Showtime announces 2020 Schedule

[Ruthless-RKO]

Press Release

Showtime Sports and Premier Boxing Champions has announced a line-up of nine live boxing events including a 154-pound world title unification bout. The schedule comprises 22 critical match-ups from bantamweight to heavyweight and features some of the biggest stars in the sport today – Gervonta Davis, Leo Santa Cruz, Jermall Charlo, Jermell Charlo, David Benavidez and more. It is the largest collection of championship boxing announced since the COVID-19 pandemic forced a stoppage of the sport. The Showtime boxing schedule begins on Saturday, August 1st and runs through the end of 2020. Initially, each live telecast will be presented without fans in attendance from Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn. Included in the schedule are four world title eliminators and three interim title fights.

There are two pay-per-view events in the line-up presented by Premier Boxing Champions. The first in late September is a pay-per-view doubleheader featuring four world title bouts in back-to-back three-fight events on the same night all for one price. Doubleheaders are common in the NFL, NBA and MLB. There hasn’t ever been a boxing PPV doubleheader – until now. The second blockbuster PPV event in October is a unique clash with the winner earning world titles in two weight classes.

“We are proud to announce the strongest and most comprehensive schedule of fights in all of boxing,” said Stephen Espinoza, President, Sports and Event Programming, Showtime Networks Inc. “Each bout on this schedule, our largest schedule announcement since 2018, carries high stakes and significant implications. From highly regarded prospects to emerging stars to established champions - all in tough matchups - this lineup delivers on our promise to provide boxing fans with the best talent, the most exciting fights and the highest quality presentation in the sport. We are thrilled to return to live boxing with this star-studded schedule of exciting, meaningful fights.”

Philadelphia’s 122-pound rising star Stephen Fulton Jr. will headline on August 1st (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) against talented, fellow undefeated contender Angelo Leo of the Mayweather stable in a marquee 12-round matchup for the vacant WBO junior featherweight world title. The Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by Mayweather Promotions and TGB Promotions. This will mark the first live boxing event on SHOWTIME since ShoBox: The New Generation on March 13 when the network presented what was to be the last nationally televised professional sporting event in the U.S. for several weeks.

“We couldn’t be more excited to be finally getting back to boxing,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “Everyone has been patiently waiting and the series of fights that we will collectively put on over the next few months will be great for boxing and the sports world in general. We’re kicking things off August 1 with a world title opportunity for our rising contender Angelo Leo who has been consistently grinding and taking care of business. He’s facing another young and focused undefeated fighter and only one of them can be crowned champion. Both guys are confident that the title belongs to them, which is going to make for a great fight from the first bell.”

“I have been really impressed with both Fulton and Leo,” said Tom Brown, President of TGB Promotions. “Fulton’s resume includes victories over eight undefeated fighters. Angelo Leo will be the third straight unbeaten fighter he’s faced. Leo has passed every test he’s had with victories against some of the toughest fighters in the division. The winner of this match will be soaring to new heights in the division.”

“This is my time. I’ve prepared for this my whole life,” said Fulton. “He will be a world champion one day, but not this time.”

“I’m excited to get back in the ring and to continue where I left off,” said Leo. “It’s an honor to be the main event on SHOWTIME and to be fighting for the WBO belt.”

The fight-by-fight schedule follows:

August 1

Main Event: Stephen Fulton Jr. (18-0, 8 KOs) vs. Angelo Leo (19-0, 9 KOs) – Vacant WBO Junior Featherweight World Championship
Co-Feature: Tramaine Williams (19-0, 6 KOs) vs. Ra’eese Aleem (16-0, 10 KOs) – Super Bantamweight Title Eliminator
Co-Feature: Joe George (10-0, 6 KOs) vs. Marcos Escudero (10-1, 9 KOs) II – Light Heavyweight Bout

About: Fellow Americans and undefeated fighters Fulton and Leo are legitimate top-10 junior featherweight contenders who will meet for the vacant WBO 122-pound world title. A southpaw from New Haven, Conn., Williams will clash with Las Vegas-based Aleem in an intriguing, 50-50 matchup between talented, undefeated prospects. Managed by All-Pro lineman Trent Williams, Houston’s George upset Escudero in an exciting ShoBox affair last November.

