Jimmy Anderson, a long-time professional sports entrepreneur who has held ownership positions with the NBA’s Sacramento Kings and the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball, has announced a significant investment in PKA Worldwide – the upstart Professional Kickboxing Association.
The Sacramento-based Anderson is the lead investor in an organization quickly taking shape and expected to become a driving force in the combat sports arena. The PKA is led by CEO Joe Corley and a legendary line-up of combat sports veterans and sports marketing professionals.
“The leadership team that Joe Corley has assembled, combined with the public’s increased appetite for combat sports and the excitement and artistry of kickboxing has convinced me the time is perfect and this is the right team of people to bring professional kickboxing to the forefront of the combat sports industry,” said Anderson.
Corley who has been involved in professional kickboxing for more than five decades is excited about what the future holds.
“Jimmy’s generous commitment to our organization and kickboxers worldwide will allow us to build our organization and sport in the right manner. The kickboxers who have had to compete in hybrid versions of their sport can now showcase their athleticism and elite punching and kicking skills on the sport’s biggest stage – the PKA Striking Cage.”
About Jim Anderson:
No stranger to the sports business, the Anderson family was instrumental in the relocation of the NBA’s Kings to Sacramento from Kansas City in 1985. He was also a part of the Pittsburgh Pirates ownership group from 1996-2007.
The owner and manager of WHAL, GP, LLC, the general partner of WHAL Properties, LP, Anderson is also an active and longtime board member of Pacific Coast Building Products, Inc. founded by his father, Fred, in 1953.
A noted philanthropist, he recently donated $5 million to fund an innovative Office of Wellness Education at the UC-Davis School of Medicine. Additionally, the gift establishes the Jacquelyn S. Anderson Endowed Chair in Wellness in honor of his late wife, an artist and photographer passionate about health and wellness who passed away in 2021.
He is also building “The Jacquelyn Project,” a one-of-a-kind free art gallery, opening next spring in downtown Sacramento, showcasing Jackie’s inspirational and thought provoking artwork and photography.
Additionally, he recently combined his passion for philanthropy and martial arts when he presented the inaugural “Jacquelyn Award” to Gena Norris, wife of martial arts legend and film star Chuck Norris. The award honors Gena’s support of KICKSTART KIDS which has graduated more than 100,000 kids from inner-city schools via the Chuck Norris Martial Arts System implemented in their curriculum.
