NBC SPORTS GROUP RENEWS FIGHT NIGHT BOXING SERIES
NBC Sports Network Extends Deal With Main Events For 2013-2014
Saturday Night Boxing Series To Expand From Six Telecasts To 16
NEW YORK – July 2, 2012 -NBC Sports Group will partner with Main Events to produce a second season of the network’s successful primetime boxing series Fight Night. ThSaturday night boxing series will expand from six telecasts to-up-to 16 and will showcase compelling match-ups between some of the world’s best fighters.
NBC Sports Group will continue to work with Main Events and Hall-of-Fame matchmaker J Russell Peltz, to once again feature a multi-promoter strategy for the series. Designed to produce the best quality fights, the collaboration allows any promoter the opportunity to get their boxers involved in these programs and allows viewers the ability to see world class match-ups that would not otherwise take place.
“We are once again reaching out to all promoters to get involved in the series.” said Kathy Duva, president, Main Events. “The multiple promoter format worked incredibly well during season one and we are hoping to continue to build on the momentum. All fighters who are willing to further their careers by engaging in compelling, interesting, meaningful matches are welcome.”
“This series is the best thing that has happened to boxing in years,” said Hall-of-Fame promoter/matchmaker J Russell Peltz. “In just four shows, we have seen the emergence of US heavyweight prospect Bryant Jennings and junior middleweight contender Gabriel Rosado. We have shown matches between world-rated fighters and that’s something you rarely see these days on television. On top of that, the fights have been promoted the old-fashioned way, in sold-out noisy venues in Philadelphia, Brooklyn, Bethlehem and Newark. This is the way boxing was meant to be.”
“Fight Night has been a tremendous success. The unique approach to have multiple promoters competing to put fights on the NBC Sports Network has allowed us to produce compelling match-ups and incredibly exciting shows” said Jon Miller, President, programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. “NBC’s is committed to the property and we are looking forward to expanding the series from six telecasts to-up-to 16.”
Two dates have already been scheduled for the 2013 calendar, and additional dates will be announced as they are confirmed. A minimum of six telecasts will take place each year on the NBC Sports Network, and up to two broadcasts will air each year on NBC.
As part of the agreement, an additional Fight Night telecast has also been added to the 2012 calendar. The show will air on Saturday, December 22 on NBC, from 4-6 p.m. ET. The fight card will be announced at a later date.
2012-2013 NBC SPORTS NETWORK FIGHT NIGHT SCHEDULE
(All Times ET and subject to change)
Saturday, December 22 4-6 p.m. NBC
Saturday, January 19, 9-11 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Saturday, March 9, 2013 9-11 p.m. NBC Sports Network
Kenny Rice will continue to serve as the play-by-play commentator for all telecasts, and will be
joined by Hall-of-Fame boxing trainer Freddie Roach and cruiserweight contender B.J. Flores. Chris
Mannix will continue to serve as the ringside reporter for each telecast.
FIGHT NIGHT 36: The NBC Sports Network will continue to use its all-access 36 series to compliment the Fight Night telecasts. In 2012, individual Fight Night 36 episodes featured fighters Zab Judah and Eddie Chambers. The collaboration between Fight Night 36 and Fight Night allowed fans a unique opportunity to go behind-the-scenes prior to each fight and see how the boxers train, spend time with their family and interact with fans.
About Fight Night: NBC Sports Network’s Fight Night series is collaboration between NBC Sports, Main Events and J Russell Peltz. The series premiered on January 21, 2012 with Freddie Roach and BJ Flores on the call, and Kenny Rice serving as reporter.
The first Fight Night telecast featured heavyweight contenders Eddie Chambers and Sergei Liakhovich and originated from Philadelphia’s historic Asylum Arena. In 2013-2014, the series will feature 12 original telecasts on the NBC Sports Network and up to four broadcasts on NBC.
As in September, I once again ran out of gas in the 10th & 11th championship rounds of October & November with this column, but I recovered to complete them and will unleash a few more flurries to close out the 12th and final round.
In the first week of October, Hassan N’Dam won a UD over Curtis Stevens in an eliminator for the right to challenge Jermaine Taylor who defeated aging Sam Soliman to regain the IBF Middleweight title. How Taylor even earned this title shot is another story altogether, but it is all irrelevant as he is now the champion. However he will not have too much time to savor his victory as he has assault and battery charges pending against him and an upcoming court fight that may turn out to be the toughest fight of his life, just when things started to look up for him in boxing, we wish him luck.
