HBO’s Emmy-Award®-winning reality series “24/7” is coming to CNN, which will air replays of the all-new four-part series 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ, beginning with the dramatic episode #1 Friday, Sept. 2 at midnight ET/PT. The CNN replays were slated to begin on Aug. 27 but had to be pre-empted due to live coverage of Hurricane Irene.
In the lead-up to the blockbuster HBO Pay-Per-View® telecast on September 17 in Las Vegas when Floyd Mayweather and Victor Ortiz battle for Ortiz’s world welterweight title, CNN will present all four episodes of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ, the all-access, behind-the-scenes pass that allows viewers to step into the lives of the fighters before they step into the ring. Mayweather lives and trains in Las Vegas, NV, while Ortiz is based in his hometown of Ventura, CA.
Episode one will air on CNN this Friday, September 2 at midnight ET/PT, immediately following the half-hour episode will be a special play of the HBO interview program “Face Off With Max Kellerman: Mayweather-Ortiz.” The two fighters square off to answer Kellerman’s probing questions and get to deliver a message to each other and their fans. On Saturday, September 3 at midnight ET/PT, CNN will air an encore play of episode #1 24/7 and follow it immediately with the presentation of episode #2 24/7. Finally, episodes three and four will air back-to-back on CNN on Friday, September 16 at midnight ET/PT, less than 24 hours before the mega-fight in Las Vegas.
In the past four years, HBO’s 24/7 franchise has earned 14 Sports Emmys® for production excellence, making it the most honored sports series on television since its inception. Narrated by Liev Schreiber, the fast-moving, documentary-styled production focuses on the training, commitment and sacrifices that prizefighters make in order to realize their dreams. The turnaround time is among the quickest in television as the series follows the fighters and their teams both at camp and at home as excitement and anxiety builds for the big fight.
CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner Company, is the most rusted source for news and information. Its reach extends to nine cable and satellite television networks; one private place-based network; two radio networks; wireless devices around the world; CNN Digital Network, the No. 1 network of news Web sites in the United States; CNN Newsource, the world’s most extensively-syndicated news service; and strategic international partnerships within both television and the digital media.
24/7 Mayweather/Ortiz episode #2 Saturday Night on HBO
24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ
SEPT. 3 EPISODE
Episode # 2
Debut: SATURDAY, SEPT. 3 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT)
Other HBO playdates: Sept. 3 (12:30 a.m.), 4 (8:30 a.m.), 5 (7:30 p.m., 1:00 a.m.), 6 (10:00 p.m.), 7 (11:00 a.m., 11:30 p.m.), 8 (4:00 p.m.), 9 (midnight), 10 (11:00 a.m.), 16 (8:00 p.m.) and 17 (8:30 a.m.)
HBO2 playdates: Sept. 4 (11:55 p.m.), 9 (8:30 p.m.) and 16 (12:30 a.m.)
HBO On Demand availability begins: Sept. 5
As training camp activities heat up, both fighters find time to alter the routine as Floyd goes car shopping and Victor heads to the CNN studios for his prime-time interview with Piers Morgan.
Episode three of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ debuts Saturday, Sept. 10 (10:00-10:30 p.m.) and the finale debuts Friday, Sept. 16 (9:00-9:30 p.m.), the night before the super showdown. All four episodes will have multiple replay dates on HBO, and the series will also be available on HBO On Demand® and HBO GO®. Episode one is currently available on HBO On Demand and HBO GO.
“Mayweather vs. Ortiz” takes place Saturday, Sept. 17 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® beginning at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT).
The executive producer of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ is Rick Bernstein; senior producer, Dave Harmon; coordinating producers, Scott Boggins and Bentley Weiner; producer, Gabriel Spitzer; writer, Aaron Cohen. Liev Schreiber narrates.
Keenan Collins FACT SHEET FOR HIS SEPT. 9 FIGHT IN PHILADELPHIA AGAINST Gabriel Rosado
• 34 years old (Nov. 8th, 1976)
•Born in Brooklyn, NY & moved to the York Pa when he was 5 and was a star basketball player when he got to High School and had a basketball scholarship to attend NC. Keenan went to jail in 1995 for aggravated assault and once he was released he moved to Reading at the age of 22 and started boxing at King’s Gym and compiled an amateur record of 22-5 with a win over hot prospect Mike Jones as an amateur.
•13-6, 9 KOs; Just lost a 12rd. decision to World rated Charles Whittaker in the Cayman Islands but made it such a great fight that his ranking had gone up in the USBA to #13.
•Turned pro in 2004 at age 26 but first went to a gym at age 22, although he started boxing just to get in shape for Semi Pro Basketball at the age of 22 he instantly fell in love with the sport.
•Upcoming fight: September 9 vs. Gabriel Rosado (17-5 10 KOs) at Asylum Arena, 7 West Ritner Street (South Philadelphia). Tickets are priced at $45 and $65 and can be purchased by calling Peltz Boxing (215-765-0922) or going online at www.peltzboxing.com. College students can purchase tickets at the door for $15 with their student ID card.
•Trainer: Marshall Kauffman of Reading Pa, who has been Keenan’s trainer along with Jason Kauffman as an amateur and pro: “Keenan’s has had some bumps in the road but he has the potential to really make a name for himself if he would just bring all of his tools to work with him on Sept. 9th. He has great power and fast feet. Kauffman on Rosado: “He is a Philly fighter, which means when fighting a Philly fighter you must always be ready. Rosado is a banger who has the ability to box but chooses to bang.”
•Managed By: Marshall Kauffman, who also manages & trains Heavyweight prospect Travis Kauffman and was responsible for taking Kermit Cintron to the top. Kauffman on Collins: “Keenan loves to fight and has never turned down a fight. Keenan wants the opportunity to fight the best in the world, but he knows that he must first get past Rosado.
•Promoted By: King’s Promotions, “Keenan is a very hard worker and lives a very clean life and iss dedicated to the sport of boxing and his family. Keenan has the size and the right hand to really make some noise in the Middleweight division, but even though he is 34 yrs. of age he is like a 25yr. old that is still learning and continues to get better with time.
•Biggest Win: (Life) Surviving the negativity of Jail, but going on to have a great job and changing his life around!
Next win will be bringing home the State Championship against Rosado in his hometown of Philly.
He just went over to the Cayman Islands and dropped Whittaker and lost a close fight, but he knows he cannot let this one get away. 12rds. He knows that Rosado is young and continues to get better but he also knows that when the lights go on that he must not allow this opportunity to pass him by.
•Favorite fighters as a teenager: Roy Jones, Mike Tyson
•Favorite Current Fighter: Floyd Mayweather Jr.; “I’m impressed watching him fight as he does it with such a sense of confidence and ease. I’ve been a sparring partner for Miguel Cotto for 2 of his fights as well as Antonio Margarita & James Kirkland.
•Collins Large Family: 6 Children
Grandmother Deceased 2003
•Mother Deceased 2001
•Father Deceased 1998
• Has a brother that won’t miss a fight and is his biggest fan. 10 uncles and aunts, numerous cousins