Tag Archives: Robert Easter

Bounce TV, boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

Robert Easter vs. Denis Shafikov Final Press Conference  Quotes & Photos

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Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce this Friday, June 30 from Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio – 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
 
Click HERE for Photos from De’Aris Ferguson/About Billions
 
TOLEDO, OH. (June 28, 2017) – Unbeaten lightweight world champion Robert Easter and top contender Denis Shafikov discussed their world title showdown with media Wednesday in advance of their bout that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce this Friday, June 30 from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.
Televised coverage on Bounce begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features super welterweight contender Julian Williams taking on once-beaten Joshua Conley. Both fighters were also in attendance Wednesday to discuss their 154-pound matchup.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by About Billions Promotions in association with Warriors Boxing, are priced at $225 $125, $100, $75, $55 and $35, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday from the Huntingon Center:
ROBERT EASTER
“We’ve had a real tough camp. Every day I’ve been pushed by team and I thank them for that. They put me in the position that I need to be in.
“I understand that Shafikov is a really tough fighter. They’ve always said the guy in front of me is tough. I’m not here to talk about all the close fights he’s almost won. I will be the first man to stop him.
“Where I come from, we don’t play games. Especially when it comes to somebody taking something from us. We’re not going to let that happen.
“I’m thankful for everyone that came out here and everyone who helped put this great card together. I’m just excited to get there in the ring and stand next to him.
“I have an advantage in reach, but Shafikov is a tough opponent who’s coming to fight. I’m going to show-off my skills and be the first to stop him.
“I just have to be me. If you’ve ever seen me fight, you can see that I always stay composed. You’ll see the same thing in the ring on Friday.
“When you get in that ring, it’s only me and him. These great fans can’t help me, only my fists. I’m focused on taking control of the fight. I know how to adjust and be a professional in there if I have to.
“It’s been eight tough weeks of training camp and I can’t wait to have this beautiful city behind me. On June 30, it’ll be man down!”
DENIS SHAFIKOV
“I believe that this is my time. It’s my third title fight and this will be the time that I take home the belt and reach my dream.
“I give 100 percent every time I step into the ring. I know that this will be an exciting fight but I also know that I have to do whatever it takes to win the title.
“I’ve been able to bounce back after my last two title defeats and make myself a better fighter each time. You will see that on Friday night and I will be victorious.”
JULIAN WILLIAMS
“I appreciate everyone coming out to support the fight. This is really a great card. I watch Robert a lot on television and I can see that the fans here are really supporting him. I’m looking forward to an excited crowd.
“Joshua Conley and myself will put on a really good fight, and I expect to come out on top and get back in that win column.
“I’m ready to challenge anybody in the division and I’m going to show that I’m back on the right track this Friday night.”
JOSHUA CONLEY
“I’ve put in the hard work during camp to get a big victory and put myself on the map in the 154-pound division.
“I know that I’m fighting a really good fighter. This is my opportunity and if I knock Julian Williams out, I’ll be right in the mix with the best super welterweights in the world.”
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Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce will be available to be streamed via via Bounce’s new subscription-video-on-demand service Brown Sugar, which features an extensive and one-of-a-kind library of iconic black movies as well as Bounce original programming and series. The new service is available for mobile phones and tablets in the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store as well as for Amazon Kindle Fire tablets in the Amazon Appstore and for computers at www.BrownSugar.com. There is a free initial trial period for subscribers with a retail price of $3.99/month thereafter. Brown Sugar has Google Chromecast capabilities which allow video to play on televisions directly from mobile devices available for consumers with Android and iOS devices.
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter@PremierBoxing, @RobertEaster_Jr, @BounceTV, and @Swanson_Comm and follow the conversation using #PBConBounce, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.Facebook.com/BounceTV. PBC on Bounce is sponsored by Corona: La Cerveza Mas Fina.
Bounce is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more.  Bounce has grown to be available in more than 94 million homes across the United States and 93% of all African American television homes, including all of the top AA television markets.  Among the founders of Bounce are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.
For local channel location, visit BounceTV.com.
Bounce TV, boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

Lightweight World Champion Robert Easter’s World Title Defense Against Top Contender Denis Shafikov to be Live Streamed on Bounce’s New Subscription Service Brown Sugar

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Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce This Friday, June 30 from the Huntington Event Center in Toledo, Ohio Beginning at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
 
TOLEDO, OH. (June 27, 2017) – An exciting night of Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce action, headlined by unbeaten world champion Robert Easter battling top challenger Denis Shafkov, will be available to be streamed live by fans this Friday, June 30 via Bounce’s new subscription-video-on-demand service Brown Sugar.
Brown Sugar features an extensive and one-of-a-kind library of iconic black movies as well as Bounce original programming and series. It is available for mobile phones and tablets in the Google Play Store and iTunes App Store as well as for Amazon Kindle Fire tablets in the Amazon Appstore and for computers at www.BrownSugar.com. There is a free initial trial period for subscribers with a retail price of $3.99/month thereafter. Brown Sugar has Google Chromecast capabilities which allow video to play on televisions directly from mobile devices available for consumers with Android and iOS devices.
 
