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SUGAR RAY LEONARD & DAVID DINKINS JR. MEDIA CONFERENCE CALL HIGHLIGHTS

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“These are the type of fights that are going to bring boxing back to where it used to be.” – Sugar Ray Leonard

 

SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions,

Live in Primetime on CBS From Barclays Center in Brooklyn

 

NEW YORK (March 1, 2017) – Boxing Hall of Famer and former undisputed welterweight world champion Sugar Ray Leonard and David Dinkins Jr., SHOWTIME Sports Senior Vice President and Executive Producer, hosted a media conference call on Wednesday to discuss Leonard joining the CBS broadcast team for Saturday’s welterweight unification between undefeated champions Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia.  Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manger, SHOWTIME Sports, began the call with some opening remarks.

 

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, broadcast will air live on CBS from 9-11 p.m. ET/6-8 p.m. PT from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™.  The broadcast is presented by Premier Boxing Champions and produced by SHOWTIME Sports® for CBS Television, both divisions of the CBS Corporation.

 

Leonard will join the SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING broadcast team on Saturday alongside host Brian Custer, play-by-play voice Mauro Ranallo, International Boxing Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and Sports Emmy® Award-winning reporter Jim Gray.

 

A five-division titlist and one of the most decorated boxers of all-time, Leonard brings unique perspective to the broadcast booth having been in a similar situation to Thurman and Garcia more than 35 years ago. Garcia, the WBC 147-pound titleholder, and Thurman, his WBA counterpart, will unify the exact same titles that Leonard (WBC) and fellow Hall of Famer Thomas Hearns (WBA) unified in their classic 1981 Fight of the Year.

 

Leonard made his professional boxing debut on CBS in 1977, less than one year after he won gold at the ‘76 Olympics in Montreal as part of what is considered the greatest American boxing team in Olympic history. The March 4 event will reunite Leonard with former CBS producer and current SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Executive Producer Dinkins Jr.

 

Below is what the principals said Wednesday on the conference call:

 

SUGAR RAY LEONARD

 

“I was telling David [Dinkins] today, this is the perfect matchup. I mean, you have two incredible fighters, each one of them with their own style and confidence with Keith and Danny. What also raises an eye is the unification. That’s big time for any fighter. And if these fighters can live up to their expectations, I think it’s going to be a home run, without question.

 

“These are the type of fights that are going to bring boxing back to where it used to be. It’s going to require these type of fights, these type of individuals, these type of athletes, these type of potential super stars, to really change and make boxing what it used to be.”

 

On the importance of having these types of fights on network television and what it takes to bring the sport back to what it used to be…

“These two young men, these two champions, these undefeated fighters, they fit the mold. I talk to people all of the time about what fights they want to see and this is a fight that has star-quality to it.”

 

On the advantages of each fighter…

“I look at Keith, and I’ve been watching, over and over, tapes of his previous fight. Again, each of them bring something to the table. Keith Thurman, seems to me, a little more fundamentally sound than Danny Garcia. But Danny Garcia, has a neutralizer. One thing I think is a big factor for the actual fight itself, is that both guys are great champs and both of them could take punches. So, I don’t know. Put it this way, I wouldn’t bet my house.

 

“I do favor Thurman because he just seems to be a little bit more poised and collected. He just seems to be that kind of guy. First of all, he would never give up. Nor would Danny. But I just lean… it’s just my gut that tells me that Keith is a little bit more solid than Danny.”

 

On Danny Garcia…

“He’s just a guy that has that internal fortitude. He has heart, big heart. And he doesn’t give in. I think he’s the kind of fighter, you know where people short-change him. But I look at him and he’s one of those fighters that, I don’t train – I never train at all – but he’s the kind of fighter that I would enjoy training. Because he deserves to be up there.”

 

On the importance of facing the best opponents possible…

“That’s extremely important. Fortunately, I was in an era where there were just a lot of guys out there who were so talented. If given the chance they would prove to be champions.

 

“I always thought that we had to continue to raise the bar as a fighter, as a champion, and continue to fight better and better competition. When I was fighting, I swear, I wanted to be the underdog -psychologically, spiritually and mentally, if I wasn’t challenged, if I wasn’t considered somewhat of an underdog, I couldn’t perform the way I normally would.  It’s what would get me going.

 

“I have said this a number of times: This fight is going to be bigger and better than what we anticipate because of what is at stake.

 

“The advantage [for me] was the television network exposure, without question.  I loved that. It pumped me up because I loved the exposure. I loved the attention. I loved the fights and that’s what also helped me to be the fighter that I became.

 

On what it’s like being ringside and broadcasting a unification welterweight fight much like the fights and titles he’s fought for…

“It is an out-of-body experience. It’s déjà vu. Like holy, I am 60. It’s a kind of thing that is so special and it’s so rare of a unification it seems like. It speaks volumes to me as far as the significance of it. And these guys, Keith and Danny, they know it. They realize it.”

 

DAVID DINKINS JR.

