Jai Opetaia has won his legal battle and avoided a costly payout

One of the world’s best Cruiserweights has fought his way out of a contract dispute, dodging a costly six figure payout to his former promoter.

Jai Opetaia celebrates victory following the Cruiserweight fight in 2023. Photo: Richard Pelham

One of the world’s best Cruiserweights has fought his way out of a contract dispute, dodging a costly six figure payout to his former promoter.

Jai Opetaia’s legal win in Brisbane’s Supreme Court came less than 48 hours before his world title defence in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

The Australian boxer was sued by his former promoter Dean Lonergan when Opetaia terminated their contract in February 2023 a little more than six months after he first claimed the IBF world cruiserweight championship.

Jai Opetaia and Jack Massey face off. Photo: Richard Pelham.

Mr Lonergan’s D & L Events, which launched the legal action, sought damages in the amounts it would have earned from promoting boxing matches involving Opetaia up until the contract was due to expire in June this year.

D & L Events put that figure at more than $1.34m for five fights it said Opetaia would have won.

The central issue in the case before Justice Sean Cooper was whether Opetaia’s termination of the contract was lawful and effective.

Justice Cooper found on Friday that D & L Events had repudiated the contract, mainly around proposed fights overseas that the company was not the main organiser or promoter of.

“I am satisfied that D & L Events’ conduct in seeking to compel Mr Opetaia to participate in Non-DLE (D & L Events) boxing matches overseas, without his agreement, was conduct which would convey to a reasonable person in Mr Opetaia’s position D & L Events’ intention to perform the contract only in a manner substantially inconsistent with its obligations,” he said.

“For these reasons, I am satisfied that D & L Events repudiated the contract. Mr Opetaia was entitled, as he did, to accept that repudiation and terminate the contract.”

Justice Cooper said had he found in D & L Events’ favour he would have assessed damages as being $650,000.