Category Archives: Premier Boxing Champions

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Spike TV

ANTONIO TARVER AND JIMMY SMITH NAMED COLOR ANALYSTS FOR “PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS” SERIES ON SPIKE TV

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New York, NY, February 19, 2015 – Spike TV has added some serious punch to their “Premier Boxing Champions” series announce-team. Five-time, two-division world champion boxer Antonio Tarver and popular Bellator announcer and former professional MMA fighter, Jimmy Smith, will serve as color analysts for Spike TV’s inaugural season of “Premier Boxing Champions.”
Spike TV’s first “Premier Boxing Champions” event will take place on Friday, March 13 at 9:00pm ET/PT from the Citizens Bank Arena in Ontario, CA. The event will showcase two marquee match-ups including Andre Berto vs. Josesito Lopez and Shawn Porter vs. Robert Garcia. Spike will announce the color commentator shortly.
Tarver and Smith complete Spike’s “Premier Boxing Champions” announce team which includes Dana Jacobson as host and Scott Hansen as blow-by-blow announcer.
“We are thrilled to add two dynamic and knowledgeable voices who each possess their own unique perspectives of combat sports,” said Jon Slusser, Senior Vice President, Sports and Branded Entertainment. “Antonio delivers a huge personality with a championship pedigree and Jimmy will bring his incredible insight and energy that he has for MMA to boxing.”
Antonio “The Magic Man” Tarver, from Tampa Fla, had one of the sport’s most-decorated amateur careers. In 1995, he became the only fighter to have won the Pan American, U.S. National Championships, and World Championships in the same year.  After winning the bronze medal in 1996 Olympics, he turned pro and ascended the ranks of light heavyweight division. In 2003, Tarver defeated Montell Griffith in the biggest win in his career up to that point to claim the IBF and WBC title belts. After a tough 12-round decision loss to Roy Jones Jr, Tarver avenged that bitter defeat with an incredible 2nd round knockout of Jones Jr., shocking and amazing boxing fans worldwide. After splitting two fights with Glen Johnson, Tarver topped Jones Jr. with a 12-round decision victory in the third fight of their memorable trilogy. The 46-year-old Tarver (31-6, 22 KOs) is on a mission to become the oldest heavyweight champion of the world.  He is currently world-rated in the heavyweight division at No. 5 by the IBO and No. 9 by the WBA. His last fight (Dec. 11, 2014) resulted in an impressive seventh-round knockout of 29-2-1 Johnathon Banks. He has also served as a color commentator for Showtime Championship Boxing and starred opposite Sylvester Stallone in the feature film “Rocky Balboa” as the character “Mason Dixon.”
Jimmy Smith is currently the color analyst for Bellator MMA on Spike TV. Smith began training in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in in 2000 while at UCLA and became a professional MMA fighter in 2003.  Smith compiled a 5-1 record before retiring in 2006 to focus on a television career. Smith starred in the Discovery Channel show, “Fight Quest,” where he traveled the world learning different fight disciplines. He joined Bellator in 2010 and has served as its lead color analyst ever since, partnering with blow-by-blow announcer, Sean Wheelock.
About Spike TV:
Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks.  A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world’s leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms.  Spike TV’s Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV’s press site at http://www.spike.com/press.  Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.
boxing, CBS Boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Showtime Boxing

LIVE BOXING RETURNS TO CBS TELEVISION NETWORK WITH MULTI-YEAR VENTURE FROM CBS & SHOWTIME®

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PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

 

CBS Sports Presentation of Premier Boxing Champions To Air In Conjunction With Marquee SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Events
NEW YORK (Feb. 17, 2015) – CBS Sports and SHOWTIME Sports® have announced a multi-year joint venture to present live boxing on the CBS Television Network-the first of up to eight live events in 2015 will premiere on Saturday, April 4 at 3 p.m. ET on CBS.  Premier Boxing Champions on CBS will air in conjunction with marquee SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING events as part of a partnership that will cross-promote the live programs across multiple platforms. 

 

The first six weeks to begin this venture will feature two of the biggest names in the sport-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., and Adonis Stevenson-and bookend this year’s most anticipated boxing event, the SHOWTIME PPV® presentation of the undisputed pound-for-pound champion Floyd Mayweather.

 

Each live boxing event on CBS and SHOWTIME will be supported with short- and long-form shoulder programming that will air across multiple platforms including CBS, SHOWTIME and CBS Sports Network.  In addition, a significant marketing budget will be dedicated to promoting each of the live CBS broadcasts and each major SHOWTIME telecast with targeted advertising campaigns.