 

“When we were discussing the upcoming Thurman-Garcia fight in our senior staff meeting, many of us longtime fight fans thought about Ray’s first fight with Thomas Hearns and the many parallels there with Danny Garcia and Keith Thurman. You have two undefeated fighters and two titlists who have been on a path toward each other since Danny moved up from being a unified champion at super lightweight and moved into the welterweight ranks and gained a world title at 147 pounds.

 

“Ray and Tommy were two stars who it just seemed inevitable that they would fight. We feel the same way about Keith and Danny. You have two undefeated champions and it’s inevitable that they would meet and declare who would be the No. 1 fighter at 147 pounds.

 

“I’m so happy that Ray can join us for this telecast and he and I have discussed over the past few days the many similarities between his circumstance during the Golden Era of Boxing when he had rivals like [Roberto] Duran, Hearns and [Wilfred] Benitez at 147 pounds.

 

“To make the situation even sweeter it reunites myself and Ray after we had worked together years ago at CBS. He along with Tim Ryan and Gil Clancy formed a very entertaining announce team. Ray was in and out of retirement at that point. So his full-time, part-time job up at CBS was terrific fun. We got to see some great fights and work together. And now he joins Mauro Ranallo and Al Bernstein, who is also a Hall of Famer just like Ray is, ringside this coming Saturday. It’s just incredible great fortune that Ray was available to join us and be a significant contributor on Saturday.”

 

STEPHEN ESPINOZA, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports

 

“SHOWTIME continues to deliver the strongest lineup of any network in boxing. We are delivering the biggest and most meaningful fights and delivering to the largest possible audience. With none on pay-per-view.

 

“This Saturday SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will present the most anticipated fight of the year live on America’s most watched network, CBS. Danny Garcia versus Keith Thurman is without question the best fighting the best. They are two undefeated champions with a combined record of 60 wins and zero losses and squaring off in the prime of their careers to determine who the top dog is in boxing’s marquee division.

 

“SHOWTIME has really made it our mission to televise the top-rated champions against the top-rated challengers in boxing’s most compelling weight classes.

 

“The fans have taken note, and the momentum continues to rise. Adrien Broner and Adrian Granados fought a close fight two weeks ago that was our most watched main event in two years.

 

“This is just the second primetime fight on CBS in nearly 40 years since Ali-Spinks in 1978. We are grateful to our colleagues at CBS who are helping to deliver this important event for boxing. It is critical that we put our best foot forward in a very hyper competitive television market, and that is certainly what we are doing Saturday night on CBS.”

 

ABOUT GARCIA vs. THURMAN

Danny Garcia vs. Keith Thurman is a welterweight world title showdown between undefeated 147-pound titlists. The 12-round bout headlinesSHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on CBS, presented by Premier Boxing Champions, Saturday March 4 from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING™. In the co-main event undefeated rising star Erickson Lubin battles once-beaten knockout artist Jorge Cota in a super welterweight title eliminator bout on CBS at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.

 

Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment, start at $50 (not including applicable fees) and are on sale now. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting www.ticketmaster.com, www.barclayscenter.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are also available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center. Group discounts are available by calling 844-BKLYN-GP.

 

For more information visit www.SHO.com/Sports follow on Twitter @SHOSports, @KeithFThurmanJr, @DannySwift, @LouDiBella, @BarclaysCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment, www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter. PBC is sponsored by Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

 

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Caleb Plant Talks Ring Return, Sparring George Groves, Commentating Debut

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Photo Credit: Mario Serrano – Team Plant
LAS VEGAS, NV (February 2, 2017) – Undefeated super-middleweight contender, Caleb “Sweet Hands” Plant (14-0, 10 KOs), will be making his 2017 debut on the Deontay Wilder (37-0, 36 KOs) vs. Gerald Washington (18-0-1, 12 KOs) card, taking place at the Legacy Arena, in Birmingham, Alabama on February 25th.  Plant will headline his own show on Fox Sports 1 against an opponent TBA on February 25th as part of a multiple telecast event.
Plant, talks about his upcoming fight, sparring with world title contender George Groves (25-3, 18 KOs), and his commentating debut.
“On February 25th, I’ll be making my ring return,” said Caleb Plant the IBF #15 contender. “I’m really pumped up to be headlining on Fox Sports 1.  Nashville, Tennessee, my hometown, is only a few hours away from Alabama, so I’m looking forward to seeing a lot of my family and friends in attendance.”
“Last week I got great work sparring with George Groves when he was in town for the Frampton fight.  He’s a class act and I learned a lot from being in the ring with him.  I held my own and my confidence is at an all-time high.  I know I can compete with anyone in the world.  I’m just going to take it one fight at a time.  I’ll be ready for whoever they put in front of me.”
In addition, Plant will be commentating side by side with Brian Custer during the Sammy Vasquez (21-1, 15 KOs) vs. Luis Collazo (36-7, 19 KOs) showdown tonight on Fox Sports 1.
“My career is headed in the right direction and I’m excited to be commentating tonight on Fox Sports 1,” Plant continued. “Commentating is something I’ve always wanted to do.  Vasquez and Collazo are two fighters looking to make a statement and I believe it’s going to be a great fight for the fans.  I have a great team around me and I’m very grateful for all the opportunities that have come my way.  I’m going to take full advantage of the situation.”
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SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® CHARLES MARTIN vs. ANTHONY JOSHUA IBF HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TO AIR LIVE ON SHOWTIME® AT 5 P.M. ET/2 P.M. PT ONSATURDAY, APRIL 9 FROM THE O2 IN LONDON

