PBC investors removed from Top Rank-Haymon lawsuit

According to a report from the Los Angeles Times' Lance Pugmire, a federal judge has removed the financial investors of Premier Boxing Champions from Bob Arum's lawsuit against Al Haymon, and Arum and Top Rank's lawyers are now working on an amended version of the complaint.

The suit itself doesn't seem to be going Top Rank's way overall, either. From the LA Times report:

In granting Haymon's motion to dismiss, the judge wrote the Top Rank claims on the matter are "vague and lack the requisite factual detail."

He also dismissed Top Rank's claims that Haymon is violating the federal Sherman Act, which prohibits restraint of trade, in Haymon's fighter contracts, explaining in two references that "Top Rank fails to allege any evidentiary facts plausibly suggesting restricted output or supracompetitive prices in the promotion market ... and has failed to allege injury to itself."

Top Rank's attorneys have been asked by the judge for proof that Haymon is working with "sham promoters" in Tom Brown and Lou DiBella, who have been the promoters of record for most of the Premier Boxing Champions cards. If they can do that, the suit could go forward with Top Rank's claim that Haymon is violating the Ali Act, forbidding a manager from also working as a promoter. Golden Boy has a similar lawsuit against Haymon at this time.