RING ANNOUNCER SONNY FRANCO SIGNS WITH LION FIGHT PROMOTIONS “Let the battles begin!!”
Nov 12, 2015 Comments
(PRESS RELEASE) -- Las Vegas, Nev. – Sonny Franco, the highly
respected ring announcer whose trademarked “Let the Battles Begin!”
rallying cry has revved up fans and fighters for HBO pay-per-view,
Showtime and other major broadcasts, has signed with Lion Fight
Promotions to announce its shows through 2016.
A member of the U.S. Army Reserves who served in Iraq in 2003, Franco works for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation yet has increasingly gained recognition as a professional ring announcer thanks partly to his velvety pipes and being mentored by fight game mainstays such as the “Classy” Jimmy Lennon Jr., Bruce Buffer (UFC), Michael Buffer (HBO) and prominent boxing referees Richard Steele and Tony Weeks. Franco is set to announce Lion Fight 26, which is headlined by a world title fight between champion Tetsuya Yamato and challenger Greg Wooton and takes place Nov. 20 at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
“Our goal at Lion Fight is to be the definitive and premiere Muay
Thai event promotion in the world and so every level of our
operation is important, including the ring announcer who gets
fighters and fans excited for our shows,” said Lion Fight President
Scott
Kent. “I love Sonny Franco's style, smooth delivery and
professionalism and expect him to enhance the feel of our
broadcasts on AXS TV and at our live events.”
Franco credits being at “right time, right place” and his close friendship with referee Tony Weeks with jump-starting his career.
Franco has since worked for some of the biggest names and promoters in the fight biz, including Top Rank/Zanfer Promotions, Gary Shaw Productions, Richard Steele Promotions, Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Lion Fight Promotions.
“I am extremely excited and honored to join the Lion Fight team as their official announcer,” Franco said. “Muay Thai is such an awesome sport and Scott Kent has demonstrated great attention to detail to showcase the talent and majesty of the sport.
“Fight fans around the world have embraced Lion Fight Promotions and the stellar quality shows that they are well-known for. The energy and excitement that is felt at a Lion Fight show is palpable and electric! As their official announcer my intention is to enhance the show by contributing my talent and passion for the sport, and my passion for entertaining the loyal fight fans who make it all possible. From the first bell to the last, we as a team at Lion Fight will give the fans an up-close and thrilling Muay Thai experience that they will never forget and will crave more of!”
Tickets for Lion Fight 26, which will be held inside Foxwoods' Fox Theater are on sale now and can be purchased through Foxwoods.com or by calling the Foxwoods Box Office at 800-200-2882 or Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the Foxwoods Box Office. Ticket prices are $95 and $55.
LION FIGHT 26 airs live on AXS TV starting at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The broadcast will feature play-by-play and color commentary by UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich alongside renowned sports commentator “The Voice” Michael Schiavello.
Please visit LIONFIGHT.com for news, information and event updates, and follow on Twitter @LIONFIGHT and @LionFightOfficial on Instagram.
About Lion Fight Promotions
Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, Lion Fight Promotions, LLC is the world’s premier Muay Thai organization. Founded in 2010 by owner and Chief Executive Officer Scott Kent, Lion Fight is the most active promoter of Muay Thai events and stands as the largest standup combat sports organization in North America. Sponsored by Singha Beer, the exclusive and official beer of Lion Fight, its full Muay Thai rules events are televised live nationally to over 45 million homes as part of AXS TV’s long-running Friday Night Fights series. The first-ever professional combat sports organization to be included on the UFC International Fight Week schedule of events, Lion Fight is dedicated to growing Muay Thai in America and to presenting world-class events stacked with the best fighters in the sport.
About Foxwoods ® Resort Casino
About Foxwoods® Resort CasinoFoxwoods Resort Casino is one of the premier destinations in the Northeast. As the largest resort casino in North America, Foxwoods offers a vast array of gaming in six casinos; AAA Four-Diamond hotels, restaurants from gourmet to quick service, world-renowned spas, award-winning golf, state-of-the-art theaters, and exclusive retailers. Perfect for both recreation and business, Foxwoods provides modern and versatile convention and meeting space to infuse new life into any meeting or event. Foxwoods Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. For a comprehensive look at Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation visit Foxwoods.com.