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Encore Presentation At 8 P.M. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME®

 

NEW YORK (March 29, 2016) – The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL presentation of the IBF Heavyweight World Championship between undefeated American titlist Charles Martin and fellow unbeaten British Olympic Gold Medalist Anthony Joshua will air live on SHOWTIME at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT onSaturday, April 9 from The O2 in London. 

 

An encore presentation will air later that evening on SHOWTIME EXTREME at 8 p.m. ET/PT. 

 

The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL telecast will be hosted by Brian Custer with analysis from Al Bernstein and Paulie Malignaggi.  Coverage of the event will be provided by Sky Sports with the play-by-play call from Nick Halling, analysis from Jim Watt and Carl Froch and post-fight interviews from Andy Scott.

 

The SHOWTIME telecast will include extensive highlights and analysis of the IBF Featherweight World Championship between defending titlist Lee Selby and American challenger Eric Hunter.

(EDITORS NOTE: Due to a change in the bout order at The O2 in London, SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL is unable to provide live coverage of this bout.)

 

Martin vs. Joshua is the third of four heavyweight title bouts in five months on SHOWTIME (see details below).  The scheduled 12-round matchup is the toughest test to date for both Martin (23-0-1, 21 KOs) and Joshua (15-0, 15 KOs), two bombers who boast a combined 94 percent knockout ratio. 

 

Selby (22-1, 8 KOs) vs. Hunter (21-3, 11 KOs) is the second of five scheduled featherweight title bouts in 2016 (details below), a lineup showcasing many of the world’s best 126-pounders aiming to unifying one of boxing’s deepest divisions.

 

“The heavyweight division is experiencing an incredible resurgence, and the featherweight division is rife with compelling matchups,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President & General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports.  “Martin vs. Joshua is a can’t-miss showdown between a newly minted American champion and one of the sport’s fastest-rising stars.  And Selby vs. Hunter has major implications in the talent-rich division. We are proud to work with Matchroom Sport to deliver these pivotal matchups to the U.S. audience.”

 

“I’m the Heavyweight Champion of the World, and that’s why I have no problem traveling to England for my first title defense,” Martin said.  “I only want to fight the best, and I plan on knocking Anthony Joshua out and taking his fans and the belt back with me.”

 

“The O2 is going to be rocking on April 9 and the U.S. fans are in for a treat when they see Charles and I clash,” Joshua said.  “Credit to him for coming over after calling me out, but he doesn’t know what he’s getting himself in for.  I am going to show all my power, all my speed and all my accuracy to put on the best display of my life and become the Heavyweight Champion of the World by knocking him out.  I’m delighted that fans in the U.S. will be able to witness it.”

 

“After a great experience in my first defense in Arizona against Fernando Montiel, it’s nice to be back in front of my home fans at The O2 in London,” Selby said.  “It’s going to be a crazy atmosphere with a 20,000 person sold-out arena.  Hunter has talked a lot of trash and I’m looking forward to showing him what it’s like at the world championship level.  He’s in for a shock.”

 

“He’s got a belt I want, and that’s all I know about him,” Hunter said.  “My team knows more about him than I do.  It’s their job to come up with a game plan.  My job is train and get ready to perform my best.  I can adjust to anything in the ring.  I’m just here at the gym working my butt off to get the job done. I’m going to be more focused than I ever have been for this fight.”

 

The 6-foot-5 Martin won the IBF championship on Jan. 16 when Vyacheslav Glazkov suffered a knee injury in the third round of their vacant world title fight.  In capturing the IBF belt, Martin, of St. Louis, Mo., became just the sixth southpaw heavyweight champion in boxing history and the second current American heavyweight titlist. 

 

While Martin has stopped his last 13 opponents and was the aggressor against Glazkov, the undefeated champ remains virtually untested. His first title defense and initial start outside the U.S., will take place at what is expected to be a pro-Joshua arena in London that sold out in just 90 seconds.  The 29-year-old Martin, who is trained by U.S. Olympian Henry Tillman in Big Bear, Calif., will be Joshua’s first professional southpaw opponent.   

 

Joshua had a standout amateur career that culminated with an Olympic Gold Medal at super heavyweight in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.  Since turning professional in July 2013, the 6-foot-6 Joshua has steadily climbed through the ranks. 

