Earlier today Lou DiBellaof DiBella Entertainment and 50 Cent of SMS Promotions hosted an international media conference call to discuss the upcoming ESPN Friday Night Fights card on March 1, at MGM Grand at Foxwoods. In the main event, SMS Promotions IBF Featherweight Champion Billy “The Kid” Dib (35-1, 21KO’s) looks to defend his title against Cuban Olympian and IBF #3 rated Luis Franco (11-1, 7KO’s).
In the televised co-feature, junior middleweight contender Willie Nelson (19-1-1, 11KO’s) squares off against Michael Medina (26-3-2, 19KO’s) in a 10-round showdown for Nelson’s NABF junior middleweight title. The Nelson-Medina bout is promoted in association with Rumble Time Promotions. Both bouts will be aired on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET.
Below are some quick notes from the call:
LOU DIBELLA:
“DiBella Entertainment and 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions are presenting a great night of fights live from the MGM Grand at Foxwoods that will be televised by ESPN’s Friday Night Fights, on March 1. Doors open at 6:30pm and the first fight will take place at 7:00pm. ESPN goes live at 9:00PM EST. In the main event, the popular Australian boxer and IBF featherweight champion, Billy ‘The Kid’ Dib, defending his title against Cuban Olympian and the IBF #3-rated featherweight Luis Franco. In the co-feature, you have Willie Nelson defending his NABF junior middleweight title against Michael Medina. The bout is scheduled for 10 rounds and will be promoted in association with Rumble Time Promotions. Tickets go on sale next week and are affordably priced at $200, $100, $75 and $40. Contact the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Box Office for more information.”
50 CENT:
“This is exciting for me. Of course, you’ll see some of my friends from music culture at this event. This is my first event co-promoting from the ground up. Yes, I had Yuriorkis Gamboa fighting on the Pacquiao undercard, but this is the first time that SMS is involved with the entire production and going through the entire process. You’re going to see a really good night of entertainment. Dib and Franco will be on their A-game. Dib has been training more than usual for this fight. We are putting a lot of energy into promoting this event.”
BILLY DIB:
“I want to thank Foxwoods, Lou DiBella, SMS Promotions and ESPN. I’m coming out to not just to win but to make a serious statement. I believe I’m going to knock Franco out.”
LUIS FRANCO:
“I’d like to thank my management team for getting me to this point, Lou DiBella and SMS Promotions for this opportunity, and of course Foxwoods and ESPN. I’m ecstatic to be a part of his 50 Cent’s first show. Whatever Dib has to say to me, he can say to me on the night of the fight.”
SCOTT BUTERA (PRESIDENT/CEO OF FOXWOODS RESORT CASINO):
We are very excited to host this great event. We feel that with the added prominence of 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions and DiBella Entertainment, it will be a spectacular night. I can promise everyone that the crowd will be robust. We’re very proud to be participating in this event.”
DOUG LOUGHREY (ESPN DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING):
“We have a great conversion of brands here with 50 Cent’s SMS Promotions and DiBella Entertainment. We are in the 15th year of Friday Night Fights, and now with ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes, a lot of our viewers speak both English and Spanish. We’re looking for an exciting night on March 1. We’re talking about a total of 57-8 knockouts between the fighters in the co-feature and main event. It’s now up to the combatants to come forward and provide a great night of action.”
