Cirillo World

Servicing Sports, Entertainment & Culinary public relations & management Clients since 1997

• 150 W 28th St. Suite 1804, New York, NY 10001
• Phone:       +1 (914) 260-7436
• email:          johnnycigarpr@aol.com

The launch of Lou DiBella’s DiBella Entertainment in 2000 was the next focal point, putting a series of Olympians headed by future champ Jermain Taylor, a bevy of local New York products such as Paulie Malignaggi, veteran great Bernard Hopkins, and champion Andre Berto during a decade-long tenure to place DiBella and his fighters on boxing’s international radar screen.

Such promoters as Tom Loeffler and Bernd Boente of K-2 Promotions, Dino Duva,Joe DeGuardia, and the late Cedric Kushner knocked on the Cirillo World door to publicize and market their fighters, and Cirillo World delivered its customary knockout coverage. The group of top fighters included such standouts world heavyweight champions as Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, former heavyweight titlist Samuel Peter, top contenders David Tua and Kirk Johnson, and champion Shane Mosley, just to name a few. Particularly notable were the Klitchko Brothers, who appeared on such networks as CNN, the Jim Rome Show, and Conan O’Brien

The historic Grand Central Oyster Bar has been the restaurant centerpiece of Cirillo World Public Relations in the culinary and dining categories for more than a decade.
 
Company founder John Cirillo has also become a recognized food blogger with his Johnny Cigar’s Reserved Table, which was highlighted last year by renowned restaurant critic Bob Lape on his popular Dining Diary series on WCBS News Radio 880 in New York. For our latest post visit https://jcigarpr.wordpress.com/2017/03/02/try-48-bivalves-la-societe-conclave-convenes-tonight-for-21st-renewal-at-grand-central-oyster-bar/
 
Cirillo World also currently represents: Dan Rooney’s Sports Bar at Empire City Casino in Yonkers, New York.
 
Previously, Gallagher’s Steak House, the mainstay Theater District steak house, was a 13-year client (2000-13 received great attention on the airwaves, the internet in print for more than a decade of excellent public relations efforts. Regular Kentucky Derby handicapping seminars and 75th and 80th birthday celebrations highlighted by the Babe Ruth Look-alike contests were among a myriad of National media attention-worthy promotions. 
 
In addition, Cirillo World has represented: the Oyster Bar’s Park Slope counterpart, the Oyster Bar Brooklyn, launched to great fanfare by Cirillo World; LuLu & Me, a NoMad neighborhood restaurant in New York City; and legendary Yankees closer Mariano Rivera’s New Rochelle based restaurant Mo’s New York Grill all benefitted from the Cirillo public relations flair, while enhancing the company’s sparkling food and culinary resume.
 
Back to the Grand Central Oyster Bar, where Cirillo World has spearheaded public relations efforts forthe restaurant’s annual Holland Herring Festival and Grand Central Oyster Frenzy, as well as the storied eatery’s 100th Anniversary Celebration in 2013, the landmark restaurant’s cook book which was released that year, and a trio of Alzheimer’s research benefits – Remember Then, Remember Now, featuring Yankees manager Joe Girardi, CBS Sports lead announcer Jim Nantz, and YES Network’s Yankees voice Michael Kay.

In today’s instantaneous social media world, companies often neglect the traditional radio tour for effective branding.
 
Cirillo World offers this specialty public relations service, placing its clients’ representatives on both local and national programs to messaging events and products. From the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award for Fordham’s WFUV Radio and Diamond Resorts Golf to Steiner Sports and the Stockton! Podcast, Cirillo World has booked such prominent names as Vin Scully, Bob Costas, Doc Emrick, Brent Musburger, Dick Stockton, John Smoltz, Dellin Betances, Mike Modano, Mark Rypien, Marcus Allen, Brandon Steiner and Victor Espinoza on such primary outlets as ESPN, WFAN, CBS Sports, Sirius XM and Yahoo Sports, just to name a few.
 
Contact John Cirillo directly at johnnycigarpr@aol.com for an immediate plan to raise awareness.
 