 

One of boxing’s most promising prospects, Joshua is coming off consecutive victories over previously undefeated opponents.  In his last bout, the 26-year-old was pushed past the third round for the first time in his career.  Joshua defeated Dillian Whyte via seventh-round knockout on Dec. 12.  Now, Joshua returns to The O2, the site of his professional debut and five of his 15 professional bouts, in a bid to join Tyson Fury as the second current reigning British heavyweight champion. 

 

Joshua is also looking to become the sixth super heavyweight Olympic Gold Medalist to win a heavyweight world title.  If successful, he will join an impressive group that includes George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Lennox Lewis andWladimir Klitschko.

 

Born in Barry, Wales, Selby won his world title with a dominant technical decision over previously undefeated Evgeny Gradovich in May 2015.  The slick boxer made his first title defense in his U.S. debut last October, capturing a unanimous decision over former three-division champ Fernando Montiel.

 

The 29-year-old owns a slew of victories over previously unblemished fighters including Joel Brunker, Ryan Walsh, Viorel Simon, Corey McConnell andStephen Smith.  He has won 18 straight since the lone blemish of his career, and six of his last eight victories came over previously undefeated opponents.

 

Hunter, who will take a four-fight win streak into his initial start outside the U.S., has always possessed an abundance of talent. Before turning pro, the Philadelphia native was an outstanding amateur and an alternate on the U.S. Olympic team.

 

The fast-handed 29-year-old has scored some solid victories as a pro, and his biggest enemy in a nine-year career has been himself – the switch-hitter doesn’t always keep his composure in check and allows his emotions get the best of him.  Two of Hunter’s three losses came by disqualification, the last coming via DQ in 2013 against Mike Oliver for hitting at the break.  The other came againstLuis Franco in 2010, when he had a point deducted in the second and was DQ’d in the eighth after repeated low blows.

 

If Hunter can keep his hot head from getting him in trouble, he’s confident he can upset Selby and join Leo Santa Cruz and Gary Russell Jr. as U.S.-born world champion at 126 pounds. 

 

2016 Heavyweight Title Bouts (NOTE: all on SHOWTIME))

 

·         Jan. 16 WBC Heavyweight World Championship Deontay Wilder vs. Artur Szpilka

·         Jan. 16 IBF Heavyweight World Championship Charles Martin vs. Vyacheslav Glazkov

·         April 9 IBF Heavyweight World Championship Charles Martin vs. Anthony Joshua

·         May 21 WBC Heavyweight World Championship Deontay Wilder vs. Alexander Povetkin

 

2016 Featherweight Title Bouts (All on SHOWTIME with the exception ofJune 25 “SHOWTIME BOXING on CBS”)

·         Feb. 27 WBA (Super) Featherweight World Championship Leo Santa Cruz vs. Kiko Martinez

·         April 9 IBF Featherweight World Championship Lee Selby vs. Eric Hunter

·         April 16 WBC Featherweight World Championship Gary Russell Jr. vs. Patrick Hyland

·         June 25 WBA (Regular) Featherweight World Championship Jesus Cuellar vs. Abner Mares

·         Summer 2016 WBA (Super) Featherweight World Championship Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton

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A LEGENDARY MARCH THROUGH THE DECADES – SHOWTIME SPORTS® CONTINUES CELEBRATION OF 30 YEARS OF SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®

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Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, Felix Trinidad, Ricardo Lopez, George Foreman & More Showcased In March

 

Click HERE For A Look Back At Some Of The Legendary Moments On SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING: http://s.sho.com/1RkA3CE

 

NEW YORK (March 2, 2016) – SHOWTIME Sports rolls out its third installment of a year-long salute commemorating 30 years of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING in March with  “Legends’’.

 

This month will be highlighted by legends Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Felix Trinidad, Ricardo “Finito” Lopez and George Foreman.  Seven of the most unforgettable and important fights from these legends – some of which have seldom been re-aired since their live presentation – are available now on the network’s on demand platforms and will air will air on “Throwback Thursdays”in March at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

 

The Thursday, March 10 presentation of Marvin Hagler vs. John Mugabi airs exactly 30 years after the final win of Hagler’s Hall of Fame career on March 10, 1986.  Hagler vs. Mugabi was the first main event to ever air on SHOWTIME®.

 

The classic fights, which are also are available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, SHOWTIME ANYTIME® and via the network’s standalone streaming service, will be wrapped with brief context and commentary from SHOWTIME Sports host Brian Custer.

 

Below is the schedule of SHO EXTREME premieres for the month of March:

  • Tomorrow, Thursday, March 3: Terry Norris vs. Sugar Ray Leonard
  • Thursday, March 10: Marvin Hagler vs. John Mugabi
  • Thursday, March 17: Felix Trinidad vs. David Reid
  • Thursday, March 24: Ricardo Lopez vs. Rosendo Alvarez II
  • Thursday, March 31: Iran Barkley vs. Thomas Hearns I, George Foreman vs. Gerry Cooney (10:15 p.m. ET/PT), Gerald McClellan vs. Julian Jackson I (10:30 p.m. ET/PT)

 

In celebration of the best rivalries on SHOWTIME, see below for a special column from SHOWTIME Sports expert analyst and boxing historian Steve Farhood.