August 15

Main Event: David Benavidez (22-0, 19 KOs) vs. Roamer Alexis Angulo (26-1, 22 KOs) – WBC Super Middleweight World Championship
Co-Feature: Rolando Romero (11-0, 10 KOs) vs. Jackson Marinez (19-0, 7 KOs) – WBA Lightweight Interim Title
Co-Feature: Otto Wallin (20-1, 13 KOs) vs. Travis Kauffman (32-3, 23 KOs) – Heavyweight Bout

About: Undefeated Benavidez, 23, kicks off his second reign as WBC Super Middleweight Champion. In 2017, he became the youngest 168-pound champion in boxing history by defeating Ronald Gavril on SHOWTIME at just 20 years old. Angulo is coming off an upset win over heavily hyped and then unbeaten prospect Anthony Sims Jr. The power-punching “Rolly” Romero of the Mayweather stable, who has scored five first- or second-round stoppages in his last six fights, is an undefeated ShoBox alum ranked No. 10 by the WBA while Marinez is ranked No. 6. Wallin vs. Kauffman is an intriguing heavyweight matchup between the Swedish southpaw and the veteran Kauffman. Both fighters have survived bouts with the COVID-19 virus, made full recoveries and are anxious to get back in the ring. The winner will undoubtedly receive another big fight. The loser will go to the back of the line in the busy heavyweight division. This Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing. The Romero vs. Marinez bout is co-promoted by Mayweather Promotions.

September 19

Main Event: Erickson Lubin (22-1, 16 KOs) vs. Terrell Gausha (21-1-1, 10 KOs) – WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator Bout
Co-Feature: Tugstsogt Nyambayar (11-1, 9 KOs) vs. Eduardo Ramirez (23-2-3, 10 KOs) – WBC Featherweight Title Eliminator Bout
Co-Feature: Jaron Ennis (25-0, 23 KOs) vs. TBA – Welterweight Bout

About: Lubin, already a veteran at just 24 years old, has excelled since his shocking first-round loss to Jermell Charlo three years ago. Gausha is a former U.S. Olympian with just one loss. Both men are poised and hungry for a signature win and the opportunity to fight for a unified 154-pound title, which will be on the line the following week. Nyambayar and Ramirez are legitimate top-10 contenders. Nyambayar faced Gary Russell Jr. in February and was defeated. Ramirez, of Mexico, is coming off a stoppage of previously unbeaten Leduan Barthelemy. A graduate of the popular ShoBox: The New Generation series, Philadelphia native Ennis is a former National Golden Gloves Champion.

September 26 – Pay-per-view doubleheader

In One of the Main Events: Jermall Charlo (30-0, 22 KOs) vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko (13-2, 10 KOs) – WBC Middleweight regular championship

Co-Feature: Brandon Figueroa (20-0-1, 15 KOs) vs. Damien Vasquez (15-1-1, 7 KOs) – WBA Super Bantamweight World Championship
Co-Feature: Diego Magdaleno (32-3, 13 KOs) vs. Isaac Cruz (19-1-1, 14 KOs) – IBF Lightweight Title Eliminator Bout

About: Houston’s Charlo will defend his title against Ukrainian Derevyanchenko in one of the main events of this pay-per-view twin bill. Charlo has held the WBC middleweight title since 2019 and reigned as the IBF junior middleweight champion from 2015 to ‘17. Charlo holds wins at 154 pounds against championship-level fighters including Cornelius Bundrage, Austin Trout and Julian Williams. Derevyanchenko has twice challenged for the IBF middleweight title in 2018 and ‘19, losing only to top-level opponents Daniel Jacobs and Gennadiy Golovkin. The 23-year-old Figueroa claimed the interim WBA 122-pound title with an eighth-round stoppage of Yonfrez Parejo last April, before successfully defending the title with a homecoming KO of Javier Chacon in Edinburg, Texas. After being upgraded to the “regular” titlist, Figueroa retained his belt after a 12-round draw against Julio Ceja last November. The southpaw Vasquez is coming off a stoppage win over Alejandro Moreno in February of 2020. Magdaleno vs. Cruz is an IBF title eliminator matchup of ShoBox alums currently ranked 10th and sixth, respectively.

The Other Main Event: Jermell Charlo (33-1, 17 KOs) vs. Jeison Rosario (20-1-1, 14 KOs) – WBC, WBA and IBF 154-Pound Unification Bout

Co-Feature: Mario Barrios (25-0, 16 KOs) vs. Ryan Karl (18-2, 11 KOs) – WBA regular title at 140 pounds
Co-Feature: Daniel Roman (26-3-1, 10 KOs) vs. Emmanuel Rodriguez (19-1, 12 KOs) – Super Bantamweight Bout

