Live boxing is coming back to U.S. television this weekend.
It was announced that ESPN Knockout is going to be broadcasting a live boxing card from the Alexis Argüello Sports Center in Managua, Nicaragua. For those in the United States, ESPN Deportes, the network?s Spanish-language channel in the U.S., will also air the four-fight telecast starting at 11 p.m. ET.
The card will be headlined by a rematch between Ramiro Blanco and Robin Zamora in an eight-round bout. The two faced off against each other back in October where Blanco emerged victorious with a second-round TKO victory. Below are the fights that will air on ESPN Deportes:
- Ramiro Blanco vs. Robin Zamora 2
- Freddy Fonseca vs. Alain Aguilar
- Gabriel Escalante vs. Mario Mairena
- Eliezer Gauto vs. Byron Castellon
Former world champion Rosendo "Bufalo" Alvarez, who is promoting the card for Bufalo Boxing Promotions, said extra precautions are being made for the event with fans being separated by at least one meter.
"As an extra precaution, we are going to ask fans to not sit together, that they keep one meter of distance between them. And the commissioners, the doctors, the trainers are obviously going to have to wear masks, latex gloves. We have been lucky that the cases we have had have been few, and we all need to work, so we are making this effort. As a promoter of boxing, we have the responsibility to provide all the fans who go to the event with the necessary conditions for their safety. We will measure the temperature of the participants, commissioners and fans; there will be alcohol in gel, soap, water -- the facilities are suitable for this event, and we will prioritize the safety and health of all," Alvarez told ESPN.
The country of Nicaragua has been largely unaffected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, with the country only having 10 confirmed cases with only two deaths.
Elsewhere, the sport of boxing has remained closed for the most part with major boxing entities calling off shows in March, April and May. The next boxing card by a major promotional company on the schedule is a Matchroom Boxing card in Newcastle on June 27, followed by Matchroom shows on July 4 and July 11 with a Queensberry Promotions card also taking place on July 11.
As far as U.S. boxing entities are concerned, Top Rank, PBC and Golden Boy Promotions currently do not have fight cards lined up at the moment.