04.04.06 – The list of fighters who have showcased their talents on SHOWTIME reads like a Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, Julio Cesar Chavez, Felix Trinidad, Kostya Tszyu, Thomas Hearns, Johnny Tapia, Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe and “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler are only a select few of the legendary boxers who have thrilled millions of viewers since SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING’s initial telecast in March 1986..
Who can forget the rivalries – Tyson-Holyfield, Diego Corrales-Jose Luis Castillo, Johnny Tapia-Paulie Ayala or Julio Cesar Chavez-Frankie Randall? Riveting? Yes! Exciting? Yes! All on SHOWTIME? Yes!
Over the course of 20-plus years and more than 450 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING bouts, the debate remains about who is the greatest to have fought on the network, and what are the most memorable SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING events and accomplishments.
Beginning with SHOWTIME’s broadcast of the WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP fight between World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion Lamon Brewster and Sergei Liakhovich on April 1, 2006, fight fans will have the chance to choose their favorite fighters and moments in SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING history when America’s No. 1 Boxing Network kicks off its online voting poll.
The voting will begin when SHOWTIME’s Steve Albert and Al Bernstein reveal the first category – Best KO Artist – and show highlights of the six nominees during the April 1 broadcast. Fans will be invited to visit SHO.com (http://www.sho.com/site/boxing/anniversary.do) to view highlights of each nominee and place their votes all month long. In the following month’s telecast, SHOWTIME will present the winner of Best KO Artist and introduce the nominees for the next category – Best Rivalries. One category and six nominees will be announced each month, with video highlights supporting each nominee, both in the telecast and online.
“For the past 20 years, SHOWTIME boxing has been the home of champions, legends and unforgettable moments,” said Showtime Sports & Event Programming General Manager Ken Hershman. “We would like to celebrate this monumental anniversary by allowing our fans to decide the greatest fighters and moments in our illustrious history.”
The list of categories in order of presentation are:
Best KO Artists
Best Rivalries
Best Comeback
Most Memorable Event
Best Upset
Best Fighter
Best Fight
And the winner is …. Stay tuned!
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING was born when Hagler defeated Mugabi in a spectacular and unforgettable 11th-round knockout in March 1986. Since that time, the network has aired some of the most historic and significant events in the sport, including both Holyfield-Tyson bouts.
Always at the forefront of boxing, SHOWTIME has set itself apart by telecasting “great fights, no rights” on the first Saturday of every month. SHOWTIME is the first network to regularly deliver live boxing in High Definition. In addition, SHOWTIME continues to be a pioneer in sports television with a number of interactive features across multiple platforms making SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecasts the most enjoyable, immersive viewing experience for the boxing audience.
For information on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING and “ShoBox: The New Generation” telecasts, including complete fighter bios and records, related stories and more, please go the SHOWTIME website at http://www.sho.com/boxing.