Joe Ferraro
| Joe Ferraro | |
|---|---|
| Born |
September 19, 1973 Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Residence | Toronto, Ontario |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Occupation | MMA Insider |
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) |
| Children | 1 |
"Showdown Joe" Ferraro (born September 19, 1973 in Toronto, Ontario) is a Mixed Martial Arts Insider formerly for Canadian sports channel Sportsnet and was the host of UFC Central (television and radio). The television show aired weekly on Sportsnet 360, with multiple replays on all of Sportsnet’s channels, while the weekly radio show aired on Sportsnet 590, The Fan, and was syndicated across Canada.[1]
Early Life and Education
Joe Ferraro was born on September 19, 1973, in Toronto, Ontario, to Italian immigrant parents. His parents divorced when he was six years old. He was raised by his father.
Ferraro attended St. Roch’s Elementary School in North York, Ontario, spent one year at Don Bosco Secondary School in Toronto, Ontario and in 1992 graduated from St. Thomas Aquinas Secondary School in Tottenham, Ontario.
In 1995, he graduated Cum Laude from The Trebas Institute of Recording Arts and Sciences with a degree in Recorded Music Production.
Ferraro first started training in martial arts with high school wrestling in 1989. In 1990, be began taking boxing and kickboxing and in 1996, Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He continues to train mixed martial arts regularly.
Ferraro was certified as Mixed Martial Arts Referee on June 28, 2009, under “Big John” McCarthy’s C.O.M.M.A.N.D. training system, a recognized course under The Association of Boxing Commissions. He was subsequently certified as a Mixed Martial Arts Judge on September 26, 2010.
Career
In 2000, Joe Ferraro co-founded Showdown Fightwear, as well as subsidiary Showdown Boxing.
In June 2000, Showdown Fightwear began sponsoring mixed martial artists and promotions starting with the inaugural Universal Combat Challenge. Along with Showdown Boxing, the two companies branched out globally, sponsoring various athletes in all major promotions, with their first introduction into the Ultimate Fighting Championship on February 23, 2001, at UFC 30, when Australian Mixed Martial Artist Elvis Sinosic competed against Jeremy Horn.
Ferraro left Showdown Fightwear and Showdown Boxing in 2004.
In 2002, he founded Showdown Entertainment Inc.
From 2000 - 2005, Ferraro worked as a grappling and mixed martial arts (co) promoter, as well as manager, consultant, matchmaker, MC, host and colour commentator for various organizations, including the Universal Combat Challenge, TKO MMA, Freedom Fight, APEX Championship Fighting and Hardcore Championship Fighting. In April 2007, he began hosting “The Showdown” radio show, on Sportsnet 590, The Fan. In October 2011, the show’s name was changed to “UFC Central”.
He began working for Rogers Sportsnet in August 2007.
In March 2009, he began hosting “MMA Connected”. The show’s name was changed in 2010 to “UFC Connected” and in 2011, to “UFC Central”.
Personal life
Ferraro lives with his wife and son in Toronto, Ontario.
Honors and Awards
In 2005, at the Bravado Jiu-Jitsu Open, Ferraro received an award in appreciation for his “tireless efforts to the grappling community”.
In 2009, Ferraro was nominated for “MMA Journalist of the Year” by “Fighters Only Magazine”.
In 2013, Ferraro received an honorary black belt from Ross O’Donnell, who was joined by Greg Jackson and Firas Zahabi during the presentation.
References
External links
- Biography at Rogers Sportsnet
- Joe Ferraro's columns on Rogers Sportsnet
- Showdown Entertainment website
- "The Showdown" Fan 590 website