one may negotiate or attempt to arrange any fights with Trout unless expressly approved by Cohen."

The suit insists that Cohen is "destroying all future boxing opportunities, costing Trout potentially millions of dollars."

A temporary restraining order is sought.

Attorney Rodney L. Drinnon of McCathern PLLC in Houston is representing the claimant, and Galveston County 122nd District Court Judge John Ellisor is presiding over the litigation.

Case No. 13-CV-1183