50 Cent Gets His License as Boxing Promoter in Las Vegas

Entrepreneur, investor, actor and rapper Curtis James Jackson III, better known by his stage name 50 Cent, last week secured approval for a boxing promoter's license from the Nevada Athletic Commission.

Jackson’s company, SMS Promotions, will host its first bout December 8th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas between Yuriokis Gamboa, a Cuban-born Miami-based fighter, and an opponent yet to be named.

On July 21, 2012, 50 Cent acquired a license to promote boxing events in the state of New York under his company then named TMT, which was short for ‘The Money Team’.  Being a former amateur boxer himself, 50 Cent has an eye for talent. He has already signed gold medalist and former featherweight champion Yuriorkis Gamboa and middleweight, and former Olympic medalist Andre Dirrell to fight under his company. On July 29, 2012, 50 Cent and boxing champ Floyd Mayweather, Jr., one of his closest friends, signed IBF Featherweight Champion, Billy Dib.

50 Cent was in talks with Mayweather Jr. to also become his promoter back in July. While applying for his license, however, 50 Cent told the Nevada Athletic Commission that the plans to form TMT Promotions fell through, and the business was absorbed by SMS.