When news broke about a shooting involving Antonio Brown at a Miami boxing event, many assumed he was simply defending himself from an attack.
But a man at the center of the drama, Zül-Qarnaįn Nantambu, tells a very different story — one that paints the former NFL star as the aggressor who ignited the violent clash.
A History Between Brown and Nantambu Goes Back Years
This isn’t the first time these two men have crossed paths.
Court documents reveal that back in 2022, Nantambu accused Brown of stealing a pendant he designed during a meeting in Dubai.
The situation escalated dramatically: Brown allegedly lied to the UAE police, accusing Nantambu of theft, which led to Nantambu’s brief imprisonment.
Nantambu later won a nearly million-dollar lawsuit against Brown in Florida, though it was eventually dismissed and now they’re locked in a federal bankruptcy battle over a reduced judgment.
Tensions Boil Over at Miami Boxing Event
Fast forward to last Friday in Miami, where Nantambu spotted Brown locking eyes with him at a boxing event.
Instead of trying to talk things out or ignore each other, Brown reportedly called over security, falsely claiming he was under attack.
Nantambu suspects Brown might have orchestrated the whole confrontation, possibly as a way to avoid paying the court judgment.
“He plays gangster and plays the police at the same time, then blames CTE,” Nantambu told Daily Mail, referring to Brown’s public statements about traumatic brain injuries.
Nantambu wonders if Brown premeditated the incident, hoping to use Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law as a defense.
Chaos Erupts With Gunfire and Struggle
According to Nantambu, the situation quickly turned physical.
Video footage shows a fight breaking out, with Brown running off briefly before returning armed.
Nantambu says Brown fired shots, one grazing his neck, sparking a desperate fight for the weapon.
“It was pure adrenaline,” Nantambu said. “He ran into me, I threw him down, and the gun fell.
We scrambled for it until the police arrived.”
Witnesses reportedly shouted that Brown was shooting, causing panic among the crowd, including children.
Police Arrive But No Arrests Made
Despite the violent scene, Miami police did not make any arrests.
Brown later posted on social media that he was considering legal action against “the individuals that jumped me.”
Meanwhile, Nantambu walked away injured, with blood dripping from his neck and a broken finger — lucky to escape worse harm.
“I thank God I’m not dead,” Nantambu said. “God spared me from getting shot in the face.”
Nantambu’s Background and History With Brown
Nantambu is more than just a victim here — he’s a filmmaker, fashion designer, and activist known for his support of Sudanese and Palestinian causes.
He made headlines earlier this year for storming the field during the Super Bowl halftime show.
Their initial encounter was in Dubai in 2022, where Nantambu intervened to calm tensions after Brown got into trouble with customs officials.
They later hung out with Floyd Mayweather on a yacht before a fight, and Nantambu agreed to let Brown borrow the pendant that sparked their ongoing feud.
The Pendant That Sparked a Legal Battle
Nantambu says Brown never returned the pendant and claimed he lost it after moving hotels.
Brown also allegedly pawned off his real jewelry and replaced it with fakes, while falsely accusing Nantambu of stealing $2 million worth of jewels in Dubai.
Nantambu was imprisoned for nearly a month before evidence cleared him.
The legal battle has dragged on, with Brown’s financial troubles continuing amid bankruptcy proceedings.
Nantambu says Brown’s flashy jewelry collection in Miami is mostly fake now, a far cry from the expensive pieces once worn abroad.