Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FRAMPTON V MCGUIGAN GETS DIRTY
Barry lawyer calls Jackal ‘dishonest’
CARL Frampton dishonestly claimed ex-manager and promoter Barry Mcguigan withheld earnings, the High Court heard yesterday.
Counsel for Mr Mcguigan accused the North Belfast fighter of lying about profit arrangements as part of a bid to blacken his client’s name.
Liam Mccollum QC said: “A vast amount of the assertions he makes are in fact inventions.”
Counter-allegations emerged during submissions on the costs of a preliminary hearing to determine the appropriate jurisdiction for the legal battle.
Earlier this year a judge ruled Mr Frampton’s action will be heard in Belfast.
He is suing Mr Mcguigan, his wife Sandra and Cyclone Promotions (UK) Ltd, alleging a failure to pay purse money from his bouts. The writ forms the basis of Mr Frampton’s counter-claim to separate proceedings brought against him by the Mcguigan family-run Cyclone Promotions at the High Court in London.
Nicknamed “The Jackal”, the 31-yearold former two-weight world champion split with Cyclone last year.
He is facing an action from his former promoters for alleged breach of contract.
The Tiger’s Bay fighter is countersuing on a number of grounds, including allegations of appropriation of fight earnings and breach of the terms of an international promotional agreement.
It involves claims against the now dissolved Cyclone Promotions (UK) Ltd,
of which Mr and Mrs Mcguigan were directors, over purse fees, broadcasting rights, ticket sales and merchandising from Mr Frampton’s second world title fight against Leo Santa Cruz in Las Vegas in January 2017.
In court yesterday Mr Mccollum hit back at the fighter’s claims and how they were made at a preliminary stage.
He said: “The whole basis of his case, for example a 30% share of the profits of promotions, is simply dishonest.”
Mr Justice Horner disclosed that, due to his other commitments, the main trial will be heard by a different judge.