 

LEGENDS

By Steve Farhood

 

Boxing without legends would be like religion without saints.

 

There’s no formula for a fighter to advance from star to superstar to legend. The process depends on timing, circumstance, and sometimes as little as a point or two on the judges’ cards.

 

And oh, yeah: It helps if a guy can really fight.

 

As we celebrate 30 years of boxing on SHOWTIME, we’re focusing on a different theme each month. Throughout March, the theme will be Legends.

 

In the 130 years from John L. Sullivan to Floyd Mayweather, boxing has given us what other sports can’t provide. Consider:

 

  • The Associated Press voted Luis Firpo’s knockdown of Jack Dempsey as the greatest sports moment of the first half of the 20th Century.
  • The Frazier-Ali “Fight Of The Century” in 1971 was easily the most anticipated sporting event in history.
  • Last year’s Mayweather-Pacquiao fight generated more than half-a-billion dollars — in one night!

 

Legends are made by big moments … and how they respond to those moments.

 

On SHOWTIME, we’ve featured three decades worth of legends. Here’s a look at those who will share the spotlight in March.

 

MARVIN HAGLER: Since Vince Lombardi didn’t exactly say, “Timing isn’t everything, it’s the only thing,” Hagler should’ve said it.

 

Hagler was a great fighter long before he was a superstar, but it wasn’t until he fought Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, and Sugar Ray Leonard (three of Hagler’s last six bouts) that Marvin became Marvelous.

 

Hagler’s one appearance on SHOWTIME, which happened to be the first bout televised on the network (March 1986), was the final win of his career. Undefeated over 10 years, Hagler had established himself as one of the greatest middleweights in history. And while it could be argued in hindsight that at age 31, the ultimate blue-collar fighter was slightly past his prime, much of what made Hagler special was on display during his savage defense against his unbeaten and ferocious challenger, John Mugabi.

 

Almost three decades after his retirement, Hagler remains the middleweight today’s 160-pounders are measured against.

 

SUGAR RAY LEONARD: If Hagler bloomed late, Leonard was a superstar before he threw a single punch as a professional.

 

Back in the mid-‘70s, that’s what a magnetic smile, an Olympic gold medal, and repeated exposure on prime time television could do for a young fighter.

 

It’s ironic that Leonard was initially viewed by some as a coddled creation of the media. In fact, he was as tough as any fighter of the star-studded early-‘80s. Better yet, he remains the best fighter I’ve covered in 38 years on the boxing beat.

 

Leonard’s appearance on SHOWTIME was the penultimate bout of his career. In electing to end yet another lengthy layoff, Sugar Ray, 34, chose outstanding 23-year-old super welterweight titlist Terry Norris as his opponent. Leonard dropped from 160 to 154 pounds and fought at Madison Square Garden for the first time.

 

The bout served as a reminder that at least in a pre-Bernard Hopkins world, boxing was very much a young man’s game.

 

FELIX TRINIDAD: There are only three Hispanic fighters who became superstars in the USA without speaking English. The first was Panama’s Roberto Duran. The second was Mexico’s Julio Cesar Chavez.

 

The third was Puerto Rico’s Trinidad.

 

Trinidad’s motto might as well have been, “If you can’t be from America, then beat America.”

 

A classic puncher with a boy scout’s smile and a fan-friendly personality, Trinidad made his name by defeating four U.S. Olympians, Pernell Whitaker, Oscar De La Hoya (albeit by a terrible decision), David Reid, and Fernando Vargas.

 

Moreover, Whitaker, De La Hoya, and Reid had all been gold medalists.

 

The fight we’ll feature on March 17 on SHO EXTREME, Trinidad vs. Reid, was Trinidad’s 14th and final appearance on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and SHOWTIME pay-per-view.

 

From his welterweight title-winning kayo of Maurice Blocker in 1993 through his defense against Mahenge Zulu in 1998, 13 of Trinidad’s 14 bouts were aired on SHOWTIME. Twelve of those fights were knockout wins.

 

Where Trinidad ranks with Wilfredo Gomez, Miguel Cotto, Carlos Ortiz, Wilfred Benitez, and the rest of the legends from Puerto Rico is debatable. What is inarguable is that “Tito” generated as much excitement as any fighter of his era.

 

RICARDO LOPEZ: What’s smaller: the chance that a strawweight (105 pounds) becomes an American television star or the fighter himself?

 

There’s never been an American world champion at strawweight (or minimumweight). We just don’t grow fighters that size. In fact, until the emergence of Mexico’s Lopez in the early-’90s, most American boxing fans couldn’t have identified a single strawweight if armed with a map of the world and a set of WBC ratings.

 

Lopez was so complete, so dominant, so technically perfect, that from 1994 to ’99, he was a staple of SHOWTIME’s boxing programming. He fought 13 consecutive bouts on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING or SHOWTIME Pay-Per-View, and the first 11 of those contests were defenses of the strawweight title.

 

And if you think the little guys can’t punch, well, there were some one-punch kayos sprinkled in.

