ESPN Lines Up New Golden Boy Boxing Fight Series

LOS ANGELES: ESPN and Golden Boy Promotions have signed a multiyear, international agreement for a series of fights to broadcast live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.

In the first year of the pact, ESPN will air 18 fight cards throughout the U.S., in both English and Spanish, and on its wholly owned and affiliated channels in Latin America, Canada, the Caribbean, Australia and parts of Asia. The first fight, from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in California, is scheduled to take place on March 23. Fighters on the card will be revealed soon.

ESPN will also feature Golden Boy media and entertainment content on multiple platforms, including In the Ring, half-hour interviews with various fighters; Mano-A-Mano, an original series focused on fighter training; and The Ring TV Express, three-minute highlights of full fights; to name a few.

“We are excited to announce this new agreement with Golden Boy Promotions, one of the world’s top promoters,” said Burke Magnus, the executive VP of programming and scheduling at ESPN. “ESPN and ESPN Deportes look forward to featuring a new series of exciting world-class matches, along with a deep and wide variety of studio and digital content, in this multiyear, exclusive live-fight package.”

“ESPN is a flagship network with a history of showcasing and bringing audiences into the world of boxing, making this deal a natural fit for Golden Boy Promotions,” noted Oscar De La Hoya, chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. “Having worked with ESPN in the past, we know firsthand that its multiple TV and digital platforms represent a must-watch for casual and die-hard sports fans. I’m thrilled that Golden Boy’s talented stable of fighters will be showcased before a wide audience who will have the opportunity to watch and follow the sport’s current and future world champions.”

“From the moment Tecate partnered with Golden Boy in 2016, our mandate has been to bring fight fans closer to the action, which has included interactive Fan Fests before major bouts and the immersive Bold Punch app,” stated Gustavo Guerra, brand director for presenting sponsor Tecate. “Now we’re excited to play an integral role in giving fans more access to an incredible stable of boxing talent through Golden Boy Fight Night on ESPN.”

“Boxing fans are always looking for new, dynamic content, and this alliance will give fans fresh and original programming across the most well-known platform in the sports world,” added David Tetreault, the executive VP of Golden Boy Media and Entertainment.