Showtime Sports this Saturday will stream live boxing matches on social media site Facebook as part of its live boxing telecast, the network said Thursday.
Showtime’s first ever Facebook Live fights will feature two undercard bouts from its live doubleheader boxing telecast including a junior welterweight title eliminator fight between Sesrgey Lipinets and Lenny Zappavinga and a middleweight bout between Erikson Lubin and Juan Ubaldo Cabrera, said network officials.
The live Showtime telecast will pit WBA featherweight champion Jesus Cuellar against former champion Abner Mares. A second bout will feature IBF Junior Middleweight World Champion Jermall Charlo taking on top-rated contender Julian “J-Rock” Williams, said the network.
Showtime Sports executive vice president and general manager Stephen Espinoza said the network hopes the Facebook Live undercard fights will drive awareness of the network's live card.
"Also philosophically, as a network practice, this is a smart play for us to extend our reach and ultimately attract subscribers and viewers to boxing’s most important events that will air on the network," Espinoza added. "Over the years, we have used a variety of platforms to attract new viewers—Free Preview Weekends and programming samples in all forms. This is the modernization of that."
