The motion to file for bankruptcy of Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson was major news in the music and business world, but also made waves in boxing. 50 Cent runs SMS Promotions, a stable that includes lightweight Yuriorkis Gamboa and junior middleweight James Kirkland. The latter is trying to free himself of SMS Promotions so he can remain active and avoid yet another long layoff.
Kirkland was involved in a Fight of the Year candidate vs. Canelo Alvarez in May; Kirkland was brutally knocked out by Alvarez, but the fight was exciting, and he was taking on Alvarez after being out of the ring for 17 months.
Kirkland's career has repeatedly stalled because of layoffs just like that, and his manager Mike Miller is hoping to avoid another long stretch of inactivity because of Jackson's financial woes.
"We're just trying to get in touch with 50's bankruptcy attorney. He won't return our phone calls to figure out what plans they have for James Kirkland," Miller said. "Our contract is un-assignable so he can't assign our contract to a new company or anybody else."
Kirkland fought six times in 2011, but only three times from 2012 until the present. He also experienced a two-year stretch of inactivity from 2009 to 2011 because of a jail stint.
"It's stale right now," Miller said of Kirkland's momentum since the thrilling Alvarez fight. "We haven't fought since May and unless we move quickly he's not going to fight again this year because nobody is going to let him fight while he's involved in 50's bankruptcy."
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