Ruiz sues Don King for blocking Tyson bout

World Boxing Association heavyweight champion John Ruiz sued his promoter Don King on Monday alleging King breached a promotional contract by refusing to arrange a bout with Mike Tyson.

The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan federal court, seeks more than $250 million in punitive damages along with other unspecified costs and damages. It also seeks a court order stopping King from enforcing his contract with Ruiz or from impeding or interfering with an agreement for a Tyson-Ruiz bout.

The suit alleges that King will not arrange the match unless Tyson agrees to end a multimillion-dollar lawsuit he filed against King or sign a multi-fight agreement with Don King Productions.

The suit says that former world champion Tyson has rejected the precondition.

"Thus DKP and King, rather than act in Ruiz's best interests, as required by the promotional agreement, are instead acting solely in their own self-interests -- to the extraordinary detriment of Ruiz," the suit alleged.

A spokesman for King had no comment on the suit.

Ruiz retained his WBA heavyweight title last month in Las Vegas after Canadian challenger Kirk Johnson was disqualified in the 10th round. It was the American fighter's second successful defense of the title he won from Evander Holyfield.