Bounce and Brown Sugar coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will feature super welterweight contender Julian “J-Rock” Williams matching up against once-beaten Joshua Conley plus a battle between unbeaten welterweight prospects Jamontay Clark and Ivan Golub.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by About Billions Promotions in association with Warriors Boxing from the Huntington Event Center in Toledo, Ohio, are priced at $225 $125, $100, $75, $55 and $35, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
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For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter@PremierBoxing, @RobertEaster_Jr, @BounceTV, and @Swanson_Comm and follow the conversation using #PBConBounce, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.Facebook.com/BounceTV. PBC on Bounce is sponsored by Corona: La Cerveza Mas Fina.
Bounce is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more.  Bounce has grown to be available in more than 95 million homes across the United States and 93% of all African American television homes, including all of the top AA television markets.  Among the founders of Bounce are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.
For local channel location, visit BounceTV.com.
Bounce TV, boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

Super Welterweight Contender Julian Williams Battles Once-Beaten Joshua Conley in Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce Action Friday, June 30 from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio

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Plus! Unbeaten Welterweight Prospects Jamontay Clark & Ivan Golub Battle in Undercard Showdown
 
Televised Coverage on Bounce Starts at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT
 
TOLEDO, OH (June 8, 2017) – Super welterweight contender Julian “J-Rock” Williams(22-1-1, 14 KOs) will match-up against once-beaten Joshua Conley (14-1-1, 9 KOs) in televised action on Premier Boxing Champions on Bounce live from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio on Friday, June 30.
Televised coverage begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will feature unbeaten welterweight prospects Jamontay Clark (11-0, 7 KOs) and Ivan Golub (13-0, 11 KOs) squaring-off in an eight-round matchup. The June 30 event is headlined by unbeaten lightweight world champion Robert Easter making his second title defense against mandatory challenger Denis Shafikov.
“I am definitely excited to get back in the ring,” said Williams. “I can’t wait. It feels like it has been two years, not six months. I took my loss on the chin. I tried to learn as much as possible from it and I’m moving forward. Conley is a solid fighter. He only has one loss and it was to Daquan Arnett, who is another good fighter. I know he is coming to win. If he beats me, it opens a lot of doors and takes him to the next stage of his career so I have to come prepared.”
“This is a great opportunity for my career and I feel like a win here puts me on the list of up-and-coming 154-pound fighters,” said Conley. “Training camp has been going well. I’m ready to do whatever it takes. I know that it’s going to be a tough fight. I expect Julian to come out fast and try to prove something, but I’m going to stay composed and do what I have to do.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by About Billions Promotions in association with Warriors Boxing, are priced at $225 $125, $100, $75, $55 and $35, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
The 27-year-old Williams earned his first world title shot last year after defeating Marcello Matano to become the top contender before eventually falling short against unbeaten Jermall Charlo. Fighting out of Philadelphia, Williams has been highly regarded since a strong amateur career and proved his worth in the pro ranks by stopping veterans Arman Ovsepyan and Luciano Cuello in addition to a shutout victory over Joey Hernandez. He returns to the ring on June 30 looking to put himself in position for another world title opportunity.
Fighting out of San Bernadino, California, Conley enters this bout have won his last three contests, including two stoppage victories last year against Juan Manuel Mares and Adrian Arenas. The 25-year-old was unbeaten in his first 12 pro starts and his only blemish came via a split decision against Daquan Arnett in 2015. He will make his 2017 debut when he enters the ring against Williams on June 30.
An unbeaten prospect from Cincinnati, the “Quiet Assassin” Clark picked up two victories in 2016 over increasingly quality competition as he stopped Elvin Perez in six rounds and earned a unanimous decision over Edgar Ortega. The 22-year-old made his 2017 debut in March and stopped Gaku Takahashi in the seventh round of a fight on FS1 and FOX Deportes.
Originally from Ukraine but now fighting out of Brooklyn, Golub has fought exclusively in the U.S. since turning pro and comes off of a stoppage victory over veteran James Stevenson last September. The 28-year-old southpaw has stopped his last seven opponents inside of the distance as he enters this fight on June 30.
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For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter@PremierBoxing, @RobertEaster_Jr, @BounceTV, and @Swanson_Comm and follow the conversation using #PBConBounce, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.Facebook.com/BounceTV. PBC on Bounce is sponsored by Corona: La Cerveza Mas Fina.
Bounce is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more.  Bounce has grown to be available in more than 94 million homes across the United States and 93% of all African American television homes, including all of the top AA television markets.  Among the founders of Bounce are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.
For local channel location, visit BounceTV.com.
Bounce TV, boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

 Premier Boxing Champions – The Next Round on Bounce Sets Series Highs, Reaches 1.5 Million Viewers

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ATLANTA (Feb. 14, 2017) – The latest Premier Boxing Champions – The Next Round on Bounce on Fri. Feb. 10 was a knockout success.
The live telecast (9:00 p.m. – 12:13 a.m. ET) delivered series records of 501K Persons 2+ (+73% vs. the prior PBC – The Next Round event), 285K Men 2+ (+47%), 120K Persons 18-34 (+264%) and 201K P18-49 (+95%). Viewership peaked with over half a million total viewers 2+ (557K).
The live telecast also racked up impressive time-period gains of +56% in P2+, +83% in M2+, +64% in P18-34 and +37% in P18-49 and became the youngest-skewing PBC event ever on Bounce, with a median age of 44 years old. Among its target audience of African Americans, Bounce was a top three network in the delivery of AA18-49 among all ad-supported cable.
Bounce aired an immediate encore of Premier Boxing Champions – The Next Round after the live event and the two telecasts combined reached 1.5 million viewers.
Nearly 10,000 fans packed the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio Friday night for hometown hero Robert Easter (19-0, 14 KOs) as he impressively defended his lightweight world title against Puerto Rico’s Luis Cruz (22-5-1, 16 KOs) in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round.  The 2012 Olympic alternate used his reach and power throughout the fight, knocking Cruz down three times en route to a unanimous decision victory.
In the exciting co-main event, three-time U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren(14-2, 4 KOs) of Cincinnati lost a split decision to Zhanat Zhakiyanov (27-1, 18 KOs) of Kazakhstan. The telecast kicked off with Cleveland-native Terrell Gausha (20-0, 9 KOs) earning a unanimous decision over Puerto Rico’s Luis Hernandez (15-4, 8 KOs) in a middleweight bout.
Bounce is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more.  Bounce has grown to be available in more than 94 million homes across the United States and 93% of all African American television homes, including all the top AA television markets.  Among the founders of Bounce are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.  For more information visit BounceTV.com.
Bounce TV, boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

