ESPN will jump into the pay-per-view-boxing ring with its first PPV-fight card, scheduled for April 23, the network announced Tuesday.
The four-bout card -- which will retail at a unusually low suggested price of $29.95 -- will feature several current and former champions, including former three-time champion Shane Mosley, according to ESPN senior vice president of broadband and interactive sales Matt Murphy.
The Main Events Inc.-promoted event is the first of two ESPN-distributed PPV-fight cards the network will offer this year.
Murphy would not project a buy-rate for the event, but he said the quality of the fights, as well as the low price point, should bode well for PPV sales. The network will boost awareness for the event with a major marketing push on its various cable and broadband outlets.
“The combination of quality and great value in that price will drive the success of this event,” Murphy said.
Mosley will fight David Estrada in a welterweight bout, while Jameel McCline will battle Calvin Brock in a heavyweight event. As for the championship bouts, World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Antonio Margarito will defend his title against Kermit Cintron and World Boxing Association lightweight champion Juan Diaz will fight top contender Ebo Elder.
