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05/12/2004 Archived Entry: "NBC Budweiser Series Concludes on Saturday"
NBC Budweiser Series Concludes on Saturday
Fight Card to Serve as Lead-In for NBC Broadcast of the 129th Annual Preakness
Season two of NBC’s successful “Budweiser Boxing Series” concludes on Saturday, May 15 at the DePaul Athletic Center in Chicago, IL, it was announced today by Main Events CEO Kathy Duva. The broadcast will air from 3:30-5 PM ET and will serve as the lead-in for the second leg of horse racing’s 2004 Triple Crown: the 129th annual “Preakness”. Undefeated heavyweight Calvin Brock (20-0, 18 KO’s) will headline the NBC “Budweiser Boxing Series” broadcast when he challenges fellow undefeated heavyweight Terry Smith (20-0-1, 15 KO’s) in a 10 round bout. Undefeated middleweights Sergio Mora (11-0, 3 KO’s) and Les Ralston (13-0, 8 KO’s) battle in the eight round co-feature bout.
From 2:30-3:30 pm ET Telemundo will air a 10 round jr. welterweight bout between undefeated David Diaz (23-0, 12 KO’s) and Ener Julio (23-6-1, 17 KO’s).
Brock (20-0, 18 KO’s) was the United States super-heavyweight representative at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. The 29-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina native has knocked out every opponent he has faced as a pro except one. (He twice decisioned Antonio Colbert). Brock has knocked out his last 10 opponents. In 1998, Brock defeated Terry Smith in a National Golden Gloves tournament.
Smith (20-0-1, 15 KO’s) has knocked out six opponents in the first round. The 32-year-old Little Rock, AR native took the bout on two weeks notice after both Sergei Lyakhovich and Duncan Dokiwari withdrew from the contest. In 2003, Smith spent eight weeks in camp with world champion James Toney to help Toney prepare for his Oct 4, 2003, bout against former undisputed world heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield. Smith has won his last two bouts by knockout.
Mora (11-0, 3 KO’s) reached the Champions’ Bracket Finals of the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials, where he lost a decision to eventual U.S. Olympic Silver Medalist Jermain Taylor. The 24-year-old Los Angeles, CA native plans to enter NBC’s highly-anticipated reality series, “The Contender”. Mora prepared for his last two bouts by sparring with two-time world champion Fernando Vargas, and is preparing for his May 15 bout by sparring with WBC/WBA top-10 ranked middleweight contender Ikeke Kingsley.
Ralston (13-0, 8 KO’s) is a five-time New York State Golden Gloves Champion. The 23-year-old Buffalo, NY native sparred with former world champion Hector Camacho when Camacho was preparing for his mega-bout against Oscar de la Hoya in September 1997. Ralston was only 16 years old at the time. His trainer/father, Jimmy Ralston, was a former top-10 world light heavyweight contender. In his last bout on July 31, 2003, Ralston decisioned Robert Muhammad (W 6).
Diaz (23-0, 12 KO’s) represented the U.S. Olympic Team in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. The 27-year-old Chicago, IL native defeated former world champion Zab Judah to earn the spot on the Olympic Team. Diaz reached the second round of the Olympic tournament, losing a decision to eventual Silver Medalist Oktay Urkal. Since turning pro in November 1996, Diaz has stopped six opponents within the first three rounds. On September 13, 2003, Diaz defeated Jauquin Gallardo in an eight round co-feature bout that was broadcasted on NBC (W 8).
Julio (23-6-1, 17 KO’s) is the former WBO jr. welterweight champion. The 30-year-old Barranquilla, Colombia native has fought several recognizable opponents, such as DeMarcus “Chop-Chop” Corley, Hercules Kyvelos, and Randall Bailey. Julio defeated Bailey on July 22, 2000, to win the WBO crown (W 12).
On five, straight Saturday afternoons - April 17 & 23, May 1, 8 & 15 - NBC and Telemundo will provide live coverage from the same Main Events-promoted boxing event. NBC-owned Telemundo -- the country's fastest-growing U.S.Spanish-language network -- will air a live, one-hour, fight broadcast in Spanish. NBC Sports, which returned to pro boxing last spring after an 11-year hiatus, will immediately follow the Telemundo show with a 90-minute broadcast from the same location & Main Events fight card.
The “Budweiser Boxing Series” is an innovative joint venture between NBC Sports, Telemundo and boxing promotional group Main Events. The agreement calls for live, boxing broadcasts on NBC and Telemundo, as well as a revenue-sharing business relationship that includes integrated advertising and sponsorships.
Budweiser is the series lead sponsor for both NBC and Telemundo.
Replies: 2 Comments on this article
Miguel Hernandez, David Diaz, Luciano Perez...all the Chicago fighters kicked ass!
GO CHICAGO!
Posted by Great fights! @ 05/15/2004 08:44 PM EST
Great event for chicago. Looking forward to the Diaz fight.
Posted by Diaz fan @ 05/14/2004 03:23 PM EST