Here are links to major bookings: 

Bernie and Sid Show/WABC Radio​
 
The DA Show (Damon Amendolara)
CBS Sports Radio​​

Sports Rage on 1060 NBC Sports Radio Arizona

Vin Scully Interview with Howie Rose

WOR 710

The Jake Brown Show on CBS Sports Radio

Diana Munson on Ed Randall's Talkin' Baseball
660 AM WFAN Radio New York 

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Thus began Cirillo’s two-decade success-story in the sweet science as pugilist publicist. Within one year, six cards were promoted at the Garden, featuring the sport’s greatest stars including De La Hoya, Roy Jones, Jr., Arturo Gatti, Lenox Lewis, Tim Witherspoonand Riddick Bowe, just to name a few.

In 1997, the longtime Garden executive launched Cirillo World, and boxing became the company’s centerpiece. First, Arum contracted Cirillo as Top Rank’s East Coast representative, serving as lead publicist for Oscar De La Hoya’s pay-per-view and HBO championship bouts against Hector Camacho, Wilfredo Rivera, Patrick Carpentier, Julio Cesar Chavez, Oba Carr, Ike Quartey, Felix Trinidad, Derrell Colley, and Shane Mosley during three-year, 9-fight run, as well as publicizing rising Top Rank stars including Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Erik Morales.

Cirillo World Boxing​

Cirillo World Charity and Benefit Services

In 1995, as Senior Vice President at Madison Square Garden, John Cirillo was hell-bent on returning boxing to the Garden after a significant hiatus. Negotiating with legendary promoter Bob Arum, Cirillo signed a contract for Oscar De La Hoya to face Jesse James Leija for the “Return to the Mecca” promotion which was televised live on HBO Sports, and called by experts the greatest MSG boxing promotion since the days of Mohammed Ali. 

Thus began Cirillo’s highly-successful foray into the sweetscience. Within one year, six cards were promoted at the Garden, featuring the sport’s greatest stars including De La Hoya, Roy Jones, Jr., Arturo Gatti, Lenox Lewis, Tim Witherspoon and Riddick Bowe, just to name a few. In 1997, the longtime Garden executive launched Cirillo World, and boxing became the company’s centerpiece.  First, Arum contracted Cirillo as Top Rank’s East Coast representative, handling Oscar’s pay per view bouts, and publicizing rising stars Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Erik Morales.  

The launch of Lou DiBella’s DiBella Entertainment was the next focal point, putting a series of Olympians headed by future champ Jermain Taylor, a bevy of local New York products such as Paulie Malignaggi, veteran great Bernard Hopkins, and champion Andre Berto during his tenure with DiBella on boxing’s international radar screen.

Cirillo at the same the began a long association with the Duva Family, publicizing the legendary Hall of Fame trainer-manager Lou Duva and his son, promoter Dino Duva on a wide variety of projects. Duva Boxing was the first tenure to team with the tandem, featuring major cards with heavyweight titlist Samuel Peter and top heavyweight contender Kirk Johnson at Madison Square Garden promotions. In 2014, Cirillo worked with Dino Duva’s latest venture – Dynasty Boxing – to introduce Chinese silver-medalist Zhang Zhilei to the media, gaining international attention when covered prominently by the Associated Press, Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Business Television, as well as other major outlets, including his pro debut announcement alongside former champ Evander Holyfield, who was named in an advisory capacity. 

In addition, such promoters as Tom Loeffler and Bernd Boente of K-2 Promotions, Joe DeGuardia, and the late Cedric Kushner knocked on the Cirillo World door to publicize and market their fighters, and Cirillo World delivered its customary knockout coverage. The group of top fighters included such standouts as current world heavyweight champions as Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, and heavyweight contender David Tua just to name a few. Particularly notable were the Klitschko Brothers, who appeared on such networks as CNN, the Jim Rome Show, and Conan O’Brien.

Fast forward to last summer, when “The Clones Cyclone,” Barry McGuigan brought Cirillo World into the mix to publicize then-undefeated Carl Frampton in his successful challenge to dethrone featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York (July 31, 2016). Making his first New York appearance, “The Jackal” was buoyed by a highly-partisan crowd that resulted from a grass roots marketing effort in the Irish communities in Woodlawn (Bronx) and McLean Avenue (Yonkers), as well as attention in the Irish media, New York press, and leading sports and boxing websites. Frampton triumphed in spectacular style to capture the title belt in the world championship bout televised on Showtime. 

