WARD TO FACE PAUL SMITH ON Юни 20, 2015

AT ORACLE ARENA в Оукланд, CALIFORNIA LIVE ON BET

NEW YORK — April 23, 2015 — BET Networks is pleased to announce that it is stepping into the ring with Roc Nation Sports as their exclusive broadcast partner to air live throne бокс events on the network. The partnership between BET Networks and Roc Nation Sports is the first of its kind for the network and includes airing up to nine live, two-hour telecasts of Roc Nation Sports throne бокс events over the next 18 месеца. The first main event fight to air on BET Networks will feature WBA Super Middleweight World Champion Andre Ward (27-0, 14 Нокаута) facing former World Title Challenger Paul Smith (35-5, 20 Нокаута) of England in a 12 round bout on Събота, Юни 20, 2015 в Oracle Arena в Оукланд, Калифорния. В допълнение към големия действие във вътрешността на пръстена, the telecast will feature several notable Roc Nation touches that offer an unprecedented fan experience, including a live musical performance and a name DJ to keep the energy at a high level throughout the night. Fans can catch the action live on BET in the United States and globally on TIDAL.com, наскоро стартира музикалната стрийминг услуга, която съчетава най-доброто качество на звука с висока вярност, високи музикални определение видеоклипове и експертно куратор редакционната.

Билети на цена $250, $125, $90, $60 и $30, Не включително приложимите такси и данъци за услуги, влезе в продажба Петък, Април 24 при 10:00 AM PT and will be available at all Ticketmaster locations, онлайн на Ticketmaster.com и такса по телефона (800) 745-3000.

“BET is constantly searching for ways to expand its portfolio of content with the sole goal of satisfying our audiences,” said Stephen G. Хълм, President of Programming, BET Networks. “Roc Nation is doing very exciting things in the entertainment space and we are excited to partner with them on this groundbreaking deal positioning BET Networks as a go-to destination for premier live boxing events. Заедно, we’ll provide unique entertainment.”

“We’re thrilled to not only be introducing our newest broadcast partnership with BET Networks, but also to use this new platform to telecast Andre Ward’s highly anticipated return to the ring,"Каза Дейвид Itskowitch, COO – Boxing of Roc Nation Sports. "На Юни 20, we will once again provide fans a night of exciting престола бокса битки, live musical entertainment and an unprecedented fan experience.”

“I’m very excited to be coming back on Юни 20 at Oracle Arena in my hometown of Oakland which has been a long time coming,", Казва Уорд. “I’m equally excited to be fighting on BET in front of a potential viewership of over 90 милиона домове. Като боец, this diversifies my portfolio and puts me in front of a whole different audience. I have an extremely tough fighter in front of me in Paul Smith who’s looking to pull the upset, but I can’t let that happen. I have to be on my best game to turn Smith away and beat him the way I want to beat him. Както винаги, I’m ready to put on a tremendous performance in front of my hometown fans and those watching on BET. This is a fight you don’t want to miss.”

“I cannot wait to get back in the ring and test myself against a class act like Andre Ward. I proved that I belong at the top level with my performances against Arthur Abraham and this is a challenge that I am relishing,", Каза Смит. “Andre is a top pound-for-pound fighter and someone I respect a lot, but he has only boxed once in almost three years and I will give it everything I have got. I am fresh and confident going into this fight. It’s a massive opportunity for me and one that I took with both hands when it was offered. I have spent a lot of time boxing in the United States and I look forward to returning for this fight.”

Known for his strong character and integrity outside the ring and his killer instinct inside it, Andre Ward’s skill and talent were apparent early in his outstanding amateur career. Той опустошена до всяко заглавие в книгите, завършва със златен медал в тежка категория разделянето на светлината в 2004 Олимпийските игри в Атина. Като единствената мъжка American боксьор претенция олимпийско злато, тъй като 1996, Ward присъедини харесва на Мохамед Али, Sugar Ray Leonard и Оскар Де Ла Оя. Той се обърна професионална декември 18, 2004, отбеляза втори кръг технически нокаут победа над Крис Molina в Staples Center в битка, която се предава пряко по HBO. Той е отишло да се багажник на 26 повече победи оттогава насам, изграждане на все по-нарастващата легион от фенове в процеса. След като става Околовръстен Magazine и WBA Super световен шампион в средна, издигайки се до второто място в списъка на паунд-за-килограмова и спечели 2011 Fighter на годината (ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Ring Magazine и Асоциацията боксови писатели на Америка), беше обявено, че Уорд подписа ексклузивен рекламен договор с Roc Nation Sports през януари 2015, отварянето на нова глава в своята етажна боксова кариера. Now the Bay Area product is ready to return to the ring on Юни 20 в Oracle Arena пред родния си фенове в Оукланд, Калифорния.

