SHOWTIME Sports will close out 2010 with an impressive boxing schedule featuring five world title fights in 43 days from four different countries. The impressive run is capped by a can’t-miss and potentially historic Jean Pascal-Bernard Hopkins Dec. 18 showdown that was originally scheduled for pay-per-view but is now an early holiday present to fight fans on SHOWTIME. The 2010 fall lineup is a testament to the SHOWTIME commitment to subscribers. “Our mission is simple: televise the most competitive and meaningful bouts in the sport,” said Ken Hershman, Executive Vice President and General Manager of SHOWTIME Sports®. “In a matter of weeks, SHOWTIME will air a national rivalry matchup, the best tournament fights in the sport, numerous title contests and Bernard Hopkins’ chance to make history when battling the impressive Canadian standout Jean Pascal. It’s a wonderful way to close out a very successful 2010.”
It all kicks off on Saturday, Nov. 6, with a doubleheader featuring a must-win Super Six World Boxing Classic Group Stage 3 scrap followed by a Puerto Rico vs. Mexico world championship rivalry match.
Puerto Rican superstar and WBO featherweight world champion Juan Manuel Lopez will face Mexican legend and future Hall of Famer Rafael Marquez LIVE on SHOWTIME from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nev.
In the Nov. 6 co-feature, veteran contender Glen “The Road Warrior” Johnson will face Allan Green in a Group Stage 3 bout of the Super Six World Boxing Classic. The winner of the 12-rounder between Green and Johnson will earn a spot in the tournament Semifinals.
Three weeks later, on Saturday, Nov. 27, SHOWTIME will offer a split-site, world championship doubleheader from Oakland, Calif., and Helsinki, Finland. In the opening bout, “King” Arthur Abraham will meet Carl “The Cobra” Froch for the vacant WBC world title for their pivotal Group Stage 3 bout in the Super Six World Boxing Classic. Abraham-Froch will air on same day delay from the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki.
In the second fight of the doubleheader, WBA super middleweight world champion and 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Andre Ward will defend his title against world ranked top-10 contender Sakio “The Scorpion” Bika. The fight, which will take place in front of Ward’s hometown fans at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., will not be part of the Super Six tournament. Ward, who is the tournament-points leader, has already locked up a semifinal berth, while Bika will be replacing Andre Dirrell in the title fight, who pulled out of his scheduled tournament bout against Ward due to injury.
Just two weeks later, on Saturday, Dec. 11, SHOWTIME will kick off yet another innovative boxing tournament featuring the world’s best bantamweights. The Bantamweight Tournament: Winner Takes All features four of the top 118-pound fighters battling in a two-round, single-elimination tournament to determine which man is atop the division.
The two semifinal matches will both take place on Dec. 11 from Domo De La Feria in Leon, Mexico In the opener, undefeated, world-ranked rising star Abner Mares will face two-division world champion Vic “Raging Bull” Darchinyan. Then, former IBF 118-pound champ Joseph Agbeko will try to earn back the title from the man that took it from him, current IBF champ Yonnhy “El Colombiano” Perez.
Just seven days later, on Saturday, Dec. 18, legendary future Hall of Famer and two-division world champion Hopkins will challenge WBC light heavyweight champ Pascal in his bid to become the oldest fighter in the history of boxing to win a prominent world title. The championship scrap will air live from the Pepsi Coliseum in Québec City, Canada.
The age-defying, 45-year-old Hopkins won the World Middleweight title on SHOWTIME in 1995 and successfully defended it 20 times, solidifying his place as one of the most prolific 160-pound world champions in history. He’ll face an emerging superstar coming off a career-best, upset victory over Chad Dawson, who was considered a top-5 pound-for-pound fighter and the best light heavyweight in the world prior to the loss.