 

Lopez, who retired with a mark of 51-0-1, is universally acknowledged as an all-time great. Too bad he never fought America’s Michael Carbajal at light flyweight. Had he won that bout, he’d likely be acknowledged as one of the two or three greatest Mexican fighters ever.

 

Which is saying a lot for a fighter who never faced an opponent recognized by the American viewing public.

# # #

 

Showtime Networks Inc. (SNI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of CBS Corporation, owns and operates the premium television networks SHOWTIME®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ and FLIX®, and also offers SHOWTIME ON DEMAND®, THE MOVIE CHANNEL™ ON DEMAND and FLIX ON DEMAND®, and the network’s authentication service SHOWTIME ANYTIME®. Showtime Digital Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SNI, operates the stand-alone streaming service SHOWTIME®. SHOWTIME is currently available to subscribers via cable, DBS and telco providers, and as a stand-alone streaming service through Apple®, Roku®, Amazon and Google. Consumers can also subscribe to SHOWTIME via Hulu, Sony PlayStation® Vue and Amazon Prime Video. SNI also manages Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between SNI and the Smithsonian Institution, which offers Smithsonian Channel™, and offers Smithsonian Earth™through SN Digital LLC. SNI markets and distributes sports and entertainment events for exhibition to subscribers on a pay-per-view basis through SHOWTIME PPV. For more information, go to www.SHO.com.

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BILLY JOE SAUNDERS DETHRONES ANDY LEE SATURDAY TO BECOME 12th CURRENT BRITISH WORLD CHAMPION ON SHO EXTREME® FROM MANCHESTER,ENGLAND

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NEW YORK (Dec. 19, 2015) – Billy Joe Saunders dethroned WBO Middleweight World Champion Andy Lee with a 12-round majority decision Saturday on SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL from Manchester, England.

 

The fight, which was scored 115-111, 114-112 and 113-113,  will re-air tonight at 9 p.m. ET/PT on SHO EXTREME.

 

In a matchup of tactical southpaws, an explosive third round from Saunders (23-0, 12 KOs) was the difference.  The British challenger floored Lee twice – first with a big right hook and again with a counter right just 30 seconds later – and a dazed Lee somehow survived the 10-7 round. VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: http://s.sho.com/1OfibYe

 

The Irish Lee (34-3-1, 24 KOs) fought his way back and was the more aggressive fighter in the championship rounds, but it wasn’t enough to make up for a slow start and the two knockdowns.

 

With the win, Saunders became the 12th current British world champion.

 

“I’m world champion,” Saunders said.   “I beat a good champion today, a good sturdy champion.  I used his power against him.  When I was boxing he got a little bit careless and dropped his lead hand and I caught him with the hook.

 

“I’m not going to start running my mouth, but it was a good shot.  With someone as fast as me you have to keep your hands up.  I’m not the biggest puncher in the world, but I showed you there that I can punch.”

 

WBA Middleweight World Champion Daniel Jacobs, fresh off a first round knockout of Peter Quillin two weeks ago on SHOWTIME, was a guest analyst on Saturday from New York.

 

“I thought he was going to be a big brawler, I thought he had better assets,” Jacobs said of Lee.  “He didn’t do enough for me.  He was too complacent and after the knockdown you didn’t see that sense of urgency that a fighter has to have on the comeback trail.

 

“All credit due to Billy Joe, but it wasn’t an impressive victory.”

 

After watching the fight, Jacobs wasn’t ready to commit to a unification showdown in 2016 with the winner.

 

“We’ll do whatever makes sense,” Jacobs said.  “I think it’s time to sit-down and figure what makes sense.  Obviously it’s a good time to be a middleweight champion.”

 

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ANDY LEE & BILLY JOE SAUNDERS MEDIA WORKOUT QUOTES FOR WBO MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT

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THIS SATURDAY LIVE ON SHO EXTREME®

SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® Lee vs. Saunders
Airs Live at 5 p.m. ET/PT on SHO EXTREME; Encore Presentation at 9 p.m. ET/PT

“He’s not good enough to beat me.” – Andy Lee

“I’m not going to leave that ring without the title.” – Billy Joe Saunders

 

SHO VIDEO: http://s.sho.com/1ROfSkF

NEW YORK (Dec. 15, 2015) – WBO Middleweight World Champion Andy Lee and undefeated challenger Billy Joe Saunders held separate media workouts in Manchester, England, as they conclude preparations for their eagerly awaited showdown this Saturday, Dec. 19, live on SHO EXTREME  (5 p.m. ET/PT)from Manchester Arena.

 

Ireland’s Lee (34-2-1, 24 KOs) will make the first defense of his 160-pound title against England’s Saunders (22-0, 12 KOs), the WBO’s No. 1 middleweight contender.

 

The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL offering of theBoxNation telecast will feature analysis from SHOWTIME boxing experts Brian Custer, Al Bernstein and Paulie Malignaggibefore and after the world championship showdown.  An encore presentation of the bout will air on SHO EXTREME later that evening at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

 

Here’s what Lee and Saunders had to say at their media workouts on Tuesday and Monday, respectively:

 

ANDY LEE:

“I have a punch that can end a fight, lights out, in any given second.

