50 Cent signs James Kirkland

Junior middleweight James Kirkland, out of action since March 2012 due to legal problems and a lawsuit with his former promoter, has signed with promoter/rap star Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson's SMS Promotions and has his next fight lined up.

Jackson announced that Kirkland will face 23-year-old Glen Tapia (20-0, 12 KOs) of Passaic, N.J., on Dec. 7 on an HBO-televised tripleheader at the Adrian Phillips Ballroom at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J. The fight has only been in the works for about two weeks. The card is due to be headlined by unified junior featherweight champion Guillermo Rigondeaux against former bantamweight titlist Joseph Agbeko and also will include a middleweight fight between former three-time title challenger Matthew Macklin and Willie Nelson.
"I had a relationship with 50 Cent before he came into the boxing business," Kirkland said in announcing the signing on Wednesday. "We already had a friendship when he got this [promotional] group together. He can do what no other promoters can do. He's a different type of promoter who can make things happen in and out of the ring for me. It's clear to me that I made the right decision."

Kirkland will also have a new corner. He has split from trainer Ann Wolfe for the second time and will be trained by Bob Santos, who is best known for his work as an assistant trainer and co-manager for welterweight contender Robert Guerrero.