 

“The Premier Boxing Champions series on CBS will help usher in a new era in the storied history of boxing,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports.  “With the support of our parent company, we are uniquely positioned for a three-tiered approach that includes live boxing broadcasts on America’s No. 1 network, the cable reach of CBS Sports Network and, of course, the premium television leader in boxing, SHOWTIME.  The benefit of elevating the sport across these platforms for all involved, including SHOWTIME, is immeasurable.”

 

The schedule of upcoming live boxing events on CBS and SHOWTIME is as follows:

 

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING

On Saturday, March 28, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will present a doubleheader featuring a featherweight showdown between WBC champion Jhonny Gonzalez and top contender Gary Russell Jr., and a matchup of 154-pound contenders Jermell Charlo and Vanes Martirosyan.  The live SHOWTIME telecast will preview the following week’s April 4 CBS debut of Premier Boxing Champions. 

 

PREMIERE BOXING CHAMPIONS ON CBS

The CBS premiere on Saturday, April 4 (3 p.m. ET/Noon PT) will feature light heavyweight world champion Adonis Stevenson defending his WBC title against former super middleweight champ Sakio Bika.  In the co-feature, undefeated light heavyweight contender Artur Beterbiev will face veteran former world champ Gabriel Campillo.  The CBS broadcast, with its national reach of more than 110 million households, will offer a broad platform to promote a major SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING event just two weeks later. 

 

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING

On Saturday, April 18, SHOWTIME presents the network debut of former world champion and Mexican superstar Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., as he takes on light heavyweight contender Andrzej Fonfara. 

 

PREMIERE BOXING CHAMPIONS ON CBS

On Saturday, May 9 Premier Boxing Champions returns to CBS for the second installment (4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT).  This broadcast will pit undefeated Omar Figueroa, who recently vacated his Lightweight World Championship to move up in weight to 140 pounds, against former champion Ricky Burns. 

 

The April 18 SHOWTIME telecast and the May 9 CBS broadcast will support-and be supported by-theMay 2 SHOWTIME PPV event featuring the undefeated, world’s No. 1 ranked fighter, Floyd Mayweather.

 

Additional confirmed dates for Premier Boxing Champions on CBS include live broadcasts in June, July and September, with up to three remaining events on the 2015 calendar yet to be announced. The live boxing broadcasts on CBS, other than the aforementioned premiere, will be broadcast live at4:30 p.m. ET/1:30 p.m. PT. 

 

The Premier Boxing Champions series was created for television by Haymon Sports. It is the first consistent series presentation of live boxing on CBS in 15 years.  The network aired a one-off live event featuring current WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Leo Santa Cruz in 2012.  Prior to that, the last live boxing on the network was in 1997 when then-middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins knocked out Glen Johnson.

 

Live boxing was a staple on the network in the 1980s, consistently featuring future Hall of Famers Sugar Ray Leonard, Ray “Boom Boom” Mancini and others. Boxing’s history on CBS dates back to 1948 when the Pabst Blue Ribbon Bouts premiered featuring legendary blow-by-blow commentator Russ Hodges. 
boxing, NBC, Premier Boxing Champions

THREE-TIME WORLD CHAMPION ABNER MARES TO FIGHT ON BLOCKBUSTER CARD IN “PBC ON NBC” DEBUT LIVE IN PRIMETIME ON SATURDAY, MARCH 7

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Mares To Face Arturo Santos Reyes From The MGM Grand Garden Arena In Las Vegas

 

LAS VEGAS (Feb. 12, 2015) – Former three-division world champion Abner Mares (28-1-1, 15 KOs) returns to the ring to face 2008 Mexican Olympian Arturo Santos Reyes (18-4, 5 KOs) on Saturday, March 7 live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas in the primetime debut of the Premier Boxing Champions series on NBC and NBCSN.

 

The fight is part of the blockbuster card promoted by Goossen Promotions featuring Keith Thurman vs. Robert Guerrero and Adrien Broner vs. John Molina, Jr. that will air live on NBC (8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT).

 

The Mares-Reyes bout will be televised live on Saturday, March 7, on the NBC show (8:30 – 11 p.m. ET) or on the NBCSN telecast (11 p.m. ET).

 

Marv Albert will call the fights in primetime on NBC alongside analyst “Sugar” Ray Leonard, the six-time world champion and 1976 Olympic gold medalist. Al Michaels will host.

 

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to fight in Las Vegas on March 7,” said Mares. “This is a fantastic card that is great for me and great for the sport of boxing.  I look forward to putting on a show for the fans and winning impressively.”

