Golden Boy Promotions LLC, et al. v Alan Haymon, et al.

Compass Lexecon’s clients Alan Haymon, Alan Haymon Development, Inc., Haymon Boxing LLC, Haymon Boxing Management, Haymon Holdings LLC, and Haymon Sports LLC (collectively “Haymon Sports”) prevailed in litigation involving some of the biggest names in professional boxing management and promotion. In a January 2017 decision, Judge John F. Walter of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California granted summary judgment for Haymon Sports and rejected the claims of Golden Boy Promotions LLC, Golden Boy Promotions, Inc., and Bernard Hopkins (collectively “Golden Boy”). Golden Boy alleged that since January 1, 2015 Haymon Sports had used its alleged market power in a market for U.S.-based “management of Championship-Caliber Boxers” to force boxers into management contracts that served to “tie-out” Golden Boy and other boxing promoters from offering promotional services to the boxers. Golden Boy also alleged that Haymon Sports attempted to monopolize a market for U.S.-based “promotion of Championship-Caliber Boxers” through this “tie-out” arrangement, its blocking of other promoters from scheduling bouts at desired venues, and its licensing agreements with cable and broadcast television networks.

In granting summary judgment, the Court cited deposition and written testimony provided by Compass Lexecon expert Duncan Cameron. Dr. Cameron submitted a report and declaration in support of summary judgment demonstrating that Haymon Sports’ efforts had enhanced competition, expanded the output of televised professional boxing, and increased total benefits for boxers, consumers and producers of professional boxing. Dr. Cameron also showed that the opposing expert’s opinions regarding market definition and market power were unreliable because they were not based on a reasonable analysis of the options available to boxers and failed to account for the demonstrably low barriers to entry.

Compass Lexecon worked with Michael Williams, Adam Wolfson, Corey Worcester and Jonathan Clarke of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP. Dr. Cameron was supported by a team in Compass Lexecon’s Pasadena office led by Christopher Fasel that included Peter Marlantes, Matt Krietzberg, Kim George, Runbo Li and Evan Thompson.