BoxNation’s knockout end of the year is set to pack even more of a punch with the channel adding several big-name fights and stacked events to the lineup, beginning with super-middleweight supremo Andre Ward’s crunch world title clash with undefeated Edwin Rodriguez to its star studded lineup.
The encounter sees the world’s best 168-pounder, Ward, defend his WBA world super-middleweight title on November 16th in Ontario, California against the ferocious 28-year-old from the Dominican Republic, adding yet another mouth-watering matchup on the ‘Channel of Champions’.
Boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao’s ring return against the formidable Brandon Rios in Macao, China on November 23rd and Queensberry’s Copper Box extravaganza on November 30th, featuring heavyweight hitman Dereck Chisora and former world champion Nathan Cleverly, are the other main attractions in a jam-packed November schedule.
And now, with the addition of Ward, regarded as one of the slickest and best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, BoxNation has yet again delivered a fight that will have boxing fans on the edge of their seat.
The bout with the hardened Rodriguez comes after a 14-month layoff for Ward, due to a shoulder injury, having previously worked his way through some of the very best including Chad Dawson, Mikkel Kessler and Britain’s Carl Froch, capturing the WBC, WBA and Ring Magazine world titles along the way.
“I’m excited to get back in the ring on November 16,” stated the champion Ward. “The opponent is Edwin Rodriguez. He’s a young, hungry, undefeated fighter who doesn’t believe he can lose and it’s my job to change his mind. I think he and his team feel like they are going to catch me slipping coming off of surgery and the layoff. I try to live like a champion. I stay in the gym, eat well, and don’t abuse my body and this rest that I got was needed. I don’t feel like the layoff will hurt me, I feel like it will help me. It allowed me to rest mentally and physically, and I want to show the fans on November 16 that I’m better than I was before I left.”
After making a huge statement in his last bout, stopping Denis Grachev in the first round at the ‘Monaco Million Dollar Super Four Tournament’,
Rodriguez believes he has all the tools to cause a big upset. “Vince Lombardi once said, ‘Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man. But sooner or later, the man who wins is the man who thinks he can.’ On November 16th, I know I will win,” said Rodriguez.
Then, in December Golden Boy Promotions’ blockbuster events on Saturday, December 7th and Saturday, December 14th will be shown. Both events will be quadruple-headers featuring six world championship fights including the most exciting and dynamic champions and challengers in the welterweight, light-middleweight and super-bantamweight divisions.
Beginning Dec. 7, the first of consecutive quadruple-headers takes place at Barclays Center in Brooklyn when former five-time, two-division World Champion Zab “Super” Judah (42-8, 29 KO’s) and former two-time, two-division World Champion Paulie “Magic Man” Malignaggi (32-5, 7 KO’s) clash in the main event, a 12-round showdown for Brooklyn bragging rights.
The co-feature will match IBF Welterweight World Champion Devon Alexander “The Great’’ (25-1, 14 KOs), of St. Louis, Mo., against unbeaten Shawn Porter (22-0-1, 14 KOs), of Akron, Ohio. Also on the card will be Erislandy Lara (18-1-2, 12 KO’s) of Houston, Texas against former world champion Austin Trout, of Las Cruces, N.M., for the vacant WBA Super Welterweight Championship. Rounding out the televised card, Sakio “The Scorpion’’ Bika (32-5-2, 21 KO’s) makes the first defense of his WBC Super Middleweight crown against unbeaten Anthony Dirrell (26-0, 22 KO’s), of Flint, Mich.
Earlier that evening BoxNation will televise live from the Liverpool Echo Arena a huge fight card featuring brothers Paul and Liam Smith defending their British titles, plus super-flyweight sensation Paul Butler and all-action lightweight Derry Mathews.
Then, on Dec. 14 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, the super-talented WBA Welterweight World Champion Adrien “The Problem” Broner (27-0, 22 KO’s), of Cincinnati, will make the first defense of his title when he meets the toughest opponent of his career, the dangerous, hard-hitting Marcos “El Chino” Maidana (34-3, 31 KO’s), of Santa Fe, Argentina in the main event.
Broner will be making his first start since capturing the 147-pound belt with a hard-fought 12-round split decision over defending champion Malignaggi. He made history when he became the fourth fighter to jump two weight classes and win a welterweight world championship, joining Hall of Famers Henry “Homicide Hank” Armstrong, Roberto “Mano de Piedra” Duran and future candidate “Sugar” Shane Mosley.
Maidana has won three fights in a row, including a smashing sixth-round technical knockout over Josesito Lopez in scintillating slugfest and Fight of the Year candidate last June 8.
In 12-rounders underneath Broner-Maidana, undefeated Keith “One Time” Thurman (21-0, 19 KO’s), of Clearwater, Fla., gets tested when he defends his WBA Interim Welterweight World title against tough-as-nails Jesus “Renuente” Soto Karass (32-12-4, 19 KO’s), of Mexico City, Mexico, who owns back-to-back impressive victories over world-ranked Selcuk Aydin and Andre Berto. And recently crowned WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Leo “Terremoto” Santa Cruz (25-0-1, 15 KO’s) of Los Angeles, Calif. will make his first defense against Cesar Seda (25-1, 17 KO’s) of San Juan, Puerto Rico. The card will also feature, in separate bouts, former WBC Welterweight Champion Victor Ortiz (29-4-2, 22 KO’s) against an opponent to be determined and Light Heavyweight Champion Beibut Shumenov (13-1, 8 KO’s) against Tamas Kovacs (23-0, 14 KO’s) of Slovakia.
Earlier that night LIVE from Germany, BoxNation will show Juergen Braehmer’s challenge for the Vacant WBA World Light-Heavyweight title against Marcus Oliveira plus an action-packed undercard.
Jim McMunn, General Manager of BoxNation, said: “It’s great that we continue to deliver the biggest and best boxing shows live and exclusive on BoxNation. The aim of the channel from the outset was to make sure British fights fans had access to the best fights from all over the world at the very best possible value. We are delighted that we have been able to add yet another great fight to our packed November schedule, this time featuring arguably the second best pound-for-pound fighter in the world in Andre Ward. With a host of names including Manny Pacquiao, Brandon Rios, Dereck Chisora, Nathan Cleverly, and many more also featuring, Christmas has come early for all boxing lovers.”