 

“It’s a big honor to get this fight against Abner Mares and to be fighting at MGM Grand in Las Vegas,” said Reyes. “Mares is a great fighter. I know what he brings to the table. But I’m going to give it my all on March 7 and shock the boxing world.”

 

The 29-year-old Mares looks to stay at the top of the featherweight division when he steps into the ring on March 7. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and fighting out of Downey, Calif., Mares first tasted world championship gold in 2011 when he beat Joseph Agbeko to win the bantamweight world title. He continued his rise up the pound-for-pound list with wins over Anselmo Moreno and Daniel Ponce De Leon to win world titles at super bantamweight and featherweight respectively. He suffered his only defeat in a shocking loss to Jhonny Gonzalez but has rebounded nicely with back-to-back wins and now looks to return to the top of the sport.

 

An accomplished amateur from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Reyes makes his U.S. debut on March 7 with a chance to immediately make a name for himself stateside.  The 29-year-old was a silver medalist at the Junior World Championships in 2004 and he would go on to represent his country at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Reyes turned pro in 2009 and racked up victories in his first five outings. Fighting almost exclusively in Mexico, he defeated Khabir Suleymanov in 2012 for the super bantamweight title. Most recently Reyes went on the road and lost to Simpiwe Vetyeka in his native South Africa for the vacant international featherweight title. He returns to the ring looking to make an immediate impact in his U.S. debut.

 

Tickets for the live event are priced at $400, $300, $100 and $50, not including applicable service charges and taxes, are on sale now.  To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets are also available at www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

 

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com,  www.nbcsports.com/boxing and www.goossenpromotions.com, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @KeithFThurmanJr, @GhostBoxing, @AdrienBroner, @JohnMolinaJr135, @abnermares, @NBCSports and @MGMGrand and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.facebook.com/NBCSports.

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

DOMINIC “TROUBLE” BREAZEALE RETURNS TO THE RING ON MARCH 7TH AT MGM GRAND ARENA

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Upland, California (February 12, 2015)  -Top U.S. Heavyweight prospect Dominic “Trouble” Breazeale (13-0, 12 KO’s) returns to the ring next month in one of the most anticipated boxing events of the year. The “Premier Boxing Champions” series kicks off its inaugural series March 7th in Las Vegas, Nevada on prime-time NBC, and Breazeale is scheduled to be featured on the under card of the Thurman vs. Guerrero and Broner vs. Molina Jr. main-events.
Graphics c/o Bruce Halstead

The last time Breazeale was showcased on NBC is when he participated in the 2012 London Games representing the United States of America in the Super Heavyweight division. Breazeale, who is fresh off of a first-round knockout of his opponent this past December, is ready to return to the ring and is grateful to be a part of history with the sport of boxing returning to prime-time television.

 

Taking a break from training camp out of the Cross Roads Boxing Club in Ontario, California, Breazeale stated the following; “This is a great opportunity for me and I’m truly thankful for it.  I know that I am on the fast track to the Heavyweight world title and I’m always preparing myself in the gym physically and mentally for my next bout.  I have been in camp full-time for about 3 weeks now and I am feeling great.”

 

“When I was told that my advisor Al Haymon was creating the Premier Boxing Champions series and that it would be aired on prime-time television, I was truly excited about it. To be able to showcase my talents on that kind of platform is a great opportunity and I hope I can capture the respect of boxing fans just like Muhammad Ali did”, Breazeale said.

 

Tickets for this amazing night of boxing can purchased at www.mgmgrand.com and are priced at $400, $300, $100 and $50.

 “Here Comes Trouble!“

 

boxing, Premier Boxing Champions, Spike TV

PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS DEBUTS ON SPIKE TV ON FRIDAY, MARCH 13 AT CITIZENS BUSINESS BANK ARENA IN ONTARIO, CALIF.

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TWO ACTION-PACKED WELTERWEIGHT MAIN EVENTS TO FEATURE:

 

ANDRE BERTO VS. JOSESITO LOPEZ

SHAWN PORTER VS. ROBERTO GARCIA

 

 

ONTARIO, CALIF. (Feb. 4, 2015) – Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) is set to make its debut on Spike TV with a can’t-miss double main event on Friday, March 13 from Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif. culminating with a welterweight showdown between hard-hitting Andre “The Beast” Berto (29-3, 22 KOs) and the always exciting Josesito “Riverside Rocky” Lopez (33-6, 19 KOs).

 

The first main event of the evening will see the return of former welterweight champion Shawn “Showtime” Porter (24-1, 15 KOs) facing off against the dangerous Roberto “La Amenaza” Garcia (36-3, 23 KOs).

