Jay Z nabs another huge name in sports.
On Jan. 9, the hip-hop mogul signed Olympic gold medalist Andre Brown, 30, to Roc Nation Sports’ new boxing promotion division.
“It’s official!! #NextChapter Happy to be a part of the @rocnation family. #RocNationSports #SOG” Ward shared via Instagram, under a photo of the boxer and Jay Z inking the deal.
Hours later, Jay Z and Ward celebrated their new partnership at the super-middleweight champ’s first boxing event — the 2015 Throne Boxing Fight Night where guests like Rihanna and Jake Gyllenhaal sat ringside as welterweight Dusty Hernandez-Harrison defended his undefeated record in a victory over Tommy Rainone, at the theater in MSG.
In the last three years, Ward has entered the ring twice, due to a protracted legal battle with Goossen Promotions, which ushered his rise from Olympic gold medalist to professional competitor.
In November 2009, Ward won the belt with a victory over Mikkel Kessler in Oakland, California — his hometown.
Despite his prolonged inactivity in the game, Ward, who still holds the WBA’s 168-pound title is considered one of the world’s top pound-for-pound fighters.
