Floyd Mayweather Stops Lawsuit Against Business Insider

May 6, 2026, 15:39
USSports
A2

Floyd Mayweather Stops Lawsuit Against Business Insider

Introduction

Floyd Mayweather Jr. stopped his $100 million lawsuit against Business Insider and Daniel Geiger.

Main Body

Mayweather was angry about a news story from March 2025. The story said he did not have proof for his $400 million property deal in New York. Mayweather said the writer was mean to him because of his race. Business Insider said the story was true. They said Mayweather did not have a good reason for the lawsuit. They had a similar problem with another person in 2022 and won. On May 4, 2026, both sides stopped the fight. Mayweather cannot start this lawsuit again. Each side pays for their own lawyers.

Conclusion

The legal fight is over and all claims are gone.

Learning

πŸ•’ Time & Change

Look at how the story talks about things that happened. We use the -ed ending for things that are finished.

The Pattern:

  • stop β†’ stopped*
  • say β†’ said (special word)
  • win β†’ won (special word)

Real Examples from Text:

  • "Mayweather stopped his lawsuit"
  • "The story said he did not have proof"
  • "They won"

Simple Rule: If it happened in 2022, 2025, or 2026 β†’ Use the Past Form.

πŸ’° Money Words

When we see a number and a symbol, it's about money:

  • **100millionβˆ—βˆ—100 million** \rightarrow$ A very big amount of money.
  • **400millionpropertydealβˆ—βˆ—400 million property deal** \rightarrow$ Buying or selling a building for a lot of money.

Vocabulary Learning

stop
to cease doing something
Example:I will stop eating sweets.
lawsuit
a legal case
Example:He filed a lawsuit against the company.
business
a company or trade
Example:She works in a small business.
story
a narrative or account
Example:I read a story about a cat.
news
information about recent events
Example:The news says the weather will be sunny.
angry
feeling strong displeasure
Example:He was angry when he lost the game.
proof
evidence that something is true
Example:I have proof of my identity.
deal
an agreement or arrangement
Example:They made a deal to share the profits.
writer
a person who writes
Example:The writer signed his book.
mean
unfriendly or cruel
Example:The teacher said he was mean.
race
a group of people sharing common features
Example:They celebrate different races.
true
correct or real
Example:The statement is true.
good
positive or desirable
Example:She has a good attitude.
reason
a cause or explanation
Example:I need a reason to leave.
fight
a conflict or argument
Example:They had a fight over the toy.
cannot
unable to do something
Example:I cannot go to the party.
start
to begin
Example:We will start the meeting at nine.
again
once more
Example:Please try again.
side
a part or position in a dispute
Example:Both sides agreed.
own
belonging to oneself
Example:She likes her own house.
lawyer
a legal professional
Example:The lawyer helped him.
claim
a statement that something is true
Example:He made a claim about the price.
gone
no longer present
Example:The cookies are gone.
B2

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Drops Defamation Lawsuit Against Business Insider

Introduction

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has decided to end a $100 million defamation lawsuit against the publication Business Insider and journalist Daniel Geiger.

Main Body

The legal case began in May 2025 in a New York federal court. The dispute started after a March 2025 report by Daniel Geiger, which claimed there was no clear evidence that Mayweather had bought a group of 62 buildings in Manhattan. Mayweather had previously described this as a $400 million investment. He argued that the report was part of a targeted campaign to harass him, based on racial bias and a desire to damage his business success. Furthermore, he emphasized that the journalist refused to look at documents that proved the transactions were real. In response, Business Insider asserted that the claims had no basis in fact. They argued that Mayweather failed to prove 'actual malice,' which is a necessary legal requirement for a defamation case. This approach is similar to a 2022 case involving Dave Portnoy, which also ended in a dismissal. On May 4, 2026, both sides agreed to a voluntary dismissal. Consequently, this means the case is closed permanently and cannot be filed again. Both parties have agreed to pay their own legal fees, and all other related claims have been cancelled.

Conclusion

The legal battle has ended with the permanent dismissal of all claims and counterclaims.

Learning

⚑️ The 'Connective Leap': Moving Beyond 'And' & 'But'

At the A2 level, we often glue sentences together with simple words like and, but, or so. To reach B2, you need to use 'Logical Connectors.' These are words that tell the reader exactly how two ideas relate to each other.

