22.12.04 – Highlights from the best and most memorable fights of the year will be shown when SHOWTIME presents “SHOWTIME BOXING: Best Of 2004” on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005, at 10 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast). The informative, fast-paced, entertaining 30-minute telecast will be co-hosted by SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’S Steve Albert and Nick Charles of “ShoBox: The New Generation.” Joining the SHOWTIME blow-by-blow commentators will be their ringside analysts Al Bernstein and Steve Farhood.
The show focuses on the exciting events that transpired in the ring during the 12 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts and the 18 fight cards on “Shobox: The New Generation” in 2004. Classic, crowd-pleasing confrontations scheduled to be highlighted include: Kostya Tszyu vs. Sharmba Mitchell, Mike Tyson vs. Danny Williams, Syd Vanderpool vs. Jeff Lacy, Diego Corrales vs. Joel Casamayor, Diego Corrales vs. Acelino Freitas, Mike Arnaoutis vs. Juan Urango, Roberto Guerrero vs. Enrique Sanchez and Ben Dunne vs. Adrian Valdez.
Besides highlights, our talent will list the top five knockouts, recap memorable moments and discuss a myriad of subjects including the top fighters and prospects of 2004, best and worst strategies and a look back at Mike Tyson’s return to the ring.
In 2004, SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING unveiled its popular schedule of televising real fights for real fight fans the first Saturday of every month. Since March 15, 1986, there have been 212 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts encompassing 450 fights. There have been 294 world title bouts and a new champion crowned on 96 occasions.
During the past 18 years, SHOWTIME has provided viewers with quality, competitive prizefights, whose surprising outcomes have unveiled new champions, affected entire careers and gained SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING the distinction of not only presenting the most important matchups, but the most unexpected results.
A total of 216 boxers have performed on the 54 “ShoBox” telecasts. The well-received “ShoBox” series, which will begin its fifth season in 2005, features up-and-coming prospects determined to make a mark and eventually fight for a chance at a world title. It is pure, basic boxing, reminiscent of the golden days of the sport.
The Senior Creative Director of “The Best Of Show’’ is Earl Fash. Jody Heaps is the Executive Producer and Jim Twohie is the Sr. Writer/producer. For information on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and “ShoBox: The New Generation” telecasts, including fighter bios and records, related stories and more, please go to the SHOWTIME website at http:www.sho.com/boxing.