 

“I won’t rely on the punch.  I will look to dominate from the start with educated pressure.

 

“I’m feeling very dangerous at the moment.

 

“Saunders’ unbeaten record is a disadvantage.  He’s always been in fights he’s expected to win and has been well managed by(Frank) Warren.

 

“I’ve never lost a fight on points and I never will on points.  If I’m down on the cards I will go out swinging in the last round.

 

“Saunders being a fellow traveler does add another layer, but at the end the day it’s about how good you are and he’s not good enough to beat me.”

 

BILLY JOE SAUNDERS:

“I’m ready to go for Saturday night.  This is the best camp that I’ve ever had.  I’m prepared for the toughest test of my career, but I know that I’m in excellent shape to win this fight and become world champion.

 

“Andy Lee is a tough fighter – he’s proved that by becoming world champion and having the type of career he has had. But I’m undefeated and hungry and know that I’m on the brink of fulfilling a childhood dream.  I’m not going to leave that ring without the title.

 

“Training in Spain allows me to lock myself away from all distractions and focus solely on the fight.  It’s hard being away from home, but it’s all part of boxing.  It’s been a long camp, a tough camp, but after that I know that I’m ready to go through hell to make sure that I’m successful come fight night.

 

“The middleweight division is one of the hottest around and I’m prepared to fight any of the other champions in there once I win the title.

 

“Danny Jacobs had a great win against Peter Quillin, and then there is Canelo (Alvarez) and (Gennady) Golovkin.  I know the importance of this fight for the division and I want my name to be among the very best.  I’m taking it one step at a time, but I’m open to fight anyone.

 

“There has been no trash talk with Andy because we know what each person is about.  We share a similar background and neither of us is going to take a back step.

 

“This is going to be a very exciting all-action fight because we’re going to leave it all in the ring.  I know I have the skills to beat him and I intend to show the world why I’m among the best around.”

 

Saunders on fellow Brit Chris Eubank Jr.:

 

“The truth of the matter is that Eubank Jr. does not belong at the world level – he’s a phony. It’s as simple as that.  I wasn’t impressed with his win over Gary O’Sullivan, who I’ve already beat.  He thinks he can fool the public with a win like that, but he can’t.

 

“His aim now is to move up and fight the best guys in the world, but we saw what happened the last time he stepped up a notch and faced me: he was badly exposed.  The same thing will happen with him if he fights someone like Danny Jacobs for the WBA title.

 

“You’re not the best middleweight in your own country and you want to fight a world champion and say you’re going to beat him?  I think it’s a delusion and he thinks he’s greater than he actually is.

 

“Sooner rather than later he’s going to get exposed again as the fraud that he is.  You can keep talking, but eventually you have to back it up in the ring against top-level fighters.  He’s won his last fight and now he’s back talking (expletive) again like he’s the best fighter in history.

 

“If he has the balls to fight again, which I doubt, I would happily hand him another beating, this time in even more convincing fashion.”

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SHOWTIME SPORTS® TO TELEVISE WBO MIDDLEWEIGHT WORLD TITLE FIGHT BETWEEN ANDY LEE AND BILLY JOE SAUNDERS ON SATURDAY, DEC. 19, LIVE FROM MANCHESTER, ENGLAND

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 SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® Lee vs. Saunders
Airs Live At 5 p.m. ET/PT on SHO EXTEME

 

NEW YORK (Dec. 1, 2015) – SHOWTIME Sports® will present the WBO Middleweight World Championship between defending titlist Andy Lee and unbeaten challenger Billy Joe Saunders on Saturday, Dec. 19, live on SHO EXTREME  (5 p.m. ET/PT) from Manchester, England.

 

The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL offering of the Box Nation telecast will feature analysis from SHOWTIME boxing experts Brian Custer, Al Bernstein and Paulie Malignaggi before and after the world championship showdown.  An encore presentation of the bout will air on SHO EXTREME later that evening at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

 

“We’re excited to deliver this important matchup of top middleweights to the U.S. audience,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports. “The 160-pound class is one of boxing’s hottest and deepest divisions right now, and the winner of this fight should position himself for a major showdown or unification in 2016.”

 

Ireland’s Lee (34-2-1, 24 KOs) won the vacant WBO title with a sixth-round TKO of then-undefeated Matt Korbov in December 2014.  The 6-foot-2, 31-year old was on a six-fight win streak before boxing a split 12-round draw with undefeated former champion Peter Quillin on April 11, 2015, in Brooklyn.  Both fighters went down in a highly competitive scrap that was scored 113-112 for Quillin, 113-112 for Lee and 113-113.

 

Before turning pro Lee was a top amateur and represented Ireland in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

 

“It’s great that my fans in the U.S. will get to see the fight between me and Saunders and I guarantee it’s going to be exciting,” Lee said.