About: In the other main event of this two-part, six-fight pay-per-view telecast, Jermell Charlo will take on Rosario in just the eighth world title unification fight in the 154-pound division’s history. It is also just the second fight with three super welterweight world title belts up for grabs. In January, Rosario upset Julian Williams to win the WBA and IBF titles. Last December, Charlo regained the title by stopping Tony Harrison. At stake is supremacy in a talent-rich division. The 25-year-old Barrios from San Antonio has held the WBA regular title since September of 2019. His opponent Karl hails from Houston. A regular sparring partner of Erislandy Lara and Jermell Charlo, Karl is trained by Ronnie Shields. Roman is a former unified super bantamweight champion, having held the WBA (Super) and IBF titles from 2019 to January 2020. Roman’s 19-bout winning streak was snapped in January in a split-decision loss to Murodjon Akhmadaliev. Ranked in the top five by all four sanctioning bodies, Roman previously held the WBA title from 2017 to 2019. This unique PPV doubleheader is presented by Premier Boxing Champions and promoted by Lions Only Promotions and TGB Promotions. The Jermell Charlo-Jeison Rosario match is co-promoted with Sampson Boxing.

October 10

Main Event: Sergey Lipinets (16-1, 12 KOs) vs. Kudratillo Abdukakhorov (15-0, 8 KOs) – IBF Welterweight Interim Title
Co-Feature: Xavier Martinez (15-0, 11 KOs) vs. Claudio Marrero (24-4, 17 KOs) – Super Featherweight Bout
Co-Feature: Malik Hawkins (18-0, 11 KOs) vs. Subriel Matias (15-1, 15 KOs) – Super Lightweight Bout

About: The 31-year-old Lipinets has won three significant fights in a row since his lone loss to Mikey Garcia, including a dominant stoppage that sent former word titlist Lamont Peterson into retirement. Uzbekistan’s Abdukakhorov is coming off his biggest win to date over former world titlist Luis Collazo and is yet to taste defeat since turning professional in 2015. With Abdukakhorov ranked No. 1 by the IBF and Lipinets ranked No. 3, the winner will be in prime position to challenge the unified 147-pound world champion Errol Spence Jr. Sacramento’s Martinez of the Mayweather stable is an exciting prospect who thrilled ShoBox viewers when he scored one of the quickest knockouts in the history of the series last November, while Marrero is a grizzled veteran who held the WBA interim featherweight title in 2017. Hawkins of the Mayweather stable is trained by Calvin Ford and a teammate of two-division world champion Gervonta Davis. Every one of Matias’ 15 career victories as a pro has come by way of knockout, with his only setback a unanimous-decision loss to Petros Ananyan back in February. This Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by TGB Promotions, Top Rank, Inc. and Mayweather Promotions.

October 24 – pay-per-view

Main Event: Gervonta Davis (23-0, 22 KOs) vs. Leo Santa Cruz (37-1-1, 19 KOs) – WBA Super Featherweight title /WBA regular lightweight title

About: This blockbuster main event will be contested at the super featherweight limit of 130 pounds. The winner of the match, however, will be in the unique position to earn world championships at 130 and 135 pounds on the same night. Two crowd favorites with massive followings will meet with Santa Cruz’s newly won WBA (Super) 130-pound world title on the line. The unbeaten “Tank” Davis is a two-division world champion and reigning WBA lightweight titlist at the age of 25. He emerged as a bona fide star in 2019 with sold-out main event bouts in Baltimore and Atlanta. “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz is a four-division world champion who avenged his only professional loss to Carl Frampton. The stage is set for one of the best matchups that can be made in all of boxing. Both men are all-action fighters. Davis boasts a knockout percentage of .957 while Santa Cruz is one of the busiest punchers in the sport. The winner of this fight may earn a top-10 spot on the coveted pound-for-pound list.

November 28

Main Event: Chris Colbert (14-0, 5 KOs) vs. Jaime Arboleda (16-1, 13 KOs) – WBA Super Featherweight Interim Title
Co-Feature: Richardson Hitchins (11-0, 5 KOs) vs. Argenis Mendez (25-5-3, 12 KOs) – Super Lightweight Bout
Co-Feature: TBA

About: The WBA interim super featherweight champion Colbert has fought five times in the past 20 months. Arboleda of Panama earned a split-decision win over veteran Jayson Velez in a WBA junior lightweight eliminator in February. New York City’s Hitchins of the Mayweather stable represented his parents’ home country of Haiti in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and Mendez is a former IBF Super Featherweight champion from the Dominican Republic. This Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by TGB Promotions and Sampson Boxing. The Hitchins vs. Mendez bout is co-promoted by Mayweather Promotions.

