11.11.03 – SHOWTIME, which began broadcasting the sweet science with SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING on March 15, 1986, will televise its 500th fight on Saturday, Nov. 22, when WBC No. 11 super lightweight contender, Francisco Bojado, takes on Juan Carlos Rubio in the second fight of a three-fight telecast from Reliant Park in Houston, Texas. The 20-year-old Bojado will attempt to avenge his only pro defeat in a 12-round contest for the WBC Continental Americas junior welterweight crown.
The SHOWTIME telecast will kick off at 9 p.m. ET/PT when undefeated WBC No. 6 lightweight contender Juan Diaz squares off against Joel Perez in a lightweight match. Following Bojado-Rubio, WBC No. 8 featherweight contender and 2000 Olympic Games Silver Medalist, Rocky Juarez, will fight for his first title when he battles World Boxing Organization (WBO) No. 4 featherweight contender Hector Velazquez for the WBC Continental Americas featherweight crown.
The list of fighters who have appeared on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING reads like a boxing’s Who’s Who. Julio Cesar Chavez has appeared on the network the most times (19), followed by Evander Holyfield (18); Mike Tyson (14); Felix Trinidad (12); Terry Norris (11); Michael Nunn (10); Thomas Hearns and Johnny Tapia (9). In addition, a host of fighters are tied with eight appearances, including Kostya Tszyu, Ricardo Lopez, Sharmba Mitchell, Julian Jackson, Francois Botha and Frankie Liles.
Others who have showcased their vast talents on the network include: Acelino Freitas, Pernell Whitaker, George Foreman, Prince Naseem Hamed, Mike McCallum, Simon Brown, Lennox Lewis, Michael Moorer, Andrew Golota, Zab Judah, David Tua, Bernard Hopkins, Frankie Randall, William Joppy, Keith Holmes, Sugar Ray Leonard, Hector Camacho, Christy Martin, Laila Ali, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Tim Austin, Tony Tucker, Larry Holmes, Virgil Hill, Meldrick Taylor, Nigel Benn, Chris Eubank, Frank Bruno, Jeff Fenech, Roberto Duran, Diego Corrales, Gerald McClellan, Marvin Hagler, Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe, Azuma Nelson, Jesse James Leija, Mark Breland, Iran Barkley, Donald Curry, Gerry Cooney, Bobby Czyz, Michale Nunn, Buddy McGirt, Hector Camacho, Shannon Briggs, Wayne McCullough, Ricardo Juarez, Fransico Bojado, Juan Diaz, Jeff Lacy, Juan Lazcano, Chris Byrd, Vivian Harris, Antonio Margarito and Joel Casamayor.
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING – GREATEST HITS (1986-2003):
A LOOK BACK AT THE MOST MEMORABLE FIGHTS
Here are some of the noteworthy match-ups highlighted on SHOWTIME and the airdates in reverse chronological order. Also included are pay-per-view fights that were re-broadcast on SHOWTIME:
RESULT AIRDATE
James Toney (TKO 9) over Holyfield Oct. 11, 2003
Freitas (TKO 12) over Jorge Rodrigo Barrios Aug. 9, 2003
Tyson (KO 1) over Clifford Etienne Feb. 22, 2003
Freitas (W 12) over Joel Casamayor Jan. 12, 2002
Tszyu (KO 2) over Judah Nov. 3, 2001
Tszyu (TKO 7) over Mitchell Feb. 3, 2001
Ayala (W 12) over Tapia Oct. 7, 2000
Holyfield (W 12) over John Ruiz Aug. 12, 2000
Tyson (TKO 1) over Lou Savarese June 24, 2000
Trinidad (W12) over David Reid March 10, 2000
Tapia (W12) over Jorge Eliecer Julio Jan. 8, 2000
Willy Wise (W10) over Chavez Oct. 2, 1999
Tszyu (TKO 10) over Miguel Angel Gonzalez Aug. 21, 1999
Francois Botha (D10) with Shannon Briggs Aug. 14, 1999
Paulie Ayala (W12) over Tapia July 3, 1999
Tyson (KO 5) over Francois Botha Jan. 23, 1999
Chavez (D 12) with Miguel Angel Gonzalez March 14, 1988
Ricardo Lopez (TD 7) with Rosendo Alvarez March 14, 1998
Holyfield (TKO 8) over Michael Moorer Nov. 15, 1997
Tim Austin (TKO 8) over Mbulelo Botile July 17, 1997
Holyfield (WDSQ 3) over Tyson June 28, 1997
Prince Naseem Hamed (TKO 8) over Tom Johnson Feb. 8, 1997
Holyfield (TKO 11) over Tyson Nov. 17, 1996
Tyson (TKO 3) over Frank Bruno March 23, 1996
Christy Martin (TKO 3) over Sue Chase Feb. 10, 1996
(first televised women’s bout)
Luis Santana (WDSQ 2) over Terry Norris April 15, 1995
Nigel Benn (KO 10) over Gerald McClellan Feb. 25, 1995
Chavez (TKO 8) over Meldrick Taylor Sept. 22, 1994
Chavez (TW8) over Frankie Randall May 15, 1994
Randall (W12) over Chavez Feb. 4, 1994
Simon Brown (KO 4) over Terry Norris Dec. 19, 1993
Pernell Whitaker (D12) with Chavez Sept. 18, 1993
Chavez (KO 5) over Greg Haugen Feb. 27, 1993
Chavez (W12) over Hector Camacho Sept. 12, 1992
Nelson (KO 8) over Fenech Feb. 29, 1992
Fenech (D12) against Nelson June 24, 1991
Tyson (TKO 7) over Donovan “Razor” Ruddock March 23, 1991
Norris (W12) over Sugar Ray Leonard Feb. 9, 1991
Holyfield (KO 3) over James “Buster” Douglas Nov. 3, 1990
Foreman (KO 2) over Gerry Cooney Nov. 4, 1989
Holyfield (TKO 10) over Michael Dokes March 11, 1989
Iran Barkley (KO 3) over Hearns June 11, 1988
Hearns (KO 4) over Juan Roldan Oct. 29, 1987
Lloyd Honeyghan (KO 6) over Donald Curry Sept. 28, 1986
Marvin Hagler (KO 11) over John Mugabi Mar. 15, 1986
The current line-up of Showtime Championship Boxing announcers (Steve Albert, Al Bernstein and Jim Gray) follow a rich history as well. Marv Albert, Charlie Steiner, Jim Lampley, Tim Ryan, Gil Clancy, Bobby Czyz, Emanuel Steward, Jimmy Lennon, Jr., and of course, the legendary Fight Doctor, Ferdie Pacheco, have all been part of the Showtime Championship Boxing family of broadcasters. The executive producer is Jay Larkin.