 

Tickets for the live event priced at $150, $100, $75, $50 and $25, not including applicable service charges and taxes are on sale now and are available for purchase atwww.axs.com (Click HERE to purchase tickets).

 

The televised action on Spike TV begins at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) and 6:00 p.m. PT in the arena!

 

“Fighting on the Premier Boxing Champions series on Spike TV is huge for all of us and for the sport of boxing. This is going to take all of us to a whole different level and give us the chance to become household names,” said Berto. “Fighting on free television is what made guys like Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Marvin Hagler huge stars and I’m ready for my chance to do the same. I can’t wait to start this next chapter of my career and you’re going to see a new and rejuvenated Andre Berto on March 13th on Spike TV so make sure to tune in.”

 

“This is definitely going to be the fight of my life and I’m excited,” said Lopez. “I’m looking forward to all of my local fans being there to witness a great victory. I’m fighting a really good fighter in Berto, but every fighter is dangerous. I know I have to prepare even better than ever. On March 13, I expect a big crowd because I’m fighting so close to home and my fans have been so supportive wherever I fight.  I’m confident that I’m going to give the fans in attendance and on television a great performance.”

 

“The opportunity to fight on Spike TV and show my skills in front of millions of people is very exciting. Being a part of the first PBC event on Spike TV is an honor,” said Porter. “My opponent has a great record and he’s a veteran. He’s strong and durable and he’s going to be a ready when he gets into that ring. I expect it to be a very tough fight, but a great fight. Of course, I expect to win and I expect to look very good doing it.”

 

“I’m grateful that I’m going to be part of something that is going to be great for this sport and that is being on the first PBC event on Spike TV,” said Garcia. “Shawn Porter is a great world class fighter. He is the kind of fighters that you need to beat to be seen at the ‘A-level’ in boxing. This is the fight that can change my career and my life. I’m already training as hard as I can. I’m giving it everything I have in the gym so I can give everything I have on March 13.”

 

“We’re thrilled to be a part of this extraordinary event on Spike TV,” said promoter Tom Brown. “These two fights will undoubtedly provide non-stop action for the fans in the arena and those watching at home.”

 

A former two-time welterweight world champion and 2004 Haitian Olympian, Andre Berto is consistently one of boxing’s most exciting fighters, which will be on display in a big way when he appears on Spike TV March 13.  Fully healed from a shoulder injury suffered during his thrilling 2013 bout with Jesus Soto Karass, the Winter Haven, Fl. native most recently wiped out Steve Upsher in September 2014, one day before his 31st birthday. Now he looks to continue his ascent back to the top of the division when he takes on Lopez.

 

A noted fan favorite for his exciting style and ability to triumph against the odds, the 30-year-old Josesito Lopez has won three straight fights since his exciting and courageous efforts against Canelo Alvarez and Marcos Maidana in 2012 and 2013.  The Riverside, Calif.-native made a major name for himself with an upset victory over Victor Ortiz in 2012, which truly reinforced his “Riverside Rocky” nickname.  Lopez looks to pull off another upset when he takes on Berto on Spike TV.

 

An athletic marvel, Sean Porter is eager to return to the ring after dropping a majority decision to Kell Brook in August 2014. Porter came into that fight undefeated, after having taken down two of the best fighters in the division. Porter dominated Devon Alexander in December 2013 on his way to a unanimous decision victory. He followed that up by overpowering former two-division champion Paulie Malignaggi with a fourth round stoppage in April 2014. The Akron, Ohio native looks to get back in the win column when he takes on Garcia on March 13.

 

A veteran of the sport for nearly 15 years, Roberto Garcia is looking forward to appearing on Spike TV to re-introduce himself as a contender at 147-pounds. Born in Mexico, but having moved to Weslaco, Texas at a young age, Garcia was able to pile up enough wins to eventually earn himself a shot at former world champion Antonio Margarito. While he lost that decision, Garcia has won eight-straight including his two most recent wins over Breidis Prescott and Victor Manuel Cayo. Garcia gets another chance on March 13 when he takes on a tough and ready Porter.

 

A full night of exciting undercard bouts will be announced shortly.

 

PBC on Spike TV, will take place Friday, March 13 at Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, Calif. The event will air live on Spike TV at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast) and 6:00 p.m. PT in the arena.

 

For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com,www.spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions, follow on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @AndreBerto, @JosesitoLopez, @ShowtimeShawnP, @AmenazaGarcia and @SpikeTV and become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxing andwww.Facebook.com/Spike.