A judge has denied for now a bid by Floyd Mayweather’s attorney to withdraw from representing the retired fighter in a lawsuit by a man who alleges he was assaulted by the former boxer’s bodyguard in 2022.
Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Rupert Byrdsong ruled Tuesday that attorney Felton Newell had not filed the proper forms to accompany his request.
“The court cannot process the motion to be relieved as counsel without these forms,” the judge’s clerk wrote in a minute order from the hearing.
Newell maintained in his court papers that a “conflict of interest” has developed and that there has been an “irreparable breakdown” in his communications with Mayweather, both of which prevent the attorney from proceeding further with his representation of the former fighter.
The plaintiff, Eduardo Andres Torres Martinez, says Mayweather’s bodyguard knocked the plaintiff to the floor as he was using his cell phone to record Mayweather and his team at the Yard House at L.A. Live in 2022.
Martinez suffered lost earnings and emotional distress due to the alleged attack, according to the suit, which was filed in January 2024 and alleges assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, general negligence, premises liability and negligent hiring, training, supervision and retention.
In his previous court papers, Newell denies Martinez’s allegations and he cites multiple defenses on Mayweather’s behalf, including assumption of the risk and an assertion that the plaintiff suffered no harm.
Mayweather, 48, retired with an undefeated record and won 15 major world championships spanning five weight classes from super featherweight to light middleweight.