Harlem has a long history of boxing fans and boxing champs like Harlem Tommy Murphy, Harry “The Black Panther” Wills, Joe Louis, Tyrone “The Harlem Butcher” Jackson, Hector “Macho” Camacho and many, many more.
That’s why we like the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) TV series that will roll into its third season in 2017 with a spectacular slate of boxing shows featuring an array of the most talented boxers in the world is much awaited.
“The Premier Boxing Champions series will continue its mission in 2017 of making the sport available to the widest possible audience,’’ said Tim Smith, Vice President of Communications for Haymon Boxing. “Through its first two seasons the PBC will have broadcast over 90 shows, featuring surprising upsets, spectacular knockouts and hard-fought championship matches. The 2017 season of the PBC series will be the most exciting yet.’’
The 2016 season saw some very exciting and compelling showdowns such as Keith Thurman vs. Shawn Porter and Leo Santa Cruz vs. Carl Frampton, and featured the most viewed boxing matches of the year. Thurman-Porter peaked at 3.94 million viewers on CBS on June 25, while Danny Garcia-Robert Guerrero peaked at 3.5 million viewers on FOX on Jan. 23. The PBC also registered the largest television audience for a boxing show in 18 years when the 147-pound match between Errol Spence, Jr. and Leonard Bundu scored a peak of 6.3 million viewers on NBC on August 21.
The 2016 PBC season will close with two outstanding shows as Danny Garcia battles Samuel Vargas on Spike on Nov. 12, with a huge 147-pound championship showdown against Keith Thurman hanging in the balance for Garcia. Next up will be a scintillating doubleheader featuring two world title fights as Jesus Cuellar and Abner Mares square off in a hotly contested 126-pound showdown and Jermall Charlo and Julian Williams meet in a 154-pound title match on Dec. 10.
The 2017 PBC season will continue the great tradition of compelling matches in all weight classes from heavyweight on down. There will be particular fireworks in the hottest and deepest divisions in the sport at 147 pounds, 154 pounds and 126 pounds. With so much talent in all these divisions, competitive matchups abound.
In 2017 the PBC series will continue it’s broadcast partnerships with FOX, FS1, Spike, NBC, ESPN, SHOWTIME/CBS and Bounce TV and will feature more primetime networks shows next year than in either of the first two seasons.
- FOX will broadcast three prime time network shows, the first of which will be on February 25. FS1 will broadcast 25 shows, running from February-October.
- NBC will broadcast three primetime network shows in the second half of 2017, beginning with the first show on Sept. 23.
- ESPN will broadcast 12 shows from April-August with the first show on April 14.
- Spike will regularly broadcast shows as part of its Combat Sports Friday platform, beginning with the first show on Jan. 13.
- Bounce TV will feature a quarterly boxing show with the first broadcast on March. 31.
- SHOWTIME/CBS will broadcast select PBC series fights on dates throughout the year. The first show on SHOWTIME/CBS for the 2017 season will be the highly-anticipated 126-pound title rematch between Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz on Jan. 28, followed by a super-fight for 147-pound supremacy between champions Keith Thurman and Danny Garcia on March 4.
“We’re excited for the 2017 PBC series on FOX, FS1 and FOX Deportes, with a robust schedule of outstanding matches at all levels of boxing including exciting champions, contenders and prospects,” says David Nathanson, FOX Sports Head of Business Operations. “We’ve enjoyed our thrilling Tuesday night series on FS1 and FOX Deportes and had several major title fights on the FOX broadcast network, including the heavyweight championship of the world. We’re looking for more great fights in the coming year.”
“We are thrilled to continue showcasing excellent bouts between top fighters when Premier Boxing Champions returns to NBC in 2017,” said Jon Miller, President of Programming for NBC Sports and NBCSN.
“We are thrilled to welcome Premier Boxing Champions back on ESPN in 2017. The PBC serieshas delivered exciting boxing events that have garnered solid boxing viewership for ESPN,” said Burke Magnus, executive vice president, programming and scheduling for ESPN. “We are looking forward to showcasing a new season of fights next year.”
“In 2016, the PBC series once again delivered another year of exciting fights with many of boxing’s biggest names, including Danny Garcia, Daniel Jacobs, Adrien Broner and Adonis Stevenson,” said Kevin Kay, President, Spike TV. “We look forward to broadcast the PBC series again in 2017, for more hard-hitting action that fits in with our highly-successful combat sports lineup that includes Bellator MMA and Bellator Kickboxing.”
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