Curtis “50 Cent†Jackson today announced the launch of boxing promotion company SMS Promotions. The company was granted a license by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, according to a news release.
“I love boxing and have always been a big fan of the sport, so it feels especially great for me to be involved with the game at this level,” 50 said in a news release. “My goal is to build SMS Promotions into one of boxing’s most respected promoters and bring the best fights to audiences nationwide.”
SMS Promotions already went about the business of signing its first prizefighters, including Yuriorkis Gambia, Andre Darrell, Billy Dib and Celestine Caballero.
In association with Top Rank, SMS Promotions will promote Gambia’s fight on the Manny Pacquiao-Juan Manuel Marquez IV under card on Dec. 8 at the MGM Grand.
The announcement comes as Jackson and Floyd Mayweather Jr. engage in something of a public dispute, mostly over social media. It’s not clear whether the beef was legitimate, or a publicity stunt — or what even started it. For his part, 50 has gone on the record on Twitter saying it was, indeed, a stunt.