As we all know over the years that Hip Hop has integrated with boxing on several levels. As of 2013 , business man and rapper Curtis Jackson aka 50 cent has joined the boxing game and has paired up with Loud Dibella Entertainment to promote and manage fighters. His promotion company is called SMS Promotions for those of you who are not familiar.
This has been great for the sport and has given some young up and coming fighters a shot at becoming the next world champion. I had the pleasure, thanks to Kevin Rooney of Dibella Entertainment to once again photograph one of events that they were promoting. This was the first card that SMS/Dibella Entertainment had promoted at the newly built casino named Resorts World in Jamaica Queens.
Success! It was a very exciting night of not only boxing but Hip Hop. There were several really great fights and in between the intermissions there were artist (rappers) male and female to entertain the crowd. At one point, due to a fighter being taken by ambulance to be looked over, there was a 30 min wait time for a replacement ambulance to be secured.
Thanks to Tony Yayo is seemed so much shorter. Tony took over the stage and he performed some of his new music coming out with G-Unit and some of the records that have made him the famous rapper he is today. All I can say is that it was awesome!
The crowd really enjoyed the change and at some point I knew in the back of my head that Curtis being the great businessman and entertainer would bring it all together. Curtis and Lou Dibella have done that with the help of Monique Mayers and his team of great match makers. They have given us a real night of entertainment as well as great boxing! Don’t be surprised if you come to one of these events and see several celebrities showing their support. Last night Roxanne Shante and Paulie Malignaggi, a former WBA Welterweight IBF Light Welterweight champion were in attendance.
It is just the beginning for the newly formed promotions company but I can see SMS Promotions and Dibella Entertainment taking boxing to a new level. I am excited to be involved in their new venture and I can only see it getting better. Of course there will be some learning and bumps and bruises along the way but well worth the trip for us.
Quick recap of the stats last night cards:
Ryan Martin gets a TKO against Darius Somieari 2nd Rd
Joseph Williams gets a TKO against Joe Powers 1st Rd
Shermuel Pagan gets a UD over Calvin Smith
Chris Galeano lost to David Pagan UD
Travis Peterkin gets a UD against Mitchell Wilmer
Lamar Russ gets a UD over Latif Mundy
Mark Davis gets a UD over Carlos Vinan
There were nine bouts scheduled but Heather Hardy’s opponent came in overweight and Orlandito Del Valle’s fight was cancelled due to his opponent not showing up at the weigh in. Both fighters still came to the fight and showed support for the other fighters. Great Sportsmanship!