Look at these three power-words from the text:

  1. Furthermore β†’\rightarrow Used when you are adding a second, stronger point to an argument.

    • Text example: "...targeted campaign to harass him... Furthermore, he emphasized..."
    • B2 Logic: Don't just say "And also." Use "Furthermore" to sound professional and persuasive.

  2. Consequently β†’\rightarrow Used to show a direct, official result of an action.

    • Text example: "...agreed to a voluntary dismissal. Consequently, this means the case is closed..."
    • B2 Logic: Instead of "So," use "Consequently" when the result is a logical conclusion or a legal fact.

  3. In response β†’\rightarrow Used to transition from one person's claim to another person's reaction.

    • Text example: "In response, Business Insider asserted..."
    • B2 Logic: This creates a 'bridge' between two opposing sides, making your writing flow like a professional report rather than a list of facts.

πŸ› οΈ Vocabulary Upgrade: From 'Basic' to 'B2'

Stop using simple verbs. The text uses High-Impact Verbs that change the tone of the story:

A2 Word (Simple)B2 Word (Advanced)Why it's better
SaidAssertedIt sounds more confident and official.
Said/ToldEmphasizedIt shows the person is putting stress on a specific point.
Stopped/EndedDismissedThis is the specific term for ending a legal case.

Pro Tip: When you describe a fight or a disagreement, don't just call it a "problem." Call it a "dispute". It transforms your English from 'conversational' to 'academic' instantly.

Vocabulary Learning

defamation (n.)
the act of damaging someone's reputation by making false statements
Example:He filed a defamation lawsuit after the article spread false rumors about him.
federal (adj.)
relating to the national government, especially in a country with powers divided between a central authority and constituent units
Example:The case was heard in a federal court in New York.
dispute (n.)
a disagreement or argument between people or groups
Example:Their dispute over the contract lasted for months.
claim (n.)
a statement that something is true, often without proof
Example:She made a claim that the product was defective.
evidence (n.)
information or facts that help prove something
Example:The judge looked at all the evidence before deciding.
investment (n.)
money or resources put into something with the expectation of profit
Example:He described the purchase as a $400 million investment.
targeted (adj.)
specifically aimed at a particular person or group
Example:The campaign was a targeted effort to influence voters.
campaign (n.)
a series of actions designed to achieve a particular goal
Example:They launched a campaign to raise awareness about climate change.
harass (v.)
to bother or upset someone repeatedly
Example:The emails were intended to harass the employee.
bias (n.)
a preference or inclination that prevents objective judgment
Example:The article showed a clear bias against the company.
malice (n.)
intention to do harm or cause injury
Example:The court found no evidence of malice in the statements.
requirement (n.)
something that must be done or fulfilled
Example:Meeting the deadline is a requirement for the project.
dismissal (n.)
the act of ending or rejecting a case or claim
Example:The judge ordered the dismissal of the lawsuit.
voluntary (adj.)
done by choice, not forced
Example:They reached a voluntary agreement to settle.
permanent (adj.)
lasting for a very long time or forever
Example:The decision was a permanent change to the policy.
fees (n.)
payments made for services or professional work
Example:Both parties agreed to pay their own legal fees.
cancelled (v.)
to stop or end something that was planned
Example:The event was cancelled due to bad weather.
counterclaims (n.)
claims made in response to another claim
Example:The defendant filed counterclaims against the plaintiff.
C2

Voluntary Dismissal of Defamation Litigation Between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Business Insider

Introduction

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has terminated a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Business Insider and journalist Daniel Geiger.

Main Body

The legal proceedings commenced in May 2025 within the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. The litigation originated from a March 2025 report authored by Daniel Geiger, which asserted a lack of verifiable evidence regarding the acquisition of a 62-building Manhattan real estate portfolioβ€”a transaction Mayweather had publicly characterized as a $400 million investment. The plaintiff alleged that the reporting was the product of a systematic campaign of harassment, predicated upon racial bias and a desire to undermine his commercial success. Furthermore, the complaint asserted that the defendant had declined to examine documentation validating the transactions. In response, Business Insider maintained that the claims were devoid of merit, contending that the plaintiff failed to establish the legal threshold of 'actual malice' required for a defamation conviction. This institutional posture mirrors a previous 2022 legal encounter involving Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, which similarly concluded with the dismissal of the suit. The current resolution, formalized on May 4, 2026, involves a stipulation of voluntary dismissal with prejudice, thereby precluding the refiling of these specific claims. A mutual agreement was reached wherein both parties shall bear their respective legal expenditures, and all associated counterclaims have been vacated.

