NEW YORK, Jan. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- For the past decade, Spike TV has been a prime destination for combat sports on cable, most recently with Bellator MMA and GLORY kickboxing. Now, Spike is expanding its combat sports roster and is getting into the ring with a monthly primetime boxing series "Premier Boxing Champions." The new series will debut Friday, March 13 at 9:00pm ET/PT.
Spike TV has entered into a multi-year agreement to present the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) series each month for free on Fridays. The network will create compelling monthly shoulder programming for each fight that will help showcase the next generation of boxing stars and energize the sport's fan base.
The first Premier Boxing Champions series event on Spike will showcase two high-octane matchups, Andre Berto vs. Josesito Lopez and Shawn Porter vs. Roberto Garcia.
"We share the vision of the Premier Boxing Champions series to put the fighters first," said Kevin Kay, President, Spike TV. "The fighters are the stars, and we will give them a platform to demonstrate why they are among the greatest and most exciting athletes in the world."
Spike's on-air team will be announced at a later date. The Executive Producers for PBC on Spike include Jon Slusser, Senior Vice President, Sports and Multiplatform Programming, Scott Fishman, and Kay.
Enclosed is more information on the first PBC series event on Spike. PBC on Spike TV is created for television by Haymon Boxing Management and will feature top-level fights starring the sport's biggest names.
Friday, March 13 at 9:00pm ET/PT
Andre Berto vs. Josesito Lopez
Andre Berto of Winter Haven, Fla., is an electrifying welterweight with an outstanding record of 29-3 with 22 knockouts. It doesn't matter who he is facing, Berto always comes to fight. He has been in several "fight of the year" battles against Victor Ortiz, Robert Guerrero and Luis Collazo. Josesito Lopez is a battle-tested ring veteran from Riverside, Cal., with a record of 33-6 with 19 knockouts. Lopez blends tenacity with superb boxing skills to give opponents fits in the ring as he did in epic battles against Victor Ortiz, Saul (Canelo) Alvarez and Marcos Maidana. Berto-Lopez shapes up as a no-holds barred ring war.
Shawn Porter vs. Roberto Garcia
Shawn Porter of Akron, Ohio is a perpetual motion machine in the ring, drawing comparisons to the great Aaron Pryor. Heavy-handed with power in both hands, Porter has a record of 24-1-1 with 15 knockouts and that record includes some impressive victories over Devon Alexander and Paulie Malignaggi. Roberto Garcia, a tough veteran from Houston, Texas with a record of 33-3, 22 knockouts, has the kind of ring savvy that comes with experience and superb boxing skills. He has won eight straight matches and will ride that momentum into his fight against Porter, who is coming off the first loss of his professional career. Both Porter and Garcia have something to prove, which always
makes for an exciting match.
About Spike TV:
Spike TV is available in 98.7 million homes and is a division of Viacom Media Networks. A unit of Viacom (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), Viacom Media Networks is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Spike TV's Internet address is www.spike.com and for up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs, visit Spike TV's press site at http://www.spike.com/press. Follow us on Twitter @spiketvpr for the
latest in breaking news updates, behind-the-scenes information and photos.
About Haymon Boxing Management:
Haymon Boxing Management is based in Las Vegas, NV, and manages and advises more than 150 professional fighters.
For more information, please visit:
premierboxingchampions.com, facebook.com/premierboxingchampions, twitter.com/premierboxing, or spike.com/shows/premier-boxing-champions
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SOURCE Spike TV
