ESPN Friday Night Fights Returns January 3 with World Title Showdown:
ESPN Friday Night Fights will return for its 17th season Friday, Jan. 3, at 9 p.m. with a 12-round IBF title bout between Junior Lightweight titlist Argenis Méndez (21-2-1, 11 KOs) and undefeated Rances Barthelemy (19-0, 12 KOs).
The 10-round co-feature will pit up and coming Middleweight contender Caleb Truax (23-1, 4 KOs) against Ossie Duran (27-11-2, 10 KOs).
Blow-by-blow commentator Joe Tessitore and ringside analyst Teddy Atlas will return to describe the action for ESPN2. Studio host Todd Grisham, who will fill-in ringside for Tessitore during the season opener, will return for his second season providing all the latest boxing news and highlights.
Delvin Rodríguez will call the fights with Pablo Viruega for Noche de Combates (Fight Night) on both ESPN Deportes and ESPN Deportes+, while Leopoldo González and Claudia Trejos will anchor the studio.
Hall of Fame referee Joe Cortez will join Trejos and González in studio throughout the season. Bilingual reporter Bernardo Osuna, who last year became the series’ first-ever on-site reporter, will contribute to Friday Night Fights in English, and Noche de Combates in Spanish.
| Date | Time (ET) | Main Event | Networks |
| Fri, Jan 3 | 9 p.m. | Argenis Méndez (21-2-1, 11 KOs) vs. Rances Barthelemy (19-0, 12 KOs) 12-rounds, IBF Junior Lightweight Title |
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes+,
WatchESPN |
| Fri, Jan 10 | 9 p.m. | Arash Usmanee (20-1-1, 10 KOs) vs. Juan Antonio Rodríguez (25-4, 23 KOs) 10-rounds, Junior Lightweights |
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes+, WatchESPN |
| Fri, Jan 24 | 9 p.m. | Javier Molina (14-1, 6 KOs) vs. Kendall Holt (28-6, 16 KOs) 10-rounds, Junior Welterweights |
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes+, WatchESPN |
| Fri, Jan 31 | 9 p.m. | Zsolt Erdei (33-1, 18 KOs) vs. Elvir Muriqi (40-5, 24 KOs) 10-rounds, Light Heavyweights |
ESPN2, ESPN Deportes+, WatchESPN |
