Already off to a red hot start, boxing fans should mark their calendars for a blockbuster Premier Boxing Champions Series (PBC) schedule in July, which features a jam-packed array of fights that will include prospects, contenders and championship matches that run the gamut from heavyweight to featherweight.
“The month of July is typically a slow time for boxing, but not this July. There will be eight PBC series shows that offer some of the most exciting boxers in the sport today,” said Tim Smith, Vice President of Communications for Haymon Boxing.
The heavyweight championship of the world will be up for grabs on primetime network TV when undefeated heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (36-0, 35 KOs) defends his belt in his home state as he battles California’s own, Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (36-4-1, 31 KOs) in the main event on FOX and FOX Deportes Saturday (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT), July 16 from Legacy Arena at the BJCC in Birmingham, Alabama. The co-main event of the evening pits undefeated rising star Sammy Vasquez Jr. (21-0, 15 KOs) against former Olympic Gold medalist Felix Diaz (17-1, 8 KOs) in an exciting welterweight showdown. Immediately following the FOX broadcast, the action continues on FS1 and FOX Deportes (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)live from Birmingham and will feature another great welterweight clash as undefeated Jamal James (19-0-0, 9 KO’s) takes on the always dangerous, Wale Omotoso (26-2-0, 21 KO’s).
PBC on Spike returns with an explosive main event when light heavyweight champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (27-1, 22 KOs) defends his title against Thomas “Top Dog” Williams, Jr. (20-1, 14 KOs) on Friday, July 29 from Centre Videotron in Quebec City. The co-main event will see former world champion “Bad” Chad Dawson (34-4, 19 KOs) battle top contender Eleider Alvarez (19-0, 10 KOs) in an exciting light heavyweight matchup that could produce the next opponent for the winner of the main event.
The month of great boxing comes to grand crescendo on July 30 as the featherweight championship of the world and two undefeated records go on the line when three-division world champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (32-0-1, 18 KOs) defends his title against Irish star Carl “The Jackal” Frampton (22-0, 14 KOs) in the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on SHOWTIME® live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The telecast begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and will also feature the return of former two-division world champion Mikey Garcia (34-0, 28 KOs) in a matchup against former world champion Elio Rojas (24-2, 14 KOs) and once-beaten super welterweight contenders Tony Harrison (23-1, 19 KOs) and Sergey Rabchenko (27-1, 20 KOs) squaring-off in a world title eliminator. Earlier in the evening, SHOWTIME EXTREME®(7 p.m. ET/PT)will feature a pair of fights live from Barclays Center headlined by former world champion Paulie Malignaggi (35-7, 7 KOs) battling Gabriel Bracero (24-2, 5 KOs) in an all-Brooklyn showdown. Also returning to action is exciting brawler Ivan Redkach (19-1-1, 15 KOs) squaring off in a lightweight bout against Philadelphia’s own Tevin Farmer (21-4-1, 5 KOs).
The month will feature four PBC on ESPN shows that will showcase compelling contests between current contenders and future world champions.
ESPN action kicked off the Fourth of July weekend as previously unbeaten lightweight contender and 2012 U.S. Olympian Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring was stopped in the final round by former title challenger Denis Shafikov in the 10-round main event on ESPN and ESPN Deportes Saturday, July 2 from Santander Arena in Reading, Pa. Also on the card, undefeated Polish prospect Patryk Szymanski won a unanimous decision over former title challenger “Silky” Wilky Campfort in a 10-round lightweight bout in the co-feature.
On Saturday July 9, undefeated rising super featherweight contender Mario Barrios (15-0, 8 KOs) will take on former title challenger Devis Boschiero (39-4-1, 21 KOs) in a 130-pound title eliminator that serves as the 12-round main event on ESPN and ESPN Deportes (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT), from Sun National Bank Center in Trenton, New Jersey.
Then, on Friday, July 15 at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, unbeaten super lightweight contender Sergey Lipinets (9-0, 7 KOs) will battle hard-hitting Walter Castillo (26-3-1, 19 KOs) in the main event on ESPN and ESPN Deportes from Horseshoe Tunica Hotel & Casino in Tunica, Mississippi. The co-feature has 2012 Olympic Silver medalist Tugstsogt Nyambayar (5-0, 5 KOs) facing veteran featherweight contender Rafael “Dynamite” Vazquez (16-2, 13 KOs) in a 10-round fight.
Thursday, July 21 will see a special Thursday night edition of the PBC on ESPN and ESPN Deportes when Sergiy “The Technician” Derevyanchenko (8-0, 6 KOs) takes on Sam “King” Soliman (44-13, 18 KOs)in a middleweight world title eliminator. Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT with another Ukranian fighter, Ievgen Khytrov (13-0, 11 KOs), facing California’s Paul Mendez (19-2-2, 9 KOs).
The TOE-TO-TOE TUESDAYS series on FS1 and FOX Deportes continues with undefeated Domonique Dolton (17-0-1, 9 KO’s) battling exciting contender Levan Ghvamichava (16-2-1, 12 KOs) on Tuesday, July 12 (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT) from Robinson Rancheria Resort & Casino in Nice, California. Additional action features unbeaten prospect Malcolm McAllister (7-0, 7 KOs) facing Brazil’s Gilberto Pereira (7-2, 4 KOs) in super middleweight action.
Below please find the entire schedule for the month of July:
Saturday, July 2 – Denis Shafikov defeated Jamel Harring by 10th round stoppage; Patryk Szymanski defeated Wilky Campfort by unanimous decision from Reading, Pennsylvania on ESPN & ESPN Deportes.
Saturday, July 9 – Mario Barrios vs. Devis Boschiero from Trenton, New Jersey on ESPN & ESPN Deportes (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).
Tuesday, July 12 – Domonique Dolton vs. Levan Ghvamichava; Malcolm McAllister vs. Gilberto Pereira from Nice, California On FS1 & FOX Deportes (11 p.m. ET/8 p.m. PT).
Friday, July 15 – Sergey Lipinets vs. Walter Castillo; Tugstsogt Nyambayar vs Rafael Vazquez from Tunica, Mississippi on ESPN & ESPN Deportes (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).
Saturday, July 16 – Deontay Wilder vs. Chris Arreola (Heavyweight World Championship) and Sammy Vasquez vs. Felix Diaz from Birmingham, Alabama on FOX & FOX Deportes (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT). Later that evening FS1 & FOX Deportes will feature Jamal James taking on Wale Omotoso.
Thursday, July 21 – Sergey Derevyanchenko vs. Sam Soliman; Ievgen Khytrov vs. Paul Mendez from Mashantucket, Connecticut on ESPN & ESPN Deportes (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).
Friday, July 29 – Adonis Stevenson vs. Thomas Williams Jr. (Light Heavyweight World Championship); Chad Dawson vs. Eleider Alvarez from Quebec City, Canada on Spike (9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT).
Saturday, July 30 – Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton (Featherweight World Championship); Mikey Garcia vs. Elio Rojas & Tony Harrison vs. Sergey Rabchenko from Brooklyn on SHOWTIME (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT). Earlier that evening, Paulie Malignaggi vs. Gabriel Bracero; Ivan Redkach vs. Tevin Farmer will be featured on SHOWTIME EXTREME (7 p.m. ET/PT) from Brooklyn.
