ESPN and Golden Boy Promotions today announced a multi-year, international agreement for a series of fights to be televised live on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. The first fight, from Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California, is March 23. Fighters on the card will be announced soon. In the first year of the deal, ESPN will televise 18 fight cards throughout the U.S., in both English and Spanish.
"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," said Oscar De La Hoya, chairman and CEO of Golden Boy Promotions. "Having worked with ESPN in the past, we know first-hand 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 sports' current and future world champions.
"We are excited to announce this new agreement with Golden Boy Promotions, one of the world's top promoters," said Burke Magnus, executive vice president, 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 multi-year, exclusive live-fight package."