 

Saunders (22-0, 12 KOs), of Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, is the WBO’s No. 1 middleweight contender.  The 26-year-old is coming off a fourth-round TKO over Yoannan Bloyer last July 24 in London.

 

Two starts ago, in the most note-worth victory of his career, the 5-foot-11, Saunders took a 12-round split decision over Chris Eubank Jr. on Nov. 29, 2014, in London. All but one of Saunders’ fights have taken place in England; the other was Northern Ireland.

 

Saunders was also an accomplished amateur; he represented England in the 2008 Olympic Games as a welterweight at the age of 18. Saunders is the great-grandson of one of Britain’s most famous gypsy bare-knuckle champions, Absolom Beeney.

 

“This is a massive night for me and I’m excited that it’s going out live to America,” Saunders said.  “The U.S. viewers will get to see just what I can do when I face Lee and become world champion.  It’s a big boost for me and takes the fight to another level when American TV comes on board and then you know it’s a big fight on the world stage.  I hope that (Gennady) Golovkin and (Miguel) Cotto will be both watching because I’m fast approaching their level and they’ll get to see what I’m all about.”

 

Promoter Frank Warren said, “I’m delighted that SHOWTIME will now be televising Lee vs. Saunders live in the U.S. as it confirms the importance of this fight on the world scene.  My relationship with the network goes back many years with fights like Joe Calzaghe vs. Jeff Lacy, Ricky Hatton vs. Kostya Tszyu, Frank Bruno vs. Oliver McCall, plus Naseem Hamed and Nigel Benn fights.  I believe that Lee vs. Saunders will be another great fight to add to that list because of what’s at stake for both fighters.  What lies ahead for the winner will make them fight to their very best.”

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SHOWTIME® TO TELEVISE KELL BROOK VS. DIEGO CHAVES IBF WELTERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ON SATURDAY, OCT. 24, LIVE FROM SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND

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SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® Brook vs. Chaves Airs

Live at 5:45 p.m. ET/ 2:45 p.m. PT with an Encore Presentation at 9 p.m. ET/PT

 

NEW YORK (Sept. 29, 2015) – SHOWTIME Sports® will present the IBF Welterweight World Championship between undefeated defending champion Kell Brook and contender Diego Chaves on Saturday, Oct. 24, live on SHOWTIME at 5:45 p.m. ET / 2:45 p.m. PT from Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield, England.

 

The SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL presentation of the Sky Sports telecast will feature analysis from SHOWTIME boxing experts  before and after the world championship showdown.  An encore presentation of the bout will air on SHOWTIME later that evening at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

 

“I’m delighted that my fight with Chaves is going to be shown in the U.S.,” said Brook, who hails from Sheffield and will be the favorite in this fight.  “I was thrilled when I saw my name in the top 10 of the pound-for-pound list in The Ring Magazine, and now is the time that I need to show the fans in the U.S. that I am a must-see fighter.

 

“Chaves is an all-action boxer who always comes to fight, and that is the perfect style for me to shine on Oct. 24.  I look forward to putting on an explosive performance and making the U.S. stand up and take notice that I am the best welterweight in the world.”

 

“We know Brook is a tough fighter, very technical,” said Diego Chaves. “But he is not a fast fighter and he is easily bothered by body punches, which is one of our strengths.  I believe he has problems going backwards, and we are going to test his punching power, too.

 

“I feel that my confidence grows with this challenge, knowing that I will have to face a champion like Kell Brook in his home country in England.  This raises the stakes for me, going up there as an Argentine and as a huge underdog.  We know all the bad blood that exists between Argentina and England and this will give me much more strength.  I will make history if I defeat an Englishman in his own country.”

 

“We’re excited to be back in business with Kell Brook, Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn and to deliver this exciting matchup of top 10 welterweights to the U.S. audience,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports.  “Kell won the world title on SHOWTIME in an action-packed victory over Shawn Porter last fall, establishing himself as one of the top welterweights in the world – but Diego Chaves is a rugged fighter who has also proven that he can compete with the elite of the division.”

 

Brook (35-0, 24 KOs) will make his third consecutive title defense of 2015 in his native England after coming to the U.S. and dethroning previously undefeated IBF Welterweight World Champion Shawn Porter in August 2014 on SHOWTIME.   The Sheffield native has scored knockouts in each of his defenses – a fourth round TKO of Jo Jo Dan on March 28 and a sixth round TKO of Frankie Gavin on May 30.  Brook aims for a similar result against the veteran Chaves, who has faced some of the top fighters in the 147-pound division.

 

Chaves (23-2-1, 19 KOs), of Buenos Aires, Argentina, has been a road warrior in recent fights, facing favored Americans on the road in three of his last four bouts.  He challenged 147-pound titlist Keith Thurman in July 2013 and, after winning by knockout in a hometown fight in Argentina, was ahead on the judges’ scorecards against Brandon Riosin August 2014 until he was disqualified for an intentional elbow to the face.  In his last fight, Chaves fought to a draw against perennial welterweight champion Timothy Bradley.