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Press release: Anthony Joshua signs exclusive Showtime deal

Fighters Network
04
May

The following press release was issued by Showtime on Wednesday:

LONDON (May 4, 2016) – Showtime Sports and Matchroom Boxing announced on Wednesday a multi-fight licensing agreement for Showtime Networks Inc., to be the exclusive U.S. television partner of undefeated heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua. The announcement was made today at the Hilton Syon Park outside London by Stephen Espinoza, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Showtime Sports and Eddie Hearn, President of Matchroom Sports.

The multi-fight agreement kicks off on Saturday, June 25, when Joshua, a British sensation, attempts to make the first defense of his IBF heavyweight world championship against undefeated American challenger Dominic Breazeale at the sold-out O2 arena in London. The addition of this heavyweight title fight, airing live on Showtime Networks in the late afternoon, bolsters a big day for boxing as later that evening on CBS, Showtime will present the first live primetime boxing event on the CBS Television Network in nearly 40 years.

Joshua, 26, has compiled a perfect knockout record of 16-0 with 16 knockouts since turning professional shortly after winning the 2012 Olympic Gold Medal. Earlier this year, Joshua earned the IBF world championship with a second-round knockout of defending champion Charles Martin on Showtime, earning a heavyweight belt in the fewest number of fights in more than 20 years. Further, Joshua is just the sixth Olympic gold medalist at super heavyweight to go on to win a professional heavyweight world title, joining Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Lennox Lewis, Wladimir Klitschko and Alexander Povetkin.



The 30-year-old Breazeale (17-0, 15 KOs) has knocked out nearly 90 percent of his opponents since turning professional after representing the United States at the 2012 Olympics. Standing at 6-foot-7, the Los Angeles native is one inch taller than the 6-foot-6 Joshua. The former NCAA football quarterback is coming off a career-best victory of previously once-beaten Amir Mansour on Jan. 23.