Mayweather, bodyguards in assault suit

LAS VEGAS, June 28 (UPI) -- A Nevada man has filed a lawsuit against boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. and his bodyguard entourage, alleging assault in an incident at the Palms hotel-casino.

Attorneys for Clark Country resident Anthony R. Cliff filed the suit last week in state court in Las Vegas against Mayweather, his company Mayweather Promotions LLC and others, the Las Vegas Sun reported Monday.

The suit charges that at the Palms last year, when Cliff tried to take Mayweather's photo and talk about a potential fight for Mayweather, Mayweather said Cliff was disrespecting him.

He gave the thumbs-down sign to his bodyguards, a "signal for the bodyguards to attack Cliff," the suit alleges.

The bodyguards knocked Cliff to the ground "then repeatedly kicked Cliff in the back and side," the suit says.

The suit accuses Mayweather and his company of assault and battery, and negligent hiring, training, supervision and retention of employees.

The Palms also was sued and is accused of negligence for not having adequate security and for failing to keep Mayweather and his entourage in check, the Sun reported.