About AXS TV Fights
AXS TV Fights presents more LIVE mixed martial arts and kickboxing events than any other television network with 40+ LIVE world-class fight cards each year. "The Voice" Michael Schiavello and UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich call all the action as champions, challengers, and top prospects take center stage every Friday night at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. AXS TV Fights can be found online, on Facebook and on Twitter. AXS TV is widely distributed in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast/Xfinity, DIRECTV, DISH, Suddenlink, Verizon FiOS, and other cable, satellite and telco providers. The network is also carried in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
A member of the U.S. Army Reserves who served in Iraq in 2003, Franco works for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation yet has increasingly gained recognition as a professional ring announcer thanks partly to his velvety pipes and being mentored by fight game mainstays such as the “Classy” Jimmy Lennon Jr., Bruce Buffer (UFC), Michael Buffer (HBO) and prominent boxing referees Richard Steele and Tony Weeks. Franco is set to announce Lion Fight 26, which is headlined by a world title fight between champion Tetsuya Yamato and challenger Greg Wooton and takes place Nov. 20 at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
Advertisement
Franco credits being at “right time, right place” and his close friendship with referee Tony Weeks with jump-starting his career.
“Through a discussion one day I told (Weeks) that I was interested
in giving announcing a try as I always had a love and passion for
boxing, MMA and Muay Thai,” Franco said. “Weeks then introduced me
to Hall of Fame retired boxing referee Mr. Richard Steele. Mr.
Steele contacted me and gave me my first announcing gig and break
at an amateur show he was hosting at his gym. After the event was
over Mr. Steele shook my hand and congratulated me on a great
performance and told me I had just performed my first and last
amateur show. He told me he was going to help mentor me so I could
announce at the professional level.”
Franco has since worked for some of the biggest names and promoters in the fight biz, including Top Rank/Zanfer Promotions, Gary Shaw Productions, Richard Steele Promotions, Sugar Shane Mosley Promotions, Golden Boy Promotions and Lion Fight Promotions.
“I am extremely excited and honored to join the Lion Fight team as their official announcer,” Franco said. “Muay Thai is such an awesome sport and Scott Kent has demonstrated great attention to detail to showcase the talent and majesty of the sport.
“Fight fans around the world have embraced Lion Fight Promotions and the stellar quality shows that they are well-known for. The energy and excitement that is felt at a Lion Fight show is palpable and electric! As their official announcer my intention is to enhance the show by contributing my talent and passion for the sport, and my passion for entertaining the loyal fight fans who make it all possible. From the first bell to the last, we as a team at Lion Fight will give the fans an up-close and thrilling Muay Thai experience that they will never forget and will crave more of!”
Tickets for Lion Fight 26, which will be held inside Foxwoods' Fox Theater are on sale now and can be purchased through Foxwoods.com or by calling the Foxwoods Box Office at 800-200-2882 or Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the Foxwoods Box Office. Ticket prices are $95 and $55.
LION FIGHT 26 airs live on AXS TV starting at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT. The broadcast will feature play-by-play and color commentary by UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich alongside renowned sports commentator “The Voice” Michael Schiavello.
Please visit LIONFIGHT.com for news, information and event updates, and follow on Twitter @LIONFIGHT and @LionFightOfficial on Instagram.
About Lion Fight Promotions
Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, Lion Fight Promotions, LLC is the world’s premier Muay Thai organization. Founded in 2010 by owner and Chief Executive Officer Scott Kent, Lion Fight is the most active promoter of Muay Thai events and stands as the largest standup combat sports organization in North America. Sponsored by Singha Beer, the exclusive and official beer of Lion Fight, its full Muay Thai rules events are televised live nationally to over 45 million homes as part of AXS TV’s long-running Friday Night Fights series. The first-ever professional combat sports organization to be included on the UFC International Fight Week schedule of events, Lion Fight is dedicated to growing Muay Thai in America and to presenting world-class events stacked with the best fighters in the sport.
About Foxwoods ® Resort Casino
About Foxwoods® Resort CasinoFoxwoods Resort Casino is one of the premier destinations in the Northeast. As the largest resort casino in North America, Foxwoods offers a vast array of gaming in six casinos; AAA Four-Diamond hotels, restaurants from gourmet to quick service, world-renowned spas, award-winning golf, state-of-the-art theaters, and exclusive retailers. Perfect for both recreation and business, Foxwoods provides modern and versatile convention and meeting space to infuse new life into any meeting or event. Foxwoods Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. For a comprehensive look at Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation visit Foxwoods.com.
About AXS TV Fights
AXS TV Fights presents more LIVE mixed martial arts and kickboxing events than any other television network with 40+ LIVE world-class fight cards each year. "The Voice" Michael Schiavello and UFC Hall of Famer Pat Miletich call all the action as champions, challengers, and top prospects take center stage every Friday night at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. AXS TV Fights can be found online, on Facebook and on Twitter. AXS TV is widely distributed in the U.S. via AT&T U-verse, Charter, Comcast/Xfinity, DIRECTV, DISH, Suddenlink, Verizon FiOS, and other cable, satellite and telco providers. The network is also carried in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
