MMA Pioneer Will Highlight Four-Fight Telecast Immediately Following
SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING Cruiserweight Unification Bout
During Unprecedented Night Of Sports Television on Premium Network
NEW YORK (Feb. 16, 2008) - On Saturday, March 8, SHOWTIME will present an unprecidented night of unarmed combat action with back-to-back sports telecasts featuring boxing and mixed martial arts. The evening begins at 9 p.m. ET/PT with live world championship boxing followed by an explosive MMA event from global partner EliteXC. Both exciting events will take place in London and air back-to-back on SHOWTIME.
Widely recognized as the leader in premium sports television, SHOWTIME made history on Feb. 10, 2007, when it became the first premium network to televise mixed martial arts (MMA). Now, fans will witness the classic power of boxing followed by the fresh, raw excitement of mixed martial arts-two major events on one special night.
"I have always believed that boxing and MMA are the perfect complement to one another," said Ken Hershman, the Showtime executive behind MMA's move to premium television. "We have seen strong crossover appeal to the core demographic for both boxing and MMA. March 8 is the prefect way to build on that success."
Talk about a one-two punch! At 9 p.m. ET/PT, live from the O2 Arena (delayed on the West Coast), SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING will present WBO cruiserweight world champion Enzo Maccarinelli against fellow world champion David Haye (WBA and WBC) in a highly anticipated unification bout between the British compatriots. It's an important night for the division and, with an expected live crowd of 20,000, a fight fan's dream match-up of offensive-minded brawling Brits.
In the second-half of the televised twinbill, legendary Ken "The World's Most Dangerous Man" Shamrock returns to the cage to face Britain's Robert "Buzz" Berry in the main event of EliteXC Presents: Cage Rage 25 at Wembley Arena. The EliteXC telecast will air on a same-day delay immediately following the boxing telecast.
Shamrock <http://kenshamrock.proelite.com/> , one of the true MMA legends, is looking forward to displaying his skills on SHOWTIME.
"I'm totally committed to getting back into the cage injury free and anxious about fighting in England and on SHOWTIME for the first time," Shamrock said. "Fight fans in England are a special breed and they are going to be treated to a very special show. Give me a fight or two and I will be ready to fight anybody."
Shamrock, one of the most popular heavyweights on the planet, has defeated the likes of such MMA greats as Bas Rutten <http://basrutten.proelite.com/> , Maurice
Smith <http://mauricesmith.proelite.com/> , Dan "The Beast" Severn and Kimo.
An exciting night of EliteXC fights will include a featherweight title clash between Jean Silva and Masakazu Imanari, UK heavyweight contender Gary Turner versus Mustapha Alturk and Pierre Guillet against Tom "Kong" Watson in a middleweight match.
In a non-televised fight March 8, Shamrock's son, Ryan, will take on
Giorgio Andrews.
"It is very exciting for both Ryan and me," the older Shamrock said. "We will be making MMA history by being the first father and son to ever fight on the same card. This is a great opportunity we are getting with EliteXC and SHOWTIME.''
For more information on this event, EliteXC and other MMA-related
stories, including bios, video-on-demand, photos, stats, Fantasy Fight
Game TM and more, please visit ProElite.com and EliteXC.com
For more information on SHOWTIME Sports, including exclusive
behind-the-scenes video, photo galleries and complete telecast
information, please visit our website http://www.SHO.com/Sports.