ROBERT EASTER DEFENDS LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE AGAINST LUIS CRUZ IN HIS HOMETOWN OF TOLEDO IN THE MAIN EVENT OF PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS: THE NEXT ROUND ON BOUNCE TV

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Zhanat Zhakiyanov Wins Bantamweight World Championship Against Rau’Shee Warren in Co-Main Event
 
Terrell Gausha Earns Unanimous Decision Victory Over Puerto Rico’s Luis Hernandez
 
Click HERE For Photos (Photos Forthcoming)
Photo Credit: Leo Wilson Jr./Premier Boxing Champions
TOLEDO, OH (February 10) – Nearly 10,000 fans turned out for hometown hero Robert Easter (19-0, 14 KOs) as he impressively defended his lightweight world title against Puerto Rico’s Luis Cruz (22-5-1, 16 KOs) at the Huntington Center in Toledo, OH in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round on Bounce TV. The 2012 Olympic alternate used his reach and power throughout the fight, knocking Cruz down three times en route to a unanimous decision victory.
Cruz’s best round came in the fifth as he turned up the action, giving Easter a pause more than once and pushed the champion toward the ropes. After that round, it was all Easter who threw flurries of punches, not always depending on his range, doing his best to pin Cruz back with powerful hooks and body shots. Easter wasn’t fazed by seeing the 10th round for the third time in his career as a big right hand sent Cruz to the canvas for the first knockdown of the fight. Cruz impressively rose to his feet, but Easter didn’t relent.
He continued his conquest and with 10 seconds to go in the 11th round, Cruz was saved by the bell after being knocked down again. Fighting to the finish, Easter gave the raucous crowd what they came for as he threw a big right hand that nearly ended the fight. Cruz did notably did not quit, but was no match for Easter as the judges scored the bout 119-106, 118-107, 117-108.
In the co-main event, three-time U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren (14-2, 4 KOs) came out strong from the opening bell as he utilized his hand speed and power by knocking Zhanat Zhakiyanov (27-1, 18 KOs) of Kazakhstan not once, but twice. Warren, who was defending his bantamweight title for the first time, could not finish the fight in the first round despite throwing a flurry of unanswered punches following the two knockdowns. The tables started to turn in favor of Zhakiyanov in the third round as he threw several consecutive uppercuts, pressuring Warren against the ropes. He threw two right hooks that knocked Warren to the canvas, but referee Gary Rosato ruled it a slip.
Trained and promoted by former unified world champion Ricky Hatton, Zhakiyanov applied pressure throughout the middle rounds, wearing Warren down. But the Cincinnati-native seemed to have gotten a second wind to kick-off the eighth round as he turned up the heat with one minute to go. Zhakiyanov continued to put pressure on Warren and use his strength. The fight was action packed from start to finish, but it was the Kazakh who earned the split decision victory with scores of 116-110, 115-111 for Zhakiyanov and 115-111 Warren.
The telecast kicked off with a middleweight bout between Cleveland-native Terrell Gausha(20-0, 9 KOs)and Puerto Rico’s Luis Hernandez (15-4, 8 KOs). Gausha established his jab midway through the first round with three straight right hands to the face of Hernandez. However, it was Hernandez who surprised Gausha with a huge overhand right that floored the 2012 Olympian. Gausha easily bounced back from the knock down and was able to get himself out of trouble and continued to show his power throughout.
Referee Jim Howe deducted a point from Hernandez after two low blows in the seventh round. Hernandez remained determined despite taking a lot of big shots, especially in the ninth round when Gausha was a few shots away from ending the fight. In the end, Gausha earned a unanimous decision with scores of 98-90 twice and 97-91.
FIGHTER & PROMOTER QUOTES:
Robert Easter Jr:
“It was very important for me to remain focused tonight but also have fun. My people came out in full force so I wanted to give them a show, a night to remember. I feel like I did that, even though I wish I could’ve given them the knockout.
“I admit, I was very surprised that Luis Cruz could take my punches like that and finish the fight. When I had him down and hurt (in round 10), I thought he was done. I give him credit. He came a long way and showed a lot of heart.
“I said before the fight and I’m going to keep saying it – I’m here to collect all them belts. I’m not gonna pretend to be that guy who doesn’t call out other fights. I’m calling out Mikey Garcia, Jorge Linares and Terry Flanagan. I want them to see what we were able to do here tonight, the crowd I pulled in. I’m a superstar on the rise and now it’s time for me to collect my prizes and bring these fights and all of the belts home to Toledo.
“Even in seeing my brother (Rau’Shee Warren) lose a fight we all thought he won, I couldn’t let that distract what I had to do in the ring. I hated that Rau’Shee had to go through that again – losing in the Olympics three times, not getting his win in the first fight with Juan Carlos Payano, then not getting his belt for months after winning it, and now losing it like that. He’s had it rough, but we’re a team and we have to pick each other up. That became my mission to rise for the sake of the team.
“Realistically I’d like to come back maybe May or June. It’s always hard work but I’m not cut or marked up. I want to stay active and get all the champions and best challengers out there. TBT – The Bunny Team is getting ready to take over.”
Luis Cruz:
“He’s a very strong fighter. I wanted to do more but he took away my energy late in the fight. The first knockdown took a lot of out me. I felt dizzy but it was important for me to finish the fight on my feet. I never stopped trying to win, but he a great champion and the best I’ve ever faced.
“I’m going to return home (in Puerto Rico) and enjoy time with my family. I need to rest and relax. After that, I’ll think about what’s next for my career.”
Zhanat Zhakiyanov:
“I knew at the end of the fight that I deserved to win, but because of where we were, we weren’t sure if the judges would give it to us. So that surprised us, but not that I won the fight. I was hurt early, but I outworked him in almost every round after that and was the stronger fighter in the end.
“The knockdowns shocked me, but (trainer and promoter, former two-division world champion) Ricky Hatton kept me level-headed, telling me the adjustments I had to make. Once I was able to get inside and force the action, I saw (Warren’s) energy level drop.
“We are grateful that he gave us the opportunity to fight for the world title. It’s an amazing feeling to win that belt. He feels like he won the fight and wants the rematch. We can definitely talk about doing that. I’ve fought everywhere in the world and don’t back down from any challenge.”
Ricky Hatton: 
“We were surprised when Zhanat went down like that in the beginning of the fight. I just wanted to remind him what he does better and what Rau’Shee is good at. He is never going to outbox him; he had to get in his chest, he had to mug him and make it a brawl. Zhanat did that very well and that’s how he won the fight.
“If we lost the fight, we would have been upset, but we’d know it wouldn’t have been a bad decision. I know that Warren is gutted, he feels like he won the fight and let’s be honest – it was the type of fight where no matter who won, the loser would have felt like he deserved to have his hand raised.
“Their styles make for a great fight. Why not do it again? Not just because it was close but because it was such a great action fight and it always will be.”
Rau’Shee Warren:
“Man, I won that fight. I knocked him down, I was landing the cleaner punches and making him miss. What it is, the judges are favoring aggressive fighters, even when they ain’t even landing.
“I went through the same thing with (Juan Carlos) Payano, losing the first fight that I should’ve won and then getting the decision in the rematch. So now I have to prove to these judges the second time what I should’ve got tonight. Of course I want that rematch. I want it next, I want my world titles back.
“Obviously you can always do more. We’re gonna go back, look at what we could’ve done differently and make sure the judges don’t take it from me no more.”
Terrell Gausha:
“The knockdown was legitimate, but that was (Hernandez’) only good moment in the fight. He caught me clean, but it happened to me before (versus William Waters earlier in his career). Just like I did back then, I immediately adjusted and controlled the rest of the fight.
“It felt good to get so much from the fans in Toledo and all my fans that came from Cleveland (Gausha’s hometown). It was a great night out here and I’d love to do it again whenever they’re ready to bring us back here or even in my hometown.
“I’m ready to return whenever my team says the next opportunity is there for me. Hopefully it’s as soon as possible. This is going to be a big year for me.”
Luis Hernandez:
“I had him hurt but I didn’t finish him. I didn’t throw enough punches to slow him down after I knocked him down. He deserved to win; I could have done better and will do better in the future. I hope PBC brings me back soon as I want to show I belong with the best.”
Adrien Broner:
“It was a great turnout tonight. This was the first big promotion for About Billions; it definitely won’t be the last. We got my fight next week in Cincinnati and we gonna keep coming back strong.”
Ravone Littlejohn, CEO of About Bilions Promotions:
“It was a bittersweet night for us, with Robert Easter looking like a superstar but then with Rau’Shee Warren not getting the victory. We wanted the win in both fights for the fans, but the judges saw what they saw in Rau’Shee’s fight.
“The crowd exceeded our expectations. We knew it would be a big turnout but when they opened up the entire venue and we saw nearly all the seats filled, it was a special feeling. Now we get to roll this over to Adrien’s fight next week and look forward to keep bringing big events to Ohio.”
 
