U.S. TV deal in place as Joshua-Klitschko to be biggest match in British boxing history
By Peter Kahn
U.S. TV deal finalized as record-breaking heavyweight championship bout between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko is set to take place on April 29 at Wembley Stadium in London
Anthony Joshua (18-0, 18 KOs) will be facing Wladimir Klitschko (64-4, 53 KOs) for the IBF, WBA and IBO heavyweight belts at Wembley Stadium on April 29.
With 90,000 seats already sold, the event is the biggest boxing match in British boxing history surpassing the super middleweight title match between Carl Froch and George Groves on May 31, 2014, at the same venue.
This will rank second in all-time attendance to Julio Cesar Chavez’s junior welterweight title defense against Greg Haugen at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City in 1993 when132,274 watched as Chavez stopped Haugen in the fifth round.
The much-anticipated bout has been without a U.S. TV broadcast deal until today. Showtime announced it has secured the U.S. TV rights to the broadcast.
“We are thrilled to be delivering Joshua vs. Klitschko to the U.S. audience live on SHOWTIME,” said Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, SHOWTIME Sports. “On the afternoon of April 29, U.S. sports fans will be able to tune in to SHOWTIME to join a record-breaking crowd of 90,000 at Wembley Stadium and a worldwide television audience in witnessing an event that represents not only the contesting of the heavyweight world championship, but potentially the changing of the guard in the most influential division in boxing. We are proud to be Anthony Joshua’s exclusive U.S. television partner as he attempts to establish his legacy against the legendary Wladimir Klitschko, live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, as Showtime continues its unrivaled commitment to the sport.”
The promoter of the event Eddie Hearn, Managing Director of Matchroom Sport was a guest on “The Fight Guys” national radio broadcast last week where he elaborated on the event. He discussed secondary market ticket sales, how hard Showtime and HBO had been working for a solution to the U.S. TV rights deal and his view that it’s a 50-50 matchup.
“I’m delighted to announce this historic deal that will see Britain’s biggest ever fight shown on both HBO and SHOWTIME in the U.S.,” said Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport. “It takes a special fight to break down barriers and boundaries but also networks and executives who believe in working with the best interest of fight fans in mind. With the obstacles in place it would have been any easy resolution to not air the fight in the States but I want to thank HBO and Showtime for their perseverance and allowing America to see one hell of a fight at our national stadium in front on 90,000 passionate fans. Joshua vs. Klitschko is a fight for the ages and we look forward to the show!”
Showtime’s broadcast is scheduled to start at 4:15 p.m. ET and 1:15 p.m. PT on April 29. HBO’s re-broadcast will begin at 10:45 p.m. ET/PT. Sky Sports Box Office will air Joshua-Klitschko live on pay-per-view in the United Kingdom.
“I’m extremely happy and thankful that our respective U.S. TV partners Showtime and HBO reached an agreement,” said Bernd Boente, Managing Director of Klitschko Management Group. “This happened before in the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao and the Lewis vs. Tyson fights and shows you the magnitude of our event at Wembley Stadium on April 29.”
Said Peter Nelson, executive vice president, HBO Sports: “Both promoters and both networks have found a solution that enables boxing fans in the U.S. to watch the world heavyweight championship. This agreement ensures that our subscribers have access to same-day primetime coverage of the fight. It will mark Wladimir Klitschko’s 22nd appearance on HBO and the first for Anthony Joshua.”