ITV1 SIGN CARL FROCH WBC FINAL ELIMINATOR FIGHT

Wellington · Post by **Wellington** » 08 Feb 2008, 10:21

ITV1 SIGN CARL FROCH WBC FINAL ELIMINATOR FIGHT

ITV and Hennessy Sports can today (08.02.08) announce that boxing’s WBC super-middleweight world title final eliminator between Carl Froch and Russia’s Denis Inkin will be broadcast live on ITV1 on Saturday March 29th from the Nottingham Arena.

British champion and WBC number one challenger, Froch is undefeated in 22 fights and has won 18 by way of knockout. WBC international champion, Inkin is also undefeated in 32 fights and has won 24 by knockout.

The winner of the contest will be mandatory challenger to Joe Calzaghe for the WBC world super-middleweight crown.

Carl Froch said: “I’m really excited that this fight is going out on prime time ITV1.”

“This is the toughest fight of my life: I have a lot of respect for Denis Inkin as he beat me as an amateur in an England v Russia international in 1999. His record speaks for itself and we are the number one and two in our division, so it’s a shoot out for the chance to become the next WBC champion on the world.”

Mark Sharman, ITV Director of News and Sport said: “I’m delighted that we have secured live coverage of this exciting world title final eliminator for ITV1. Carl Froch has the potential to become a great world champion and one of the biggest names in the sport. I’m very pleased we can broadcast this crucial fight to a wide audience on terrestrial television.”

Mick Hennessy said: “I am extremely proud to be putting this fantastic boxing event together in front of Carl’s excellent home town support”.

“This is not only a special night for British sport, it’s also a very special night for Nottingham which has never had a genuine elite world Champion. The WBC is the organisation that has awarded belts to fighting greats like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Marvin Hagler – now Nottingham is on the verge of having its very own WBC champion”.

The fight will be broadcast on ITV1, live from the Nottingham Arena, with further fights from the under-card broadcast on ITV4. Coverage will also be simulcast on ITV.com

Asterix · Post by **Asterix** » 08 Feb 2008, 10:36

YES! I'm ecstatic when big fights are live on terrestrial TV.

hitman_hatton1 · Post by **hitman_hatton1** » 08 Feb 2008, 10:51

surprised at that news.

maybe itv aren't gonna ditch it just yet.

boxingchatter · Post by **boxingchatter** » 13 Feb 2008, 13:13

Hmmmmm... could be Job Centre time for my pal BoxingChat!

dapug · Post by **dapug** » 13 Feb 2008, 13:44

boxingchatter wrote:Hmmmmm... could be Job Centre time for my pal BoxingChat!

2 Questions to ask

1 Does this mean that Mr Warren is not exclusive at ITV or are his days numbered and Big Mick will now become in house promoter.

2 Now Big Mick is on ITV have sky kicked him into touch or is he the new big man of British boxing with 2 TV deals.

podcast · Post by **podcast** » 13 Feb 2008, 13:57

dapug wrote:
boxingchatter wrote:Hmmmmm... could be Job Centre time for my pal BoxingChat!
2 Questions to ask

1 Does this mean that Mr Warren is not exclusive at ITV or are his days numbered and Big Mick will now become in house promoter.

2 Now Big Mick is on ITV have sky kicked him into touch or is he the new big man of British boxing with 2 TV deals.

Are Sky still bothered about boxing? Their schedule seems to be getting punier every quarter. You'd think they might of pumped some of that Hatton PPV money back into their schedule.

whiskey · Post by **whiskey** » 13 Feb 2008, 20:34

Mick puts on fine shows with nice undercards.

No WBU fights hopefully now !!

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 14 Feb 2008, 10:00

There's so much genuine excitement surrounding this fight and rightly so. Froch's march has been steady but sure, and the fact he's in a 50/50 fight for the right to challenge for the WBC title reminds of me of good times following the likes of Honeyghan's progression to the top. Win or lose, for me, it's been a fascinating journey so far.

whatashambles · Post by **whatashambles** » 14 Feb 2008, 18:27

Anyone else seen Warren's column this week? Criticises ITV big time. I reckon Hennessey will go to ITV and Khan will go to Setanta with the rest of Warren's stable soon enough.

states · Post by **states** » 14 Feb 2008, 19:49

whatashambles wrote:Anyone else seen Warren's column this week? Criticises ITV big time. I reckon Hennessey will go to ITV and Khan will go to Setanta with the rest of Warren's stable soon enough.

I missed it. What does Frank have to say?

I wish one of the other tabloids would give someone else a soapbox, because that's all Warren's column in the Scum is.

whatashambles · Post by **whatashambles** » 15 Feb 2008, 00:04

Well it can be read in full here... http://www.allegedly.tv/drill/News/Ar ... h-itv.html

It's titled: WARREN: I'M DISAPPOINTED WITH ITV

A few quotes from it...

"It would have been even more if ITV hadn't made the amazing decision to screen it around 11pm, and I'm seriously concerned about their ever changing attitude to the sport."

"Amir has consistently given ITV big viewing figures, but where was the commitment to him last Saturday?"

"Fortunately, bosses there [Setanta] have a long-term vision, rather than the knee-jerk attitude at ITV."

"I went to Setanta after ITV spent six months messing me around."

"Last January head of sport Mark Sharman and Jonathan Rogers came to my offices to sign off on a new deal, only to tell me there was a last minute problem. The problem was that ITV were spending their money going after the FA Cup.

Things didn't get resolved by the summer, so I had little option but to look elsewhere."

"ITV may wonder why their share prices are on the floor - perhaps their attitude to boxing explains a lot."

"Having watched ITV make so many knee jerk decisions, I've held my tongue.

To say I'm deeply disappointed and frustrated is an understatement."