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter@PremierBoxing, @RobertEaster_Jr, @RauSheeWarren, @BounceTV, and @Swanson_Comm and follow the conversation using #PBConBounce, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions andwww.Facebook.com/BounceTV. PBC on Bounce is sponsored by Corona: La Cerveza Mas Fina. Easter vs. Cruz was promoted by About Billions Promotions in association with TGB Promotions.
Bounce TV is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more.  Bounce TV has grown to be available in more than 94 million homes across the United States and 93% of all African American television homes, including all of the top AA television markets.  Among the founders of Bounce TV are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.
For local channel location, visit BounceTV.com.
Bounce TV, boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

Robert Easter vs. Luis Cruz Final Press Conference  Quotes & Photos

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Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round on Bounce
Friday, February 10 from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio
 
Click HERE for Photos from Leo Wilson/Premier Boxing Champions
 
TOLEDO, OH (February 8, 2017) – Undefeated lightweight world champion Robert Easterand Puerto Rican contender Luis Cruz hosted a final press conference before Easter makes his first world title defense as he headlines Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round onBounce at the Huntington Center in Easter’s hometown of Toledo, Ohio.
Televised coverage on Bounce begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features bantamweight world champion and three-time U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren battling once-beaten contenderZhanat Zhakiyanov.
 