The Frampton foray continued Cirillo’s uncanny knack bringing attention to boxing within the Irish community. Previously he served as publicist for Ireland’s John Duddy during a successful middleweight run to contender status in New York from 2005-10, including several outstanding St. Patrick’s Day cards at Madison Square Garden’s Theatre. 

And curator James J. Houlihan’s Fighting Irishmen: Celebration of the Celtic Warrior exhibition was launched with the Cirillo touch. The exhibit premiered at Irish Arts Center in New York City in 2006 to great fanfare. Thereafter continued its foray at the South Street Seaport Museum in lower Manhattan (2007), the Burns Library at Boston College (2008), the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh, Ireland (2009), Croke Park at the GAA Museum in Dublin, Ireland (2010), and the University of Limerick in Limerick, Ireland (2011). 

The exhibition featured as its central piece, the late, great Irish fighter Dan Donnelly’s mummified right arm and an array of robes, gloves, boxing bags, prints, photographs, paintings, and film footage of Celtic prize-fighters from 1820 to the present day. Intriguing objects on display will include pieces from sporting greats such as John L. Sullivan, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Barry McGuigan, Freddie Gilroy, Bobby Cassidy, Gerry Cooney, Billy Graham, Billy Conn, John Duddy, Maureen Shea and many more. 

Cirillo World has enjoyed a two-year spin with Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing to publicize the New York-based promoter and his company’s fighters including such stars as Chris Algieri, Cletis Seldin, Demetrius Andrade, and Joe Smith, Jr. Smith, Jr., known as the "Irish Bomber," reached contender and champion status with crushing wins over Andrzej Fonfara and the legendary Bernard Hopkins, gaining national acclaim on national television during a whirlwind, six-month span. 

In 2014, ESPN brought Cirillo aboard to assist in coverage of its 30 for 30 film “No Mas” which told the story of the Duran-Leonard trilogy, and in 2015 Alan Swyer’s award-nominated documentary ‘El Boxeo’ gained prominent attention.   

Cirillo had handled public relations for fight trainer and ESPN “Friday Night Fights” analyst Teddy Atlas and the Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation for a decade. 

Press and media coverage from the Associated Press to USA Today to the New York Times, as well as boxing’s prolific websites, have resulted in print, while radio and television bookings have included CNN, FOX & Friends, Conan O’Brien, and many more significant outlets. 

Traditional Radio Tours

In 2014, Cirillo worked with Dino Duva’s latest venture – Dynasty Boxing – to introduce Chinese silver medalist Zhang Zhilei to the media, gaining international attention when covered prominently by the Associated Press, Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Business Television, as well as other major outlets, including his pro debut announcement alongside former champ Evander Holyfield, who was named in an advisory capacity.

Cirillo had handled public relations for fight trainer and ESPN “Friday Night Fights” analyst Teddy Atlas and the Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation for a decade.

Press and media coverage from the Associated Press to USA Today to the New York Times, as well as boxing’s prolific websites, have resulted in print, while radio and television bookings have included CNN, FOX & Friends, Conan O’Brien, and many more significant outlets.

The company’s significant long term clients have gone beyond boxing to be sure. With sports marketing powerhouse Steiner Sports, Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway, Fairfield Athletics, the Grand Central Oyster Bar, and the venerable Thurman Munson Awards Dinner (for AHRC New York City Foundation) as the company’s centerpieces, Cirillo World brings better branding and heightened awareness to its clients on a daily basis in every form of media imaginable – from television and radio to major daily print, wire services and magazines to the internet, websites and blogs.

Cirillo World’s sports, news and business media contacts combined with its athlete and broadcast relationships provides a unique combination for media coverage and creative special events.

John Cirillo is respected as the industry leader in sports, entertainment and culinary public relations, marketing and event management.  So much so, that he has been an adjunct professor in sports media studies at his alma mater, Fordham University, for two decades. He appeared on Bloomberg television to offer his commentary on Tiger Woods’s national public statement which aired worldwide. And was the lead quote in USA Today’s article on the fall of Tour De France champion Lance Armstrong.

A former three-time NBA PR Man of the Year award-winner as vice president of public relations for the Knicks and senior vice president of Madison Square Garden, Cirillo operates the public relations and event management firm Cirillo World, established in 1997, exceeding client expectations for almost two decades. The relationships with the print and broadcast media, as well as athletes, agents and public relations specialists throughout New York City and nationwide are both invaluable and renowned.

