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LAS VEGAS — Two faces of American boxing return this summer in separate showdowns, as Showtime Sports announces its schedule of fights for the months ahead.
Errol Spence Jr. and Gervonta Davis, two of the biggest box-office draws in the business, headline a nine-event run, which the premium broadcaster organized with key partner Premier Boxing Champions (PBC).
Jermell Charlo competes in a rare undisputed match; his brother Jermall Charlo boxes once again on the Juneteenth weekend; and David Benavidez fights an accomplished veteran.
Showtime and PBC take their show to multiple key territories, including Minneapolis, Arlington, and New York.
Here's the schedule, which Insider confirmed Tuesday:
For Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinoza, "It's a good time to be a boxing fan."
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Showtime offers varied combat sports programming including ShoBox, which features up-and-coming athletes; Showtime Championship Boxing; Showtime pay-per-view; and even Bellator MMA — home of high-flying featherweight fighter A.J. McKee.
Spence and Davis are two of America's best, and most popular, prizefighters.
But beyond the marquee names are multiple competitors trying to climb to the highest echelons, like Stephen Fulton — who, last year, was in the running for Fighter of the Year — exciting puncher Jaron Ennis, and David Benavidez, who has been vying for a fight with No. 1 boxer Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez.
Espinoza said: "We continue to grow the sport at every level, from our grassroots series ShoBox to crowning an undisputed champion at 154 pounds, to a high-stakes unification showdown between Errol Spence and Yordenis Ugas, to the return of young superstars Tank Davis, Jaron Ennis, and Stephen Fulton."
Jermall Charlo, who fights for the second time on Juneteenth weekend, will have Maciej Sulecki opposite the ring from him, after his handlers attempted to book him a bout against Jaime Munguia.
PBC and Showtime organized the first major boxing event on Juneteenth, last year, and told Insider at the time that they were looking to make it an annual show that celebrates Black American fighters akin to big fights for Mexican boxers on Cinco de Mayo.
Showtime and TGB Promotions, on behalf of PBC, had been in negotiation with Golden Boy Promotions for a Charlo bout involving unbeaten star Munguia.
A sticking point, according to ESPN, regarded the platform on which the bout would air. Golden Boy wanted DAZN involved for a joint pay-per-view.
Talks for that fight are over, for now at least, and so Showtime pushed ahead with its broadcast announcement, and wants to draw eyes to the breadth of the programming.
"When you consider the competitive nature of the matchups, the star power, and youthful vitality, it's never been clearer that Showtime is the destination for the most compelling fights," Espinoza said.
