Roc Nation Sports and FOX Sports have reached an agreement on a three-event boxing package, the first ever presented by the promoter, under the throne boxing banner. The announcement was made by Roc Nation Sports’ COO of Boxing David Itskowitch and Patrick Crakes, Senior Vice President, Programming Research and Content Strategy, FOX Sports. The first event is scheduled for Friday, January 9, 2015 and airs on FOX Sports 1, live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City (10:00 PM ET/7:00PM PT), and will feature boxing’s brightest young stars in compelling match-ups.
In the 10-round main event, undefeated Washington, DC native Dusty Hernandez-Harrison battles Tommy Rainone of Plainview, New York in a 10-round fight for the vacant WBC Continental Americas Welterweight Championship.
In addition to the great action inside the ring, the January 9 edition of throne boxing features several notable Roc Nation touches that offer an unprecedented fan experience, including live performances by key Roc Nation artists.
“All of us at Roc Nation Sports are thrilled to announce our first boxing event along with our first series and television deal,” said Roc Nation Sports’ COO of Boxing David Itskowitch. “The January 9th event at The Theater at Madison Square Garden will be an event unlike anything boxing fans have experienced in the past whether they’re at The Garden or watching at home on FOX Sports 1. An evening of exciting fights, great music and fantastic entertainment will be a fitting way to kick off throne boxing, a series that will stand alone on the boxing landscape.”
“FOX Sports is thrilled to be in business with Roc Nation Sports, an innovative, entrepreneurial group,” said Crakes. “Providing this type of sports and entertainment programming to our viewers is a terrific opportunity for FOX Sports 1.”
Tickets priced at $205, $105, $55 and $30 plus any Ticketmaster charges go on sale Tuesday, December 9 at 1:00 PM ET and will be available for purchase at the Madison Square Garden box office, online at www.thegarden.com and at all Ticketmaster outlets. One dollar from each ticket sold will be donated to the Muhammad Ali Center.
“Madison Square Garden is looking forward to teaming up with Roc Nation for their first-ever boxing event on January 9th,” said Joel Fisher, executive vice president, MSG Sports. “The Theater at Madison Square Garden provides a great setting for fans to watch boxing and entertainment all under one roof.”
The next two throne boxing events air live on FOX Sports 1 from venues to be announced shortly.
Hailing from Washington, DC, Dusty “The Beltway Boricua” Hernandez-Harrison (24-0, 13 KO’s) is the current WBC Youth Welterweight World Champion and one of boxing’s brightest young stars. On June 11, 2011, less than a month following his 17th birthday, Dusty chose to forgo his amateur status, leaving his 197 amateur bouts and multiple National Championships behind, and make his professional debut as the youngest licensed professional fighter in the United States. Ever since, he has been on a tear while fighting at a break-neck pace, compiling 24 wins against no losses in just over three years. Most recently, he scored a first round knockout win over Michael Clark in front of his hometown fans at Constitution Hall in Washington, DC on November 1. The undefeated 20-year old has received high praise along the way, even having been described as “Washington’s best boxing prospect since Sugar Ray Leonard.”
Since turning professional in 2006, Tommy “The Razor” Rainone (22-5-1, 4 KO’s) has become one of Long Island’s favorite fighting sons. In his most recent fight on November 13, Rainone scored a unanimous decision victory over Carl McNickles at The Space at Westbury on Long Island. The win extended his current unbeaten streak to six fights while giving him a record of 9-1-1 over his last 11 fights. In addition to his exploits in the ring, Rainone works full time as a supervisor for Hilton Hotels. He has also been a cast member of an Off Broadway play, Kid Shamrock, having appeared in the winter 2011 and summer 2012 productions. January 9 marks Rainone’s third fight at The Theater at Madison Square Garden and he will be looking to make a statement against the highly touted Hernandez-Harrison.
About Roc Nation Sports Roc Nation Sports, a sub-division of Roc Nation in partnership with CAA Sports, launched in spring 2013. Founder Shawn “JAY Z” Carter’s love of sports lead to the natural formation of Roc Nations Sports, helping athletes in the same way Roc Nation has been helping artists in the music industry for years. Roc Nation Sports focuses on elevating athletes’ career on a global scale both on and off the field. Roc Nation Sports conceptualizes and executes marketing and endorsement deals, community outreach, charitable tie-ins, media relations and brand strategy. Roc Nation Sports launched its boxing division, a full service promotional company, in August 2014. Roc Nation Sports’ roster includes premiere athletes such as Robinson Cano, Skylar Diggins, Kevin Durant, Geno Smith, Victor Cruz, CC Sabathia, James Young, Hakeem Nicks, Dez Bryant, Ndamukong Suh, Rusney Castillo, and Yoenis Cespedes.