Previous clients have included: Baseball Hall of Famer Gary Carter, Emmy Award winning sports broadcaster Bob Costas, five-time world boxing champion Oscar De La Hoya, Fordham University’s new Westchester campus, Yankee legendary closer Mariano Rivera’s restaurant Mo’s New York Grill; and the Atlantic 10 Conference basketball championships at Barclays Center; and has served as agent for Spero Dedes, the former voice of the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks, who now is a prominent CBS Sports play by play broadcaster on NFL and NCAA basketball games.

It is plain to see why Cirillo World should be your agency of choice: better branding; great awareness; Cirillo World.

A LOOK AT LONG HISTORY OF JOHN CIRILLO, PUGILIST PUBLICIST

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Cirillo World Restaurant & Culinary Public Relations

In 1995, as Senior Vice President at Madison Square Garden, John Cirillo was the visionary and guiding force in returning boxing to the Garden after a long hiatus. Negotiating with legendary promoter Bob Arum and HBO, Cirillo signed a contract for Oscar De La Hoya to face Jesse James Leija for the “Return to the Mecca” promotion which media and public relations experts called one of the greatest MSG boxing promotion since the days of Mohammed Ali.

With the Thurman Munson Awards Dinner to benefit AHRC New York City Foundation, Giants Coach Tom Coughlin’s Jay Fund Ninth Annual Champions for Children Gala, the Grand Central Oyster Bar’s Remember When Remember Now Alzheimer’s Research fundraiser, the Boys and Girls Club of Mount Vernon’s 100th Anniversary Gala, Fordham’s WFUV Radio Spring Gala for the Vin Scully Lifetime Achievement Award and Fairfield's University's Leader of the Herd Award among its charity centerpieces during a two-decade span, Cirillo World brings together sports and entertainment celebrities, public relations excellence by maximizing awareness and branding the foundation,  and outstanding event management to meet every client need.
 
The Dr. Theodore Atlas Foundation Awards Dinner, the Joe DiMaggio Award Gala, Children of the City and Fordham University Athletics’ “Ram Roasts” are also among the beneficiaries of the Cirillo World touch in raising their benefits and fundraising to the highest level.
 
For the Thurman Munson Awards Dinner benefit as athlete recruiter, the list of honorees gathered by Cirillo World since being retained in 1998 reads like a sports who’s who: Yankees Yogi Berra, Gary Sanchez, Graig Nettles, Bucky Dent, Mark Teixiera, CC Sabathia; Don Mattingly, Mariano Rivera, Jorge Posada, Bernie Williams, Nick Swisher, Joba Chamberlain, Melky Cabrera, Robby Cano, Joe Torre, Joe Girardi, and Gary Sheffield; the Mets Mike Piazza, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, David Wright, Angel Pagan, Wilmer Flores and Darryl Strawberry; and an elite list of Knicks including Willis Reed, Patrick Ewing, Mark Jackson, Charles Oakley, John Starks and Allan Houston, not to mention the legendary basketball Hall of Famer Dr. J, Julius Erving.
Cirillo World created the Alzheimer’s Research benefit as a celebration of the historic Oyster Bar’s 95th birthday. Cirillo World not only recruited such prominent sports celebrities as the Yankees manager Joe Girardi, CBS Sports Jim Nantz, YES Network’s Michael Kay and the Giants wide receiver Steve Smith, but also tabbing prominent real estate executive Jim Houlihan as chairman, and selling out the benefit in three consecutive years.
 
For eight years, Cirillo World has been retained by Fordham’s power house WFUV Radio (90.7 FM, 50,000 watts National Public Radio) to publicize the 2008-created Vin Scully Award, which salutes the legendary Dodgers broadcaster and Fordham alumnus. The award which recognizes broadcast excellence has garnered national media attention on Associated Press and throughout the country when the iconic Scully received the inaugural award, as well as for recipients Dick Enberg, Ernie Harwell, Pat Summerall, Al Michaels, Bob Costas, Mike Emrick and Brent Musburger.

