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Former world boxing champion Carl Frampton has resolved his multi-million dollar legal battle with his former manager Barry McGuigan.
All litigation and counterclaims were suspended on confidential terms in the Belfast High Court.
The action ended after a 19-day marathon of testing about the breakdown of a once close relationship between two Irish legends in the sport.
The 33-year-old Frampton had sued his former manager for alleged retained earnings from big fights staged in Northern Ireland, England and the United States.
He was claiming up to £ 6 million against Cyclone Promotions UK Ltd, of which Mr McGuigan was a director, for portfolio fees, broadcasting rights, ticketing and marketing.
The Belfast fighter’s lawyers alleged that he had signed a “slave contract”.
In a counterclaim, McGuigan claimed that Frampton had breached the contract by resigning from his Cyclone organization in August 2017.
Both men denied any wrongdoing throughout the case.
A resolution was reached in their bitter legal dispute after the discovery of more than 10,000 emails potentially relevant to the case.
The court was previously told that the emails had been lost or removed from Cyclone’s account.
But in an unexpected development, it emerged that large amounts of archived emails were found on the company’s systems last week.
Procedures were postponed to allow a “gigantic” trawl to continue through all the newly located material.
Judge Huddleston was notified last night that a consent agreement had been reached.
An order issued today confirmed: “All subsequent proceedings in these actions and counterclaims will be suspended under the terms set forth in the signed and dated document entitled ‘Settlement of the McGuigan v Frampton Litigation.’
No instructions were given on the costs of the case.
Frampton and McGuigan enjoyed great success before their eight-year partnership fell apart.
Nicknamed El Chacal for his exploits in the ring, the wrestler won world titles in two different weight divisions.
However, he claimed that McGuigan promised him a 30% share of the profits as an incentive to end a previous promotional deal with boxing giant Matchroom and sign up with a Northern Ireland-based Cyclone company created in 2013.
As evidence, Mr. Frampton claimed that he was never paid as a director of that company.
He then vowed never to fight for McGuigan again after the tax collector called his home with a bill of nearly £ 400,000, the court was told.
The boxer’s case centered on an alleged conflict of interest over McGuigan’s dual role as manager and promoter of some fights.
Any suggestion that money had been stolen from him was categorically denied.
During questioning, the wrestler was told that he was not a “lost boy” but rather had an important voice in what would become his pocket.
McGuigan had sacrificed the opportunity to make a fortune from Frampton’s title bouts in the United States for the sake of the boxer, it was claimed.
The court also heard how the atmosphere between the two men in their last days working together was described as “toxic.”
A manager at a gym where Frampton completed preparations for local shows in Belfast claimed former trainer Shane McGuigan told an associate that the boxer was “done” and had only one fight left.
In his evidence, McGuigan denied promising a 30% reduction in earnings or hiding money from the fighter.
He repeatedly emphasized that the fighter was among the highest paid in his division and explained that he treated him “like he was one of my guys.”
One of McGuigan’s sons also spent five days on the witness stand.
Musician-turned-promoter Blain McGuigan recounted how the family was proud of Frampton’s accomplishments and earnings.
He also rejected claims that the expenses of one of the boxer’s biggest bouts were “inflated” to £ 75,000 in an attempt to cut profits.
Finally, a resolution was reached in all areas of dispute without the need for a judicial determination.
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