December 12

Main Event: Nordine Oubaali (17-0, 12 KOs) vs. Nonito Donaire (40-6, 26 KOs) – WBC Bantamweight World Championship
Co-Feature: TBA
Co-Feature: TBA

About: France’s Oubaali will be defending the WBC bantamweight world title for the third time. Donaire is the No. 1-ranked contender and fighting for his eighth world championship. A four-division titlist and former pound-for-pound mainstay, Donaire fought brilliantly in what many picked as 2019’s Fight of the Year, a decision loss to Naoya Inoue. At age 37, Donaire is attempting to defy the belief that the smaller the fighter, the earlier the prime. The Premier Boxing Champions event is promoted by TGB Promotions.

[jujigatame]

I'll watch the cards that are on Showtime, but this is mostly uninspiring stuff and it looks like PBC is continuing its trend of putting almost all of its compelling fights on PPV.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I'll watch the cards that are on Showtime, but this is mostly uninspiring stuff and it looks like PBC is continuing its trend of putting almost all of its compelling fights on PPV.

Yeh, at the start the FOX fights were free..

It's these boxers, thinking they're worth more than they actually are..

The Charlo card is pretty decent.. But there isn't a star power name on there.. Might still do good numbers.

Davis get's around 600k viewers on Showtime..

He's gonna get half of that in PPV buys.. Even against Santa Cruz.. We'll have to wait and see.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[margaret thatcher]

Thank you Al Haymon for a victorious fall and winter return of boxing

[Onetimeonly]

I'll watch the cards that are on Showtime, but this is mostly uninspiring stuff and it looks like PBC is continuing its trend of putting almost all of its compelling fights on PPV.

I'd call it ambitious. In fact I'll be surprised if they all happen.

[margaret thatcher]

I'll watch the cards that are on Showtime, but this is mostly uninspiring stuff and it looks like PBC is continuing its trend of putting almost all of its compelling fights on PPV.

tbh I think these fights are pretty decent

Maybe the worst is Benavidez vs Angulo, but even then Angulo beat a somewhat hyped prospect last time

i mean, im not as thrilled as EO getting/giving a rimjob, but i'm satisified, know what I'm saying?

[Duran1970]

Charlo/ Derevy ppv?
And some wonder what's wrong with boxing

[Uppercut1]

Charlo/ Derevy ppv?
And some wonder what's wrong with boxing

Great fight, but yeah..PPV? C'mon now

[gregregegg]

PPV for both charlos same night in tough fights is probably borderline fair. There not massive names but combined.., and im kinda confused as to how the broadcast works both being mains, both having separate suports, ect, but i dont think thats terrible.

Tank vs santa cruz though,,, how? that will have to have an amazing undercard. Tank hasn't done shit for 3 year, his only good win is pedraza. And this is not even for a real belt... WBA regular is not a real World championship. I like, tank, he has potential but holy fornicate his last couple of years have been weak. And leo is going way out of his weight. he is a 126, had one fight at 130 now going to 135...
I want to see the fight. but a guy whos done nothing for 3 years, vs a guy up 2 weight divs, for no real belt.... That undercard will have to be fornicating stackkkkkked to do good PPVs.

[jujigatame]

I'll watch the cards that are on Showtime, but this is mostly uninspiring stuff and it looks like PBC is continuing its trend of putting almost all of its compelling fights on PPV.

tbh I think these fights are pretty decent

Maybe the worst is Benavidez vs Angulo, but even then Angulo beat a somewhat hyped prospect last time

i mean, im not as thrilled as EO getting/giving a rimjob, but i'm satisified, know what I'm saying?

I mean they're fine, and I'll watch them, but they're not on the level of what Showtime Championship Boxing used to be 10 years ago.

And I'm definitely not buying either of those PPVs.

[Ruthless-RKO]

PPV for both charlos same night in tough fights is probably borderline fair. There not massive names but combined.., and im kinda confused as to how the broadcast works both being mains, both having separate suports, ect, but i dont think thats terrible.

Tank vs santa cruz though,,, how? that will have to have an amazing undercard. Tank hasn't done poo for 3 year, his only good win is pedraza. And this is not even for a real belt... WBA regular is not a real World championship. I like, tank, he has potential but holy fornicate his last couple of years have been weak. And leo is going way out of his weight. he is a 126, had one fight at 130 now going to 135...
I want to see the fight. but a guy whos done nothing for 3 years, vs a guy up 2 weight divs, for no real belt.... That undercard will have to be fornicating stackkkkkked to do good PPVs.

Didn’t Tank won the IBF or WBO against Pedraza. But yeh, that was his only decent win. It’s when he got stripped he fought for the WBA regular belt.

[gregregegg]

PPV for both charlos same night in tough fights is probably borderline fair. There not massive names but combined.., and im kinda confused as to how the broadcast works both being mains, both having separate suports, ect, but i dont think thats terrible.

