22.04.09 – Sports fans will get the opportunity to watch delayed coverage of Carl Froch’s first defence of his WBC World Super Middleweight Title against Jermain Taylor on free-to-air television after ITV Sport secured the exclusive delayed rights to broadcast one of the biggest fights of the year less than 24 hours after it takes place..
Britain’s only reigning World Champion will put his belt on the line against former undisputed Middleweight Champ, Taylor at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut this Saturday. The fight will be shown on a delayed basis on ITV4 at 8.30pm on Sunday (April 26th) and repeated on ITV1 at 11.15pm the same evening.
Froch’s title winning thriller against the then unbeaten Jean Pascal was broadcast live on ITV1 last December while ITV4 also broadcasts free-to-air boxing as part of a deal with Froch’s promoter Mick Hennessy.
Recent fights have featured top names from the Hennessey Sports stable including Darren Barker, John Murray, Jon Thaxton and heavyweight sensation, Tyson Fury.
Andre Ward Gives Taylor A Narrow Edge Over Froch This Saturday On SHOWTIME
World-ranked, undefeated super middleweight Andre Ward (18-0, 12 KOs) meets hard-hitting Colombian Edison Miranda (32-3, 28 KOs) May 16 on a special Saturday primetime edition of ShoBox: The New Generation live on SHOWTIME at the Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif.
A victory in what most agree will be Ward’s toughest test could put the talented, classy 2004 Olympic Games gold medalist in position to fight the winner of this Saturday’s showdown between undefeated WBC 168-pound champion Carl Froch and former undisputed middleweight kingpin Jerman Taylor on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING (9 p.m. ET/PT, delayed on the west coast).
Ward, who is ranked No. 2 in the WBC, one spot below Taylor, doesn’t see a clear-cut favorite and expects Froch-Taylor to be a tight, competitive contest.
“This is a very interesting fight,” said Ward, who will appear in his hometown of Oakland for the first time as a professional when he takes on Miranda. “I admire Froch for coming to the United States to fight. He could have stayed in the UK and become a draw but he knows that at age 31 his time is now.
“Stylistically speaking, it’s a hard fight to call. Both fighters have their pros and cons. But if I have to pick, I’d say Taylor will win a very close fight. I think his speed, experience and athleticism will pull him through.”
The May 16 ShoBox telecast will begin at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).