Spike TV To Offer Monthly Boxing Series

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Spike TV will step into the boxing ring with a new fight series set to debut in March, the network said Friday.

Spike will team with boxing promoter Al Haymon to air monthly fight cards under the Premier Boxing Champions moniker beginning March 13, said network officials. The first event will include a doubleheader fight card featuring the Andre Berto-Josesito Lopez and Shawn Porter-Roberto Garcia bouts.

Spike, which currently offers Bellator mixed martial arts events, will also develop monthly shoulder programming for each fight card, said the network.

The multi-year deal is the second in as many weeks for Haymon, who represents one of the largest stables of professional fighters. The promoter and NBC will distribute several fight cards in 2015 on both the broadcast network and cable's NBC Sports Network. 

“We share the vision of the Premier Boxing Champions series to put the fighters first,” said Kevin Kay, President, Spike TV. “The fighters are the stars, and we will give them a platform to demonstrate why they are among greatest and most exciting athletes in the world.”

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.