Showtime and Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions have worked together since PBC launched in 2015, but on Thursday they formalized their relationship, announcing a three-year deal that will extend their partnership through 2021.
They said the deal “calls for a monthly series of events presented by Premier Boxing Champions to air live on Showtime, ensuring the network’s access to the deepest talent pool in boxing and its continued ability to deliver the industry’s leading programming.”
In essence, the deal is a continuation of what they have presented together for the past few years.
Though light on details, Stephen Espinoza, the president of Showtime Sports, said the agreement also calls for PBC “to deliver content for a significant expansion of live boxing programming from Showtime Sports coming in 2019,” which is when the agreement kicks in.
“Building off our industry-leading live event schedule, this long-term deal with Premier Boxing Champions ensures that Showtime will remain the No. 1 destination for the world’s greatest fighters and their passionate and diverse fans,” Espinoza said.
Premier Boxing Champions has many of the top fighters in the world fighting under its banner, including heavyweight world titleholder Deontay Wilder, light heavyweight titlist Adonis Stevenson, super middleweight titlist David Benavidez, interim middleweight titlist Jermall Charlo, junior middleweight titlist Jermell Charlo, unified junior middleweight titlist Jarrett Hurd, welterweight titleholders Errol Spence Jr. and Keith Thurman, former welterweight world titleholders Shawn Porter and Danny Garcia (who meet for a vacant belt on Sept. 8 on Showtime), lightweight titlist Mikey Garcia, featherweight titleholders Leo Santa Cruz and Gary Russell Jr. and former featherweight titlist Abner Mares.
“Premier Boxing Champions is pleased to extend our relationship with Showtime and continue our commitment to providing the best boxing events with the biggest stars across the most popular divisions in the sport,” said Tim Smith, the vice president of communications for Haymon Boxing.
The announcement of the formal deal between Showtime and Premier Boxing Champions was made with PBC close to finalizing a rights deal with Fox and Fox Sports 1 for a series of fights as part of a multi-year deal that is in the works, according to multiple sources.
PBC events have been airing on Fox and Fox Sports 1 but as part of a deal under which PBC purchased time on the networks. The deal in the works would see Fox paying a rights fee going forward.