Tank vs santa cruz though,,, how? that will have to have an amazing undercard. Tank hasn't done poo for 3 year, his only good win is pedraza. And this is not even for a real belt... WBA regular is not a real World championship. I like, tank, he has potential but holy fornicate his last couple of years have been weak. And leo is going way out of his weight. he is a 126, had one fight at 130 now going to 135...
I want to see the fight. but a guy whos done nothing for 3 years, vs a guy up 2 weight divs, for no real belt.... That undercard will have to be fornicating stackkkkkked to do good PPVs.

Didn’t Tank won the IBF or WBO against Pedraza. But yeh, that was his only decent win. It’s when he got stripped he fought for the WBA regular belt.

Yea tanks had real belts. At 130. I’m assuming this will be 135 seeing as thank looks about 170 in training vids.

[jujigatame]

Supposedly it's at 130. Not sure LSC would fight at 135 considering he's already moved up in weight like 3-4 times in his career.

[gregregegg]

Ill belive 130 when i see tank standing on the scales at 130 or less....

[Ruthless-RKO]

I hope we get these in the UK..

Sky usually picks up certain Showtime or PBC cards.

If not, if NoxBation still alive???

[Enlightened-One]

I’m looking forward to the 26th September PPV double-header:

• Jermall Charlo (4th & WBC champ) vs. Sergiy Derevyanchenko (5th & perhaps defeated GGG)
• Jermell Charlo (1st WBC champ) vs. Jeison Rosario (2nd WBA super, IBF & IBO champion)

There are also four other world title bouts featuring on the undercard.

[Enlightened-One]

I hope we get these in the UK..

Sky usually picks up certain Showtime or PBC cards.

If not, if NoxBation still alive???

Didn't Al Haymon's PBC sign a three-year 15-event per year deal with ITV?

I'm also guessing any exceptions, due to Sky or BT covering PBC shows, might be due to certain events being awarded to the highest bidder for cross-promotional events (i.e. Andy Ruiz Jr. appearing on a Matchroom event or Wilder competing on a Top Rank card).

[Ruthless-RKO]

I hope we get these in the UK..

Sky usually picks up certain Showtime or PBC cards.

If not, if NoxBation still alive???

Didn't Al Haymon's PBC sign a three-year 15-event per year deal with ITV?

I'm also guessing any exceptions, due to Sky or BT covering PBC shows, might be due to certain events being awarded to the highest bidder for cross-promotional events (i.e. Andy Ruiz Jr. appearing on a Matchroom event or Wilder competing on a Top Rank card).

I take it the ITV deal ended ages ago.. ITV Boxing is finished..

[Enlightened-One]

I hope we get these in the UK..

Sky usually picks up certain Showtime or PBC cards.

If not, if NoxBation still alive???

Didn't Al Haymon's PBC sign a three-year 15-event per year deal with ITV?

I'm also guessing any exceptions, due to Sky or BT covering PBC shows, might be due to certain events being awarded to the highest bidder for cross-promotional events (i.e. Andy Ruiz Jr. appearing on a Matchroom event or Wilder competing on a Top Rank card).

I take it the ITV deal ended ages ago.. ITV Boxing is finished..

ITV's three year deal with the PBC only commenced in December 2018.

And let's not forget that back in February, BT Sport and ITV agreed to a deal whereby both broadcasters will simultaneously televise Queensbury Promotions events.

As far as I know, ITV announced in January their intention to not cover any more boxing PPV's, but this didn't stop them from signing their agreement with BT Sports a month later.

To be honest, I don't know if ITV boxing really is "finished" and perhaps you're right, but it's not been officially announced yet, since their have recently-signed deals with the PBC, BT & Queensbury Promotions are still in place.

ITV's Tyson Fury documentary series also did big ratings.

[Fightnight Scores]

Maybe he meant it was ITV PPV that is finished, which lets face it when they made their first event Chris Eubank Jr vs Renold Quinlan, was never destined to really work out.

They have shown a fair number of the US cards in recent years though and hopefully will continue that. But given the seemingly abandoned PPV, maybe they are looking to just get shot of the sport altogether.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Maybe he meant it was ITV PPV that is finished, which lets face it when they made their first event Chris Eubank Jr vs Renold Quinlan, was never destined to really work out.

They have shown a fair number of the US cards in recent years though and hopefully will continue that. But given the seemingly abandoned PPV, maybe they are looking to just get shot of the sport altogether.

From January, they discontinued their PPV..

We know that NoxBation and Premier Sports went into partnership.