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by About Billions Promotions in association with TGB Promotions, are priced at $30, $50, $75, $100 and $200, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:
ROBERT EASTER
“As everyone knows, I don’t like doing too much talking. I like to do my talking in the ring with these hands. February 10 is going to be an exciting night with a tremendous undercard filled with local talent.
“These guys up here and on this card are people I’ve grown up with. It means a lot for me to share the stage with them. I’m excited for them.
“I’m so grateful for all of the support I’ve received from fans here in Toledo. You keep me going forward and you keep me motivated.
“My dad and I have come a long way. It’s been a long road and we’re finally here, on top. I couldn’t have done this without him.
“Toledo has been showing up like crazy for my last two fights so it’s got me feeling very comfortable and confident.
“I have a very tough fighter in front of me. Cruz is going to come to fight and put on a show, but I’m prepared to deliver a knockout.
“I can’t wait to get into the ring for this fight. This is something I’ve been waiting on for years. I’m a world champion just like I knew I always would be.
“Having Adrien Broner here means a lot. He is a big brother to me. He showed me the ropes and he’s somebody I always looked up to.
“Being able to bring this title back home to Toledo is really exciting. I hope you all are as excited as I am, because on February 10 you’re going to see fireworks. It’s going to be short.”
LUIS CRUZ
“I’m very thankful to everyone who helped me earn this opportunity. I’ve been training really hard and I’m planning on taking full advantage of this.
“I hope that all the people who come out on Friday are ready to see a great fight. I’m going to leave it all in the ring.
“I know that everything is up against me going to his hometown, but it is my dream to fight for a world title and I will give it everything I have.”
RAU’SHEE WARREN
“This is a very important fight for me. I’m a world champion but I have a lot more work to do. I’m looking to grab more titles.
“My first obstacle is taking care of this mandatory. After I get him out of the way I’ll be ready put my titles up against other champions.
“I have to be sharp in this fight. I have to stick with my game plan because this guy is coming to take my title.
“My opponent is a pressure fighter. He’s trying to come forward. With the abilities that I have, I’m going to try to make it look easy.”
ADRIEN BRONER, Former-Four Division World Champion
“I have on my promoter hat today for my first major card and I’m really excited about it. Being able to promote a card like this with two world championship fights is amazing, especially because of the fighters on this card.
“These fighters are guys that I’ve been in the gym sacrificing with. These guys came from water and cornflakes just like I did. It’s going to be a real surreal moment seeing them up in that ring.
“I could tell stories about me, Robert and Rau’shee all day. Now we’re all on the same stage as champions, representing this sport. I’m excited to give the fans of Toledo a great show.”
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter@PremierBoxing, @RobertEaster_Jr, @RauSheeWarren, @BounceTV, and @Swanson_Comm and follow the conversation using #PBConBounce, become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.Facebook.com/BounceTV. PBC on Bounce is sponsored by Corona: La Cerveza Mas Fina.
Bounce TV is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more.  Bounce TV has grown to be available in more than 94 million homes across the United States and 93% of all African American television homes, including all of the top AA television markets.  Among the founders of Bounce TV are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.
For local channel location, visit BounceTV.com.
 
Bounce TV, boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

Undefeated 2012 U.S. Olympian Terrell Gausha Battles Puerto Rico’s Luis Hernandez & 2012 U.S. Olympian Jamel Herring Takes On Armenia’s Art Hovhannisyan in Undercard Action Friday, February 10 from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio

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Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round on Bounce
Headlined by Lightweight World Champion Robert Easter Defending Against Puerto Rican Contender Luis Cruz
 
TOLEDO, OH (February 8, 2017) – Unbeaten contender and Cleveland-native Terrell Gausha will face Puerto Rico’s Luis Hernandez while lightweight contender Jamel Herring enters the ring against Armenia’s Art Hovhannisyan in undercard action on Friday, February 10 from the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio.
The event is headlined by unbeaten lightweight world champion Robert Easter returning to his hometown for his first world title defense as he takes on Puerto Rico’s Luis Cruz in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round on Bounce.
Televised coverage on Bounce begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features bantamweight world champion and three-time U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren battling once-beaten contenderZhanat Zhakiyanov.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by About Billions Promotions in association with TGB Promotions, are priced at $30, $50, $75, $100 and $200, and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
Gausha (19-0, 9 KOs) and Hernandez (15-3, 8 KOs) will compete in a 10-round middleweight bout while Herring (15-1, 8 KOs) meets Hovhannisyan (17-3, 9 KOs) in an eight-round lightweight fight.
Additional action features a pair of unbeaten prospects as Raynell Williams (11-0, 5 KOs) battles Justin Savi (29-9, 19 KOs) in a six-round junior lightweight bout while Tyler McCreary (12-0, 6 KOs) takes on Jonathan Perez (36-16, 28 KOs) in an eight-round featherweight attraction.
Rounding out the night of action is heavyweight Devin Vargas (18-4, 7 KOs) in a six-round bout against Tim Washington (6-4, 6 KOs), unbeaten lightweight Albert Bell (6-0, 2 KOs) against James Lester (11-11, 4 KOs) in a six-round bout and Adrian Wilson (3-1, 2 KOs) against unbeaten Rashad Scott (3-0, 1 KOs) in four-rounds of welterweight action.
The 29-year-old Gausha is undefeated since turning pro in 2012 after his exceptional amateur career that saw him win a U.S. National Amateur championship in addition to his Olympic experience. Gausha has picked up six victories in the last two years against increasingly experienced competition including triumphs over Orlando Lora and Steven Martinez in 2016. He looks to continue his march towards a world title when he takes on the Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico-native Hernandez who won five times in 2016.
Another amateur standout who won an Amateur National Championship the same year as his Olympic run, Herring fights out of Cincinnati and is originally from Coram, New York. The 31-year-old won his first 15 pro fights including triumphs over Luis Eduardo Florez, Yakubu Amidu and Hector Velasquez. A former member of the U.S. Marine Corps, Herring will face the experienced contender Hovhannisyan who is originally from Armenia but trains now out of Glendale, California.
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For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter@PremierBoxing, @RobertEaster_Jr, @RauSheeWarren, @BounceTV, and @Swanson_Comm and follow the conversation using #PBConBounce, become a fan on Facebook atwww.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions and www.Facebook.com/BounceTV. PBC on Bounce is sponsored by Corona: La Cerveza Mas Fina.
Bounce is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more.  Bounce has grown to be available in more than 94 million homes across the United States and 93% of all African American television homes, including all of the top AA television markets.  Among the founders of Bounce are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.
For local channel location, visit BounceTV.com.
Bounce TV, boxing, Premier Boxing Champions

