Badr Hari’s return to GLORY may be in danger.
Rival kickboxing promotion Enfusion has threatened to sue “The Golden Boy” and GLORY after they claimed the Moroccan had signed up for a fight with them in May 2018 with current dual Heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Luis Tavares in Antwerp, Belgium.
Last weekend, GLORY announced the signing of Hari to a multi-fight deal during the GLORY 49 SuperFight Series with the 33-year old making his return to action since GLORY: Collision at GLORY 51 on March 3rd in Ahoy Rotterdam.
According to Saïd Hamzaoui (Enfusion) they claimed to have signed Hari earlier, telling Dutch outlet AD: “Badr Hari is a businessman, he shopped around to see where he could make money. He didn’t come to an agreement with GLORY, we were more decisive.”
Tavares challenged Hari after he beat Jahfarr Wilnis by decision for the Enfusion Live Heavyweight Championship during Enfusion Live 53 on September 30 in Antwerp, Belgium.
AD says rumor has it Hari accepted that challenge with his Enfusion contract Hari stating that he couldn’t compete before May.
Money up-front
According to Enfusion, GLORY subsequently made Hari a more lucrative offer after they became aware that “The Golden Boy” signed with them.
The organization also stated that Hari thinks he can get away with it because a portion of the money had to be paid up front, but arrived a half hour late on his bank account, but Hamzaoui claims he settled that with Hari’s management: “We have a strong case.”
Jacques de Wit, Hari’s manager, and lawyer confirms to AD his client had a ‘draft agreement’ with Enfusion, but the deadline for the money was very strict.
“It was a decomposing factor. We’ve let them know multiple times that we had it on paper. It wasn’t just a half hour late. That’s why we talked to other organizations,” De Wit says.
To that, Hamzaoui says: “The lawyers of both parties had it written that the transaction was accepted. We have that on paper. The deal was signed. The money was paid and there were negotiations long before the money was on the bank account. It’s up to the judges now.”
MMA Plus’ Michael Stets reached out to GLORY CEO Jon J. Franklin, who had the following response:
“That is between Enfusion and Team Badr Hari. GLORY signed Badr Hari to a multi-fight contract, and we are moving forward.”
On Enfusion threatening a lawsuit with GLORY over Badr Hari signing, GLORY CEO Jon J. Franklin said, "That is between Enfusion and Team Badr Hari. GLORY signed Badr Hari to a multi-fight contract, and we are moving forward."
— Michael Stets (@Michael_Stets) December 13, 2017
