Showtime and Premier Boxing Champions announced their spring and summer fixtures today.
It features nine events spread over five months, including two title-matching events and 21 undefeated fighters.
Here are nine cards:
Tim Tszyu and Terrell Gausha
Date: March 26 / Minneapolis
Assignment: Young middle class
Under threat: No main title
Story: Tszyu, son of Hall of Famer Kostya Tszyu, will make his U.S. debut against the 2012 U.S. Olympian in a matchup against the junior middleweight contenders. Tszyu (20-0, 15 KOs) is on the verge of becoming a star. Gausha (22-2-1, 11 KOs), who lost his biggest skirmish, is in a survival situation.
Also fighting: Michel Rivera and Joseph Adorno, lightweight; Elvis Rodriguez vs. Juan Jose Velasco, smaller weight class (142 pounds).
Erickson Lubin and Sebastian Fundora
Date/place: April 9 / Las Vegas
Assignment: Young middle class
Under threat: No main title
Story: Lubin (24-1, 17 KOs) is back in the spotlight having won six in a row since he was stopped by Jermell Charlo in 2017. Fundora (18-0-1, 12 KOs), 6 feet -6 154 -pounder loves to fight inside, facing his biggest challenge in this war. The winner will fight for the next title.
Also fighting: Tony Harrison vs. Sergio Garcia, middleweight; Kevin Salgado vs Bryant Perrella, the lower middleweights.
Errol Spence Jr. and Yordenis Ugas
Date/place: April 16 / Arlington, Texas
Under threat: Spence’s IBF and WBC titles, and Ugas’ WBA titles
Story: This match unifies three of the four main titles worth £147. Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) returned from his car accident to overtake Danny Garcia in December 2020 only to subsequently have a retinal detachment. He says now he is 100%. Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) retired Manny Pacquiao by decision last August.
Also fighting: Radzhab Butaev vs. Eimantas Stanionis, welding weight class; Brandun Lee vs. Zachary Ochoa, the underdogs.
Jermell Charlo and Brian Castano II
Date/place: May 14 / Los Angeles
Assignment: Young middle class
Under threat: Charlo’s IBF, WBA and WBC titles, and Castano’s WBO
Story: Charlo (34-1-1, 18 KOs) and Castano (17-0-2, 12 KOs) will attend unfinished business after battling it out with a morale draw this past July in San Francisco. Antonio. Most observers consider this to be a 50-50 showdown between the two best 154-pounders, which is appropriate since it is the undisputed championship.
Also fighting: Jaron Ennis vs. Custio Clayton, bronze heavyweight.
David Benavidez vs David Lemieux
Date/place: May 21 / Phoenix
Assignment: Super middleweight
Under threat: No main title
Story: Benavidez (25-0, 22 KOs), a two-time champion, will be a significant favorite in a battle between two of the biggest boxers in the sport. They have a total of 58 kills in 68 wins. Lemieux (43-4, 36 KOs) will fight to become an elite fighter.
Also fighting: Yoelvis Gomez vs. Jorge Cota, young middleweight.
Gervonta Davis vs. Rolando Romero
Date/place: May 28 / Brooklyn, New York
Assignment: Light
Under threat: No main title
Story: Davis (26-0, 24 KOs) was said to have fought Romero (14-0, 12 KOs) last December but was carded for sexual assault allegations, which he ultimately did not charged. Davis survived a bout of dread during a tight decision about Romero’s replacement as Isaac Cruz. Romero KO’d Anthony Yigit in July.
Stephen Fulton Jr. and Danny Roman
Date/place:
Assignment: Junior light
Under threat: Fulton’s WBC and WBO titles
Story: This is the union of two excellent technicians. Fulton (20-0.8 KO) makes a majority decision on beater Brandon Figueroa in November. Roman (29-3-1, 10 KOs) has recovered from a contentious decisive loss to his owner. Murodjon Akhmadalive by eliminating Juan Carlos Payano and Ricardo Espinoza Franco.
Also fighting: David Morrell vs. Kalvin Henderson, the super middleweights.
Jermall Charlo vs. Maciej Sulecki
Date/place: June 18 / Houston
Assignment: Medium
Under threat: Charlo .’s WBC title
Story: Charlo (32-0, 22 KOs) was in talks to face Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia but neither came to fruition, leaving him with Sulecki (30-2, 11 KOs). Charlo is close to a decisive unanimous victory over Juan Macias Montiel in June. Sulecki, a Pole, has won twice since he was shut down by Demetrius Andrade in 2019.
Mark Magsayo vs. Rey Vargas
Date/place: July 9 / San Antonio
Assignment: Feather class
Under threat: Magsayo’s WBC title
Story: Magsayo (24-0, 16 KOs) won the title by defeating longtime champion Gary Russell Jr by majority decision in January. Vargas (35-0.22 KOs) is a former junior featherweight champion who will fight for his first 126-pound title.