Fairfield's Leader of the Herd Award honored prominent media members including Dick “Hoops” Weiss, Jim "OC" O’Connell, Bob Wolff, Verne Lundquist, Bill Raftery, Jackie MacMullan and Len Elmore. The award generated major coverage on Associated Press, ESPN, New York Daily News, and many more, and was embraced by media and college basketball fraternity raising Fairfield to special status. Former honorees were contacted on a regular basis with Fairfield news and assisted with coverage. The honorees provide sources of inspiration for student athletes while launching the men’s and women’s seasons on a positive note.

Cirillo enjoyed a long and successful run with Ireland’s John Duddy during his undefeated middleweight campaign at New York City venues including the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in 2006-07, fighting under the Irish Ropes banner.

James J. Houlihan, curator of the Fighting Irishmen, brought Cirillo World aboard to publicize the premier of the exhibition at the Irish Arts Center in New York City in 2006. Following great acclaim, the exhibition continued on a national and international tour, which concluded at the University of Limerick in Limerick, Ireland in 2011.The exhibition featured as its central piece, the late, great Irish fighter Dan Donnelly’s mummified right arm and an array of robes, gloves, boxing bags, prints, photographs, paintings, and film footage of Celtic prize-fighters from 1820 to the present day. Intriguing objects on display will include pieces from sporting greats such as Barry McGuigan, John L. Sullivan, Jack Dempsey, Gene Tunney, Freddie Gilroy, Bobby Cassidy, Gerry Cooney, Billy Graham, and Billy Conn.

In 2011, Cirillo was the key player in bringing the iconic New York Daily News Golden Gloves to Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway, and the 2016 semi-finals of the fabled amateur boxing tournament will be hosted for the sixth consecutive year on March 30. The oldest and most esteemed amateur event in the U.S., celebrating its 89th anniversary this season, has produced generations of legendary boxers including Sugar Ray Robinson, Emile Griffith, Floyd Patterson, Riddick Bowe, Gerry Cooney, Mark Breland, Jose Torres, and Zab Judah. “We are proud that the Daily News Golden Gloves has become part of the great sports tradition at Empire City Casino, and is now in its sixth year,” said president & CEO, Timothy J. Rooney. “Two New York institutions are once again teaming up for what we know will be an exciting event for fight fans.”

Most recently, Cirillo World was contracted by Joe DeGuardia’s Star Boxing to publicize the Bronx-based promoter and company’s fighters including such stars as former champions Chris Algieri and Demetrius Andrade, as well as such standouts as Zac Dunn, Cletus Seldin, Joshua Clottey, Yuniesky Gonzalez and Joe Smith, Jr.

In 2014, ESPN brought Cirillo aboard to assist in coverage of its 30 for 30 film “No Mas” which told the story of the Duran-Leonard trilogy, and in 2015 Alan Swyer’s award-nominated documentary ‘El Boxeo’ gained prominent attention.

Marketing Programs

Development and execution of marketing strategies and programs, including: marketing plans, site selection, special event development and coordination, sponsorship proposals, promotional partnerships in media and marketing.

Community Relations

Creating and delivering special events in the community, such as kids clinics, fundraising luncheons, dinners and cocktail parties. Services include: event logistics and coordination, charity involvement, and invitations to corporate representatives.

Crisis Management, MEDIA STRATEGY & SPOKESPERSON

Service includes handling media inquiries on specific issues; developing statements and strategies on difficult media issues; crisis management on media and public opinion.

A COMPREHENSIVE MENU OF our SERVICES

Strategic Communications  

and Media Placements

Creative and pro-active public relations planning and strategy, and follow-up media placements in newspapers via news articles and columns, and in broadcast outlets through radio and television stories and interviews. Media services include press conferences, special events and press releases. Relationships with a vast array of influential writers, editors, producers and broadcasters will produce significant results

Specialty Media Services

Cirillo World's specialties include BASEBALL (Thurman Munson Awards Dinner, Steiner Sports), BOXING (Carl Frampton and Star Boxing), CULINARY (the Grand Central Oyster Bar) and PHILANTHROPY (AHRC New York City Foundation). Take your brand to the next level

Celebrity Relations

With wide-ranging relationships in the sports and entertainment industries, be it in team sports or with individual athletes, as well as celebrity stars in film, stage and broadcasting, recruiting celebrities for special events, press conferences and fundraisers is a service provided to add a flourish to any happening, large or small.