LONG ISLAND – The professional boxing career of Tommy “Razor” Rainone started out just as he had hoped, fighting 10 times within his first 13 months. Since then the fights have been coming in less frequently, despite his burgeoning popularity in his native Long Island, NY and the entire Tri-State area.
“I’d like to be fighting every two months,” says Rainone, 12-2 (4 KO). “I’m hoping to fight in March and if so, I’d love to fight at least 5 times this year. I’m always in the gym, always ready.”
Rainone, a 29-year-old Plainview resident, is a promotional and managerial free agent openly seeking representation for his career. In his last performance, Rainone traveled all the way to Argentina this past December, stopping Santos Galli in seven rounds.
What makes Rainone special is his unique appeal with the fans; Depending on location and adequate advance notice, Rainone routinely brings in between $7,000-$8,000 in ticket sales. On bigger shows, like at Madison Square Garden and similar venues, Rainone has the potential to generate $10-$15K in sales.
“It definitely adds an element to my fights,” Rainone says of his fan base. “Having all of my family, friends and fans in the room at the same time for a common cause. That’s something very special to me.
“Having a promoter who can get you the right fights makes life a lot easier. I’ve had to play the role of promoter, manager and fighter for most of my career and it can be burdensome. I’d like to sign with someone this year if it’s the right fit. The opportunities have been there but I’ve had to turn them down because they weren’t right for me.”
Rainone aims to one day accomplish what every boxer sets out to do: Win a world title. He understands that he must walk before he runs and has set two short-term attainable goals that will bring him one step closer to his future objectives. The first is winning the New York State Welterweight Title, currently held by Daniel Sostre. The second is challenging fellow southpaw Demarcus “Chop Chop” Corley, a former world champion now competing in Rainone’s weight range. Rainone feels confident that he can give his career the push it needs by defeating Corley, who has fought the likes of Miguel Cotto and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“I’ve been a huge boxing fan since I was six years old. I’m following my dream. I set myself small, reasonable goals, just taking it one step at a time. All I need are the opportunities.”