Story highlights
Josie Harris says Floyd Mayweather lied when he says she was on drugs the morning there was incident at his house
She says he came into the home, where she and their kids lived, and started punching her in jealous rage
Harris and the boxer have three children together
(CNN) —
The mother of three of Floyd Mayweather’s children filed a defamation lawsuit Tuesday against the boxing great, claiming he lied in a recent interview about her being on drugs the morning of a 2010 domestic violence incident.
Josie Harris is asking for $20 million in damages after the fighter told Yahoo’s Katie Couric last month that she was on drugs and he was just trying to hold her back during the altercation.
Mayweather was arrested in September 2010 after authorities said he punched Harris at his Las Vegas home, where she was living with his two young sons and a daughter.
The fighter pleaded guilty 14 months later to a reduced charge of misdemeanor battery and two counts of harassment. He was sentenced to three months, and he served two.
Floyd Mayweather sentenced to three months for domestic violence
In her lawsuit, Harris says the 5-foot-8 boxer who competes as a welterweight (up to 147 pounds), came into the home as she slept on a couch and began punching and kicking her. He also dragged her around the house in front of their children, the document says.
Mayweather, who didn’t immediately respond to CNN’s request for comment on Tuesday, has denied he beat her.
He told CNN’s Rachel Nichols in September there were “no pictures, just hearsay and allegations.”
He told Yahoo’s Couric last month: “Did I kick, stomp, and beat someone? No, that didn’t happen. … Did I restrain a woman that was on drugs? Yes, I did. So if they say that’s domestic violence, then, you know what? I’m guilty. I’m guilty of restraining someone.”
Harris now lives in Valencia, California and filed suit in Los Angeles County on Tuesday, claiming defamation, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
She denied being a drug abuser or drug addict, and her attorney said in the court filing: “It was not Mayweather’s ‘restraint’ of Harris that caused her serious injuries, rather it was his beating of her.”
The lawsuit says Harris had to go to the hospital after the early morning incident. She was treated for head, facial and bodily injuries, the document says, and suffered cuts and deep bruises.
The boxer is coming off the richest payday of his lucrative 48-fight career.
Mayweather has already received a partial payment – $100 million – toward his earnings for Saturday’s fight against Manny Pacquiao. Once the total money from pay-per-view sales is figured out, he could make as much as $100 million more, sports media experts have said.
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Floyd Mayweather reportedly made over $300 million from beating Manny Pacquiao in the richest fight in boxing history in May -- and he's already splashed out $4.8 million of that on a new car.
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. looks at the crowd as he celebrates his unanimous decision victory against Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 2.
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Mayweather left, hugs Pacquiao after defeating him in their welterweight unification bout.
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Mayweather celebrates his victory over Pacquiao. The bout went the full 12 rounds.
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Manny Pacquiao reacts after his fight against Floyd Mayweather.
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Floyd Mayweather won the World Boxing Organization's title and retained the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Council belts.
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Trainer Freddie Roach adjusts Manny Pacquiao's mouth guard at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
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Floyd Mayweather was the victor in the welterweight world championship unification bout.
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Floyd Mayweather is now 48-0 with 26 knockouts. Pacquiao is 57-6-2 with 38 knockouts.
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Beyonce Knowles and Jay Z attend the welterweight unification championship bout.
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Model Cassie Ventura, left, and Sean "Diddy" Combs pose ringside.
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Floyd Mayweather throws a nasty left at Manny Pacquiao.
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Floyd Mayweather, who looked strong late, connects during the 12-round fight.
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Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao exchange punches on Saturday, May 2, at their championship fight in Las Vegas.
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Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao go toe to toe.
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Floyd Mayweather connects with a strong left on Manny Pacquiao at the welterweight world championship unification fight.
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Manny Pacquiao throws a right at Floyd Mayweather on Saturday, May 2.
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Floyd Mayweather has a right of his own at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
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Mike Tyson at ringside during the Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao bout.
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Manny Pacquiao acknowledges the crowd before the start of his welterweight world championship unification bout against Floyd Mayweather.
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Floyd Mayweather enters the ring before taking on the Philippines-born Manny Pacquiao on Saturday, May 2.
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Paris Hilton enters the arena before the start of the bout between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao on May 2, 2015, in Las Vegas.
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Actor and director Ben Affleck poses ringside before the big fight in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
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Singer Mary J. Blige attends the bout.
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Actor Michael Keaton is ringside for the long-anticipated bout.
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Donald Trump and model Melania Trump at ringside.
CNN’s Jill Martin contributed to this report.