Paul “Real Gone Kid” Smith enters his fight against pound-for-pound star Ward coming off of two heroic performances against WBO Super Middleweight World Champion Arthur Abraham. Smith challenged the Armenian-German for his title in Kiel, Germany in September 2014 and put on the performance of his career in his world title first shot. The 32-year-old native of Liverpool was the clear winner of large parts of the fight and celebrated at the bell in front of a hushed partisan crowd that thought that Abraham had been dethroned. Smith was not expecting the wide scorecards that were read out in favor of the hometown fighter and, judging by the far-reaching outrage at the lopsided numbers, neither were the majority of the boxing world and beyond, with Smith receiving support from some of Britain’s biggest sports stars on social media. A rematch was the only possible scenario and, like a true champion, Abraham duly obliged. Smith returned to Germany in February of this year to face Abraham again, this time in Berlin, but Abraham was a different fighter the night of their second fight, successfully defending his belt against a brave challenge from Smith. Once again the judges’ were forced to give a verdict and this time a decision win by Abraham was met with no outcry of controversy. На Юни 20, “Real Gone Kid” will return to the ring and once again venture into hostile territory to take on one of boxing’s best, looking to silence the crowd.

Ward срещу. Ковач, а 12 кръгла пристъп представена от Roc Nation Sports, протича Събота, Юни 20 в Oracle Arena в Оукланд, Калифорния, ще се предава пряко по BET и поточно в световен мащаб на TIDAL.com в 10:00 PM ET/7:00 Ч PT и се представя във връзка с Matchroom Sport.

ABOUT BET NETWORKS:

BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B), is the nation’s leading provider of quality entertainment, музика, news and public affairs television programming for the African-American audience. The primary BET channel reaches more than 90 million households and can be seen in the United States, Канада, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom and sub-Saharan Africa. BET is the dominant African-American consumer brand with a diverse group of business extensions: BET.com, a leading Internet destination for Black entertainment, музика, culture, и новини; CENTRIC, a 24-hour entertainment network targeting the 25- to 54-year-old African-American audience; BET Digital Networks – BET Gospel and BET Hip Hop, attractive alternatives for cutting-edge entertainment tastes; BET Home Entertainment, a collection of BET-branded offerings for the home environment including DVDs and video-on-demand; BET Event Productions, a full-scale event management and production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe; BET Mobile, which provides ringtones, games and video content for wireless devices; and BET International, which operates BET in the United Kingdom and oversees the extension of BET network programming for global distribution.

ABOUT ROC NATION SPORTS:

Roc Nation Sports, подразделение на Roc Nation, стартира през пролетта 2013. Любов към спорта Основател Shawn "Jay Z" Картър доведе до естественото образуване на Roc нации Sports, подпомагане на спортистите, по същия начин Roc Nation е да помогнете на артистите в музикалната индустрия в продължение на години. Roc Nation Sports фокусира върху повишаване на кариерата на спортистите в глобален мащаб както и извън терена. Roc Nation Sports концептуализира и изпълнява маркетингови и рекламни договори, Обществени дейности, благотворителни тай-ина, връзки с медиите и стратегия на марката. Roc Nation Sports стартира своята боксова дивизия, пълно обслужване промоционална компания, която представлява световни шампиони Мигел Кото и Андре Уорд, през август 2014. Roc Nation Sports "списък включва премиерните спортисти като Робинсън Кано, Skylar Diggins, Кевин Дюрант, Гено Smith, Victor Cruz, CC Sabathia, James Young, Дез Брайънт, Ndamukong Suh, Rusney Castillo, Yoenis Cespedes, Jaelen Strong, Todd Gurley, Уилсън Чандлър, Erick Aybar и Франсис Tiafoe. За повече информация, моля посетете www.rocnation.com. Следвайте Roc Nation на Twitter и Instagramrocnation и на Facebook в www.facebook.com/RocNation.

ABOUT ORACLE ARENA & O.co COLISEUM:

Oracle Arena and O.co Coliseum, managed by AEG Facilities, are the premiere sports and entertainment complexes in Northern California. Home of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors, the NFL’s Oakland Raiders and MLB’s Oakland Athletics as well as host to concerts, family shows and special events. Additional information on Oracle Arena and O.co Coliseum, including a complete schedule of events can be found online at www.coliseum.com. Follow Oracle Arena on Twitter, Instagram, Vine and Snapchat @OracleArena and on Facebook www.faecbook.com/OracleArenaO.coColiseum.