Unbeaten Lightweight World Champion Robert Easter Returns Home to Defend Title Against Puerto Rican Contender  Luis Cruz Friday, February 10 In Main Event of  Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round on Bounce TV from  the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio

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Plus! Bantamweight World Champion Rau’shee Warren Takes On
Once-Beaten Challenger Zhanat Zhakiyanov in Co-Main Event
 
Tickets on Sale Tomorrow, December 23!
 
TOLEDO, OH (December 22, 2016) – Unbeaten lightweight world champion Robert Easter(18-0, 14 KOs) will return to his hometown of Toledo, Ohio to defend his title against hard-hitting Puerto Rican Luis Cruz (22-4-1, 16 KOs) Friday, February 10 in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions: The Next Round on Bounce TV live from the Huntington Center.
Televised coverage on Bounce TV begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and features bantamweight world champion and three-time U.S. Olympian Rau’shee Warren (14-1, 4 KOs) battling once-beaten contender Zhanat Zhakiyanov (26-1, 18 KOs).
“Being able to headline a big fight in my hometown after winning a championship is a dream come true,” said Easter. “My first dream was to win the world title and now I get to defend it in front of my people. I had great fan support at my last fight in Pennsylvania and I know everybody is even more excited to see me at home. A lot of people felt involved in helping me win that world title, and now we get to have a homecoming celebration. This is going to be big for the city. I can’t wait to showcase my skills.”
“This is a great opportunity for me and I’m planning on putting on my best performance,” said Cruz. “I am going to fight for my home of Puerto Rico and become another world champion from the island. I know that Easter is a good fighter and he will have the fan support, but I am already training harder than I ever have. This is going to be an exciting fight, but I don’t expect it to go the distance.”
“I’m ready to get back in the ring,” said Warren. “I’m happy the fight is three days before my birthday because defending my title for the first time and winning will be the best birthday present. We’ve been checking out Zhakiyanov. I think it’s going to be a good show because he definitely isn’t a slouch. I’m just going to enjoy being a champion, defending my title and showing what I’m capable of.”
“I’m very happy to be fighting in the U.S. with a chance to become a world champion,” said Zhakiyanov. “I want to thank Warren for taking this fight, but it will be a big mistake. I’m coming to win and win impressively. This is going to be my statement that I am one of the best fighters in this division.”
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by About Billions Promotions, are priced at $30, $50, $75, $100 and $200, and are on sale Friday, December 23. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
Toledo’s Easter and Cincinnati’s Warren will both look to show the Ohio crowd the skills that have made them world champions and potential big stars in the sport. Both fighters are making their first world title defenses and will do so in the friendly confines of the Buckeye State.
An accomplished amateur who was a 2012 U.S. Olympic alternate, the 25-year-old Easter picked up five-straight victories dating back to the beginning of 2015 before earning his world title opportunity against Richard Commey in September. Easter was successful in holding off the unbeaten Commey as he was able to earn a split-decision victory in a memorable fight. Now, Easter will step into the ring as the fighting pride of his hometown for the first time, with his sights set on an impressive performance.
Representing Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, Cruz’s last fight saw him in an entertaining back-and-forth scrap with lightweight contender Ivan Redkach in April that saw both men hit the canvas on their way to a narrow split draw. Cruz owns victories over Martin Honorio, Antonio Davis and Hevinson Herrera in a career that saw the fighter win his first 19 professional bouts.
A three-time Olympian, Warren competed for the U.S. in the 2004, 2008 and 2012 games before turning pro. The 29-year-old picked up victories over veterans Jose Luis Araiza, Javier Gallo, German Meraz and Jhon Alberto Molina leading up to his first world title shot in 2015. After dropping a controversial split-decision in their first fight, Warren defeated Juan Carlos Payano by majority decision in the rematch in June and became the first member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic team to win a world title.
Fighting out of Petropavl, Kazakhstan, Zhakiyanov has won his last 21 fights since his only professional loss in 2008. Most recently he picked up an interim bantamweight title via a decision victory in 2015 over once-beaten Yonfrez Parejo. No stranger to fighting on the road, Zhakiyanov’s U.S. debut on February 10 will mark the 12th country that he has fought in as a professional.
#  #  #
For more information visit www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow on Twitter@PremierBoxing, @RobertEaster_Jr, @RauSheeWarren, @BounceTV, and @Swanson_Comm and follow the conversation using #PBConBounce, become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions andwww.Facebook.com/BounceTV. PBC on Bounce is sponsored by Corona: La Cerveza Mas Fina.
Bounce TV is the fastest-growing African-American (AA) network on television and airs on the broadcast signals of local television stations and corresponding cable carriage. The network features a programming mix of original and off-network series, theatrical motion pictures, specials, live sports and more.  Bounce TV has grown to be available in more than 93.5 million homes across the United States and 93% of all African American television homes, including all of the top AA television markets.  Among the founders of Bounce TV are iconic American figures Martin Luther King, III and Ambassador Andrew Young.
For local channel location, visit BounceTV.com.
boxing, NBC, Premier Boxing Champions

DEBUT OF “PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS” ON NBC IS MOST-WATCHED BOXING BROADCAST SINCE 1998

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Viewership Peaked at 4.2 Million for Exciting Final Rounds of Keith Thurman-Robert Guerrero Bout


PBC Leads NBC to Victory in Adult 18-49 Demographic


More than 575,000 Minutes Live Streamed Via 

NBC Sports Live Extra

 

PBC on NBC Returns Saturday, April 11, 

Live at 8:30 PM ET on NBC


STAMFORD, Conn. – Mar. 9, 2015 – Saturday night’s debut of the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC was the most-watched professional boxing broadcast since 1998, according to Fast National Data from The Nielsen Company.

