DIBELLA ENTERTAINMENT SIGNS 2016 OLYMPIC HEAVYWEIGHT CLAYTON LAURENT JR.
New York, NY (July 6, 2018) *DiBella Entertainment* has signed 2016
Olympic Heavyweight *Clayton “Mr. 340” Laurent Jr.* of the U.S. Virgin
Islands, it was announced today. He is the stepson of former junior
middleweight and middleweight world champion Julian* “The Hawk” Jackson* and
the stepbrother of contenders *John *and* Julius Jackson*.
Standing 6’5″ and weighing 250lbs., the 27-year-old Laurent competed at the
2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, advancing to the second
round. With the ultimate goal of becoming the first world heavyweight
champion born and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Laurent made his
professional debut on August 19, 2017, earning a second-round stoppage
against Wayman Carter.
Outside of boxing, Laurent is a property manager for Virgin Islands
Territorial Emergency Management Agency (VITEMA), the local emergency
response agency.
“I’m thrilled to add heavyweight puncher Clayton Laurent Jr. to the DiBella
Entertainment roster,” said *Lou DiBella*, President of DiBella
Entertainment. “With his background as a 2016 Olympian, and having honed
his skills under the tutelage of his legendary stepfather Julian Jackson,
Clayton has explosive potential. Together with his managers Philippe Fondu
and Matt Clark, we will work to develop Clayton and provide him with an
opportunity to become the first heavyweight champion from the U.S. Virgin
Islands.”
“It’s a great feeling knowing that I’m being signed by one of the biggest
names in boxing right now,” said Laurent. “I first heard about Mr. DiBella
when my brothers went to train with Sergio Martinez at his camp in
California. I saw him take Sergio from being an undiscovered, unknown boxer
to a superstar, and I look forward to seeing him transform my career as
well.
“Boxing is what I love to do, it’s what I live for. Growing up, it was
exciting to see my brothers excelling. I wanted to be a world champion and
a world ranked heavyweight fighter representing the U.S. Virgin Islands,
and I appreciate having this opportunity at really building my career and
becoming somebody in the ring.”
Laurent is co-managed by *Philippe Fondu* and *Matt Clark*.
Stated Fondu, “I was privileged to work several times in the past with Lou
DiBella, whom I consider a leading boxing promoter in the world. When it
came time to select someone trustworthy to develop Clayton’s career, my
suggestion to the team was to address DiBella Entertainment’s proposal. I
am deeply convinced that Clayton has a great future in front of him being
associated with DiBella Entertainment.”
Added Clark, “Clayton is an exciting addition to the heavyweight scene. He
has a good engine and punches to the body very well. We are proud to be a
part of the DiBella Entertainment stable.”
In addition to representing the U.S. Virgin Islands in the 2016 Olympics,
Clayton had an illustrious amateur career, including participating in the
Pan American Games in 2015 and 2011. He also had three victories in the
World Series of Boxing in 2015, competing for the Puerto Rican Hurricanes.
Additionally, Laurent has sparred on numerous occasions with current
Unified Cruiserweight World Champion Murat Gassiev.
Details of Laurent’s first bout under the DiBella Entertainment banner will
be announced shortly.
