Errol Spence and Derrick James get caught up in legal war over pay
Esteemed trainer Derrick James has filed an astronomical lawsuit against his former fighter, Errol Spence Jr (28-1, 22 KOs), causing the welterweight to counter with a spiteful blow.
The Ring reports that James is seeking damages in excess of $5m, with the coach claiming that he is owed a hefty sum from Spence’s fight with Terence Crawford (40-0, 31 KOs), which he lost via ninth-round TKO.
After a 19-page Breach of Contract, Fraud and Misrepresentation complaint was filed on April 17, Spence filed a counter lawsuit on the same day, seeking declaratory relief.
While proceedings are still ongoing with the 191st Judicial District Court of Dallas County, Texas, the pair’s relationship – spanning more than a decade – is well and truly in tatters.
Spence was stopped by his vastly skilled opponent in the ninth round back of their showdown back in July last year, when Crawford became the undisputed champion at 147 lbs.
However, it is reported that Spence came away from the fight with a purse of around $25m, of which James, 52 from Texas, only received a fractional $350,000.
James – who became The Ring’s 2022 trainer of the year – guided Spence to winning his first world title in 2017, when he knocked out Kell Brook at Bramall Lane, Sheffield.
The 34-year-old then made several defences of his IBF strap prior to unifying three of the belts in his clash with Yordenis Ugas, which came more than a year before he was left licking his wounds after the Crawford loss.
James, meanwhile, got back to winning ways after one of his other fighters, Ryan Garcia, scored a shock upset to beat Devin Haney last Saturday.
He now looks ahead to June 15, when he will be in the corner of undefeated lightweight Frank Martin who, as he takes on Gervonta Davis, could be an even bigger underdog in his next fight.