 

The PBC on NBC telecast averaged 3.4 million viewers, ranking as the most-watched professional boxing broadcast in 17 years (“Oscar De La Hoya’s Fight Night” on FOX, 5.9 million, Mon., March 23, 1998).

 

Viewership increased every half hour through the telecast and peaked at 4.2 million from10:30-11 p.m. ET during the exciting Rounds 7-12 of Keith Thurman‘s unanimous decision over Robert Guerrero, which The Associated Press called “the kind of fight that had the crowd on its feet and gave a much needed boost to boxing.” With the victory on NBC’s first major primetime boxing broadcast in 30 years (Larry Holmes vs. Carl “The Truth” Williams, on May 20, 1985), Thurman improved to a perfect 25-0 (21 knockouts).

 

The PBC on NBC also led NBC to a Saturday primetime victory among Adults 18-49, with a 1.08 rating in the demographic.

 

“The return of primetime boxing to NBC for the first time in three decades got off to a strong start last weekend with Saturday’s PBC on NBC debut,” said Jon Miller, President of Programming for NBC Sports and NBCSN. “With our next primetime telecast on Saturday, April 11, we look forward to building on the momentum that this first event clearly established. We are excited that high-quality boxing is back on NBC.”

 

Saturday night’s telecast (8:30-11 p.m. ET) posted a 2.11/4 fast national rating – up 174% from the average boxing telecast on NBC from 2012-14 (.77). It is also the highest-rated professional boxing broadcast since the ’98 De La Hoya show on FOX (4.29).

 

More than 575,000 minutes (576,435) of PBC on NBC coverage was live streamed via NBC Sports Live Extra to desktops, tablets and mobile devices – ranking as the third-best Saturday night this year behind the NFL Wild Card Playoff (Jan. 3, 2015) and the NHL Stadium Series game (Feb. 21, 2015). On social media, #NBCBoxing trended on Twitter worldwide throughout the telecast, along with #PBConNBC, boxers’ names and other key terms trending on the national level.

 

PBC on NBC returns on Saturday, April 11 at 8:30 p.m. ET from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, featuring four boxers with a combined 127-4-1 record and 80 KOs – undefeated superstarDanny “Swift” Garcia (29-0, 17 KOs) vs. Lamont Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KOs), and middleweight champion “Irish” Andy Lee (34-2, 24 KOs) vs. Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (31-0, 22 KOs).

 

NBC and NBCSN will present 20 live PBC on NBC boxing events in 2015. Within the 20 live shows, NBC Sports Group will present more than 50 hours of PBC coverage, including NBCSN pre- and post-fight programming for NBC telecasts. The Premier Boxing Champions series is created for television by Haymon Boxing.  The PBC on NBC will feature many of today’s brightest stars, in their most compelling matches.

 

All PBC on NBC shows will be streamed live on NBC Sports Live Extra via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. NBC Sports Live Extra is available for desktops at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app is available at the App Store for iPad and iPod touch, on select devices within Google Play, and on windows phones and tablets.
boxing, NBC, Premier Boxing Champions

NOTES & QUOTES FROM DEBUT OF “PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS” ON NBC

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“Keith Thurman won the fight, Robert Guerrero won the fans.” – Marv Albert


 “This is what makes stars, this is what makes champs, coming back.” – “Sugar” Ray Leonard on Robert Guerrero


“His speed, his reflexes, his athleticism. Adrien Broner is a problem.” – B.J. Flores on Adrien Broner


PBC on NBC Returns Saturday, April 11, Live 

at 8:30 PM ET on NBC


LAS VEGAS – Mar. 7, 2015 – Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on NBC made its primetime debut tonight from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Blow-by-blow announcer Marv Albert and analyst “Sugar” Ray Leonard called the action, with Al Michaels as host, corner analysts Laila Ali and B.J. Flores, and reporter Kenny Rice.

 

The debut of PBC on NBC featured a pair of 12-round bouts – Keith Thurman‘s unanimous decision over Robert Guerrero, and Adrien Broner‘s unanimous decision over John Molina Jr. 


Following are notes and quotes from tonight’s debut telecast:

 

PBC ON NBC DEBUT


Al Michaels: “Tonight, boxing returns to primetime…in the debut of Premier Boxing Champions on NBC. This is a brand new boxing series that will showcase many of the top fighters in the sport on network television, making boxing far more accessible to fans, with less of an emphasis on jockeying for belts and more of a focus on competitive fights.”

 

“Sugar” Ray Leonard: “It doesn’t get any better than this – boxing is back on primetime TV. My career, amateur and professional, began on network television. These boxers know the power of the networks. Yesterday, they said they want to be champions and also famous. It all begins right here, right now.”

 

Michaels introducing blow-by-blow announcer Marv Albert: “And yes Marv is here, and it counts.”

 

Marv Albert on calling NBC’s last major primetime bout (Larry Holmes vs. Carl “The Truth” Williams, May 20, 1985): “Yes, I do recall very well that night in Reno, Nevada some 30 years ago….30 years ago, I was 12 at the time.”