Conclusion

The legal dispute has concluded with the permanent dismissal of all claims and counterclaims.

Learning

The Architecture of Legal Precision: Nominalization & Static Verbs

To transition from B2 to C2, a student must move away from narrative English (who did what) toward conceptual English (what occurred). This text is a masterclass in Nominalizationβ€”the process of turning verbs (actions) into nouns (concepts) to create an objective, authoritative distance.

⚑ The C2 Shift: From Action to Entity

Compare a B2 construction with the C2 legal prose found in the text:

  • B2 (Action-oriented): Mayweather decided to stop the lawsuit he filed.
  • C2 (Concept-oriented): "Voluntary Dismissal of Defamation Litigation..."

In the C2 version, the action (dismissing) becomes a thing (dismissal). This shifts the focus from the person's will to the legal status of the event.

πŸ”¬ Linguistic Deconstruction: The "Statics" of Power

Notice the reliance on Static/Relational Verbs (originated, mirrored, involved, maintained) rather than dynamic ones. C2 mastery requires the ability to describe complex interactions as states of being rather than sequences of movements.

Key Analysis of High-Level Collocations:

  1. "Predicated upon" β†’\rightarrow Replace based on. It implies a formal logical foundation.
  2. "Devoid of merit" β†’\rightarrow Replace not true/wrong. It suggests a complete absence of legal validity.
  3. "Precluding the refiling" β†’\rightarrow Replace stopping them from filing again. This uses a gerund phrase to create a tight, efficient causal link.

πŸŽ“ Scholarly Takeaway

The "Institutional Posture"

The phrase "This institutional posture mirrors..." is the peak of C2 abstraction. It doesn't say "The company did the same thing." It treats the company's legal strategy as a posture (a physical/conceptual stance) that mirrors (reflects) a previous event.

To replicate this: Stop describing people acting; start describing positions interacting.

Vocabulary Learning

litigation (n.)
the legal process of taking action in court.
Example:The litigation was filed after the alleged breach.
defamation (n.)
false statement that harms a person's reputation.
Example:The newspaper faced a lawsuit for defamation after publishing unverified claims.
commenced (v.)
began or started.
Example:The investigation commenced following the whistleblower's report.
acquisition (n.)
the act of obtaining or buying something.
Example:The company's acquisition of the startup expanded its market reach.
portfolio (n.)
a collection of investments or assets.
Example:Her portfolio includes stocks, bonds, and real estate.
characterized (v.)
described or depicted in a particular way.
Example:The novel was characterized by its vivid imagery.
harassment (n.)
persistent intimidation or bullying.
Example:The employee reported workplace harassment to HR.
predicated (v.)
based on or founded upon.
Example:The argument was predicated on the assumption that the data were accurate.
undermine (v.)
to weaken or diminish.
Example:Negative rumors can undermine a company's reputation.
documentation (n.)
written records that provide evidence.
Example:The lawyer requested documentation to support the claim.
devoid (adj.)
completely lacking.
Example:The evidence was devoid of any credible sources.
merit (n.)
the quality of being good or worthy.
Example:The proposal lacked merit and was rejected.
threshold (n.)
the minimum level required.
Example:The case did not meet the threshold for a criminal charge.
malice (n.)
ill will or intent to harm.
Example:Actual malice is required to prove defamation against a public figure.
dismissal (n.)
the act of ending a legal case.
Example:The judge issued a dismissal after the parties settled.
voluntary (adj.)
done of one's own free will.
Example:He filed a voluntary resignation letter.
prejudice (n.)
bias or unfair judgment.
Example:The lawsuit was dismissed due to lack of prejudice.
precluding (v.)
preventing or making impossible.
Example:The new evidence precluded the possibility of an appeal.
refiling (v.)
filing a legal action again.
Example:Refiling the claim would be futile after dismissal.
mutual (adj.)
shared by both parties.
Example:They reached a mutual agreement to settle.
expenditures (n.)
the costs or outlays.
Example:The company listed its legal expenditures in the annual report.
counterclaims (n.)
claims made by the defendant against the plaintiff.
Example:The defendant filed counterclaims for damages.