2 Ex-Friends, Boxing Promoters Begin Legal Skirmish

SANTA ANA — Two boxing promoters who had been friends and business partners are duking it out in a legal battle that could cost one of them more than $11 million.

James Browning filed a lawsuit in Orange County Superior Court this week against Ted Luckow, who Browning claims damaged his reputation and thwarted future business ventures by sending what he alleges was a libelous letter.

Browning says Luckow wrote the letter to the Nevada Athletic Commission, urging the agency not to issue Browning a boxing license in the state. He is asking for $11 million in damages.

In the June 21 letter, Luckow alleged that Browning accepted monetary bribes from fighters’ managers. He also alleged that Browning, his former partner in Brown Kow Promotions, used the business’s account to get free merchandise from advertisers after he no longer worked for the company. Further, Luckow told Nevada officials in the letter, Browning ruined a relationship Luckow had with a longtime sponsor.

“There have been personal differences between us, but they have been put aside,” Luckow wrote. “I feel the state athletic commission has a right to know the character of this man.”

A copy of Luckow’s handwritten letter to the Nevada commission was included in Browning’s lawsuit. The dispute between the Newport Beach men began after Luckow hired Browning to promote a boxing show at the Irvine Marriott in 1992. Their business relationship ended about 1 1/2 years later. During that time, Luckow claims in the letter, Browning “managed to destroy all credibility of the promotion of the show.”

Luckow, who owns a boxing show at the Irvine Marriott called “Ballroom Battle,” declined to comment except to say that the two men had once been good friends. Attorneys for both sides did not return calls and Browning could not be reached.

In the suit, Browning claims that he asked Luckow for a retraction but that Luckow “ignored” that request.

Luckow said this week that he had not ignored the request, but had “personal problems” to deal with first.

Browning is suing Luckow for $1 million for “loss of reputation, shame, mortification and hurt feelings” and $10 million for possible jobs lost due to the letter and other expenses incurred during the suit.