 

Albert: “Hall of Fame referee Steve Smoger is with us [at ringside], should there be some issues, controversies, or bizarre occurrences… But that never happens in boxing.”

 

ON THURMAN-GUERRERO


Leonard on Thurman (pre-fight): “Thurman, he’s so analytical, he breaks down his opponents, he has knockout power in both hands, he puts his punches together well, and if he gets you in trouble, he’s coming after you.”

 

Leonard on Guerrero (pre-fight): “Guerrero, he went the distance with Floyd Mayweather, his defense is his offense. He’s aggressive, relentless, durable, and has never been knocked out.”

 

Leonard on Thurman in Round 1: “Most fighters have a problem with southpaws…but Thurman looks pretty good here.”

 

Leonard on Guerrero in Round 1: “Guerrero needs to use his jab to work his way inside.”

 

Albert on Thurman in Round 2: “It has been all Keith Thurman on the attack… he’s a power puncher, looks for the early knockout…he’s off to a terrific start.”

 

Steve Smoger on Thurman’s injury after an unintentional head-butt in Round 3: “If Thurman cannot continue after the 4th Round, they’ll go to the cards. That’s the situation and that’s pursuant to Nevada rule.”

 

Leonard on Thurman’s Round 4 right hand to Guerrero’s head: “Most guys would have gone down from that shot.”

 

Leonard on Thurman in Round 7: “He’s in such control.”

 

Leonard on Round 7: “Thurman can’t fall asleep on Guerrero, who still has power in both hands.”

 

Leonard on Guerrero in Round 8: “Guerrero needs to be more aggressive and cut the ring off.”

 

Leonard on Thurman in Round 8: “Thurman has taken full control of this fight.”

 

Leonard on Guerrero in Round 8: “When Guerrero lands a punch he should stay there and throw more punches, more combinations.”

 

Albert on Guerrero at the end of Round 9: “Saved by the bell.”

 

Albert on Round 10: “How about Guerrero coming back!”

 

Leonard on Guerrero in Round 10: “This is what makes stars, this is what makes champs, coming back.”

 

Leonard on Guerrero in Round 11: “The heart of Guerrero is just impressive.”

 

Albert on Round 12: “12th and final round and they continue to go at it.”

 

Albert: “Keith Thurman won the fight, Robert Guerrero won the fans.”

 

ON ADRIEN BRONER- JOHN MOLINA JR.


Leonard on Adrien Broner: “I had a little showmanship in me in my years, but Broner definitely is a showman. I knew when not to cross the line…Broner is a gifted fighter, but sometimes gets a little vulgar in his antics. I just don’t want that to overshadow his talent.”

 

Albert on Broner: “At times he has been off-the-wall outrageous.”

 

B.J. Flores on Broner (pre-fight): “His speed, his reflexes, his athleticism. Adrien Broner is a problem, and a mismatch for anybody he faces because of those natural gifts. Now, whenever he gets in the ring, he likes to stand and use those reflexes and that speed for offense, combination punching and defense.”

 

Leonard on Molina Jr. in Round 1: “He needs to make this an ugly fight.”

 

Leonard in Round 1: “Broner has the best eyes…he sees and anticipates everything coming and is able to counter those punches.”

 

Laila Ali on Round 1: “Molina’s corner is not happy with his inactivity.”

 

Ali on Molina Jr.’s inactivity after Round 6: “So far Molina has not been listening to his corner.”

Leonard in Round 8: “Molina waited too long to become an aggressor.”

 

Albert on Broner talking as fighters clinch in Round 8: “There are sweet nothings being whispered into the ear of John Molina.”

 

Albert on the fighters’ continual chatter in Round 10: “I get the idea that there is a talk show going on up there and the guests are Adrien Broner and John Molina.”

 

Smoger on the officiating in Broner-Molina Jr. in Round 10: “I just think we’ve had a bit of over-officiating. Once the referee goes in and starts to lecture, it breaks the flow of the fight and it takes the fighters out of their game plan. He’s trying to control the fight, but I think he’s over-officiating.”

 

Albert on exchange by fighters at end of the Round 10: “What a finish!”

 

Ali on Molina in the Round 11: “Joe Goossen has been pleading with John Molina to listen to him.”

 

Leonard on Molina in the Round 12: “When Molina watches the tape of this fight he’s going to be very disappointed in himself, because he has more.  He’s a warrior.”

 

Albert on Broner: “It will be a convincing victory for ‘The Problem,’ who was a problem for John Molina.”

PBC on NBC returns on Saturday, April 11 at 8:30 p.m. ET from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, as  undefeated superstar Danny “Swift” Garcia (29-0, 17 KOs) faces Lamont Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KOs), and middleweight world champion “Irish” Andy Lee (34-2, 24 KOs) takes on the undefeated Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin (31-0, 22 KOs).

 

NBC and NBCSN will present 20 live PBC on NBC boxing events in 2015. Within the 20 live shows, NBC Sports Group will present more than 50 hours of PBC coverage, including NBCSN pre- and post-fight programming for NBC telecasts. The Premier Boxing Champions series is created for television by Haymon Boxing.  The PBC on NBC will feature many of today’s brightest stars, in their most compelling matches.

 

All PBC on NBC shows will be streamed live on NBC Sports Live Extra via “TV Everywhere,” giving consumers additional value for their subscription service, and making high quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. NBC Sports Live Extra is available for desktops at NBCSports.com/liveextra. The NBC Sports Live Extra app is available at the App Store for iPad and iPod touch, on select devices within Google Play, and on windows phones and tablets.