FOX SPORTS, WBC INK MULTI-PLATFORM DEAL FOR INAUGURAL "WORLD CUP OF BOXING"
24 INTERNATIONAL FIGHT NIGHTS SCHEDULED ACROSS
FOX SPORTS 1, FOX SPORTS 2 & FOX DEPORTES
Charlotte, NC - FOX Sports and the World Boxing Council (WBC) have reached a multi-platform agreement that brings the recently created, 24-card "WBC World Cup of Professional Boxing" to the FOX Sports family of networks, beginning Friday, October 18.
The deal grants exclusive broadcast rights in the U.S., where fights air on FOX Sports 1, America's new sports network, FOX Sports 2 and FOX Deportes. Exclusive rights also apply in the Caribbean through FOX Sports 2 and FOX Deportes, while non-exclusive rights apply in the Dominican Republic and Cuba.
The unprecedented elimination-style event brings together champions from across ten related intercontinental federations, plus the Silver and International Belts, in four weight classes: Feather, Light, Welter and Heavy. Broken into an Elimination Phase, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Finals, the first 20 broadcasts include two main events and have a two-hour window, while the Finals are scheduled for 90 minutes.
Fight nights take place in the U.S. (10), Mexico (10) and four international venues yet to be determined.
"The WBC closes the celebration of its 50th Anniversary with the introduction of the first WBC World Cup of Professional Boxing," said WBC President José Sulaimán. "The participants are champions from the 10 WBC Continental Federations, representing 165 countries affiliated with the WBC, in four traditional weight divisions. The WBC belt has been worn by the world's greatest boxing champions, and the winner of the World Cup of Boxing will earn a WBC world championship title fight. The WBC is very proud of having FOX Sports as our home for this historic event."
In addition to broadcast rights, the deal also covers broad new media options, including live streaming, On-Demand and highlights/clips via the Internet and mobile on FOXSports.com, FOXSportsGO or any other FOX Sports digital platform.
"This is a great opportunity to partner with the WBC on what we expect will be an incredibly competitive series of events," said Joshua Glassel, FOX Sports VP Programming & Acquisitions. "Some of the best fighters from around the globe fighting their way through a 'World Cup' format certainly has the makings for compelling sports television, and FOX Sports is excited to be a part of this ambitious project from the beginning."
WBC World Cup of Boxing on FOX broadcast schedule (tentatively scheduled for Friday nights; subject to change):
Elimination Phase
· 8 fight nights from Oct. 18, 2013 - Dec. 13, 2013
Quarterfinals
· 8 fight nights from Jan. 10, 2014 - Feb. 28, 2014
Semifinals
· 4 fight nights from March 21, 2014 - April 11, 2014
Finals
· 4 fight nights from May 16, 2014 - June 6, 2014
For more information on Fox Sports visit www.foxsports.com or for further details on the WBC World Cup of Boxing go to www.WBC.com.
About FOX Sports
FOX Sports is the umbrella entity representing 21st Century FOX's wide array of multi-platform US-based sports assets. Built with brands capable of reaching more than 100 million viewers in a single weekend, FOX Sports includes ownership and interests in linear television networks, digital and mobile programming, broadband platforms, multiple web sites, joint-venture businesses and several licensing partnerships. FOX Sports includes the sports television arm of the FOX Broadcasting Company; FOX Sports 1; FOX Sports 2; Fox's 22 regional sports networks, their affiliated regional web sites and FSN national programming; FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Soccer 2Go; FOX Deportes and FOX College Sports. In addition, FOX Sports also encompasses FOX Sports Digital, which includes FOXSports.com on MSN, FOX Sports GO, Whatifsports.com, Scout.com and Yardbarker.com. Also included in the Group are FOX's interests in joint-venture businesses Big Ten Network, BTN 2Go and STATS, LLC, as well as licensing agreements that establish the FOX Sports Radio Network.
About WBC
Boxing was introduced to the American continent and at the end of the nineteenth century boxing fever began to spread in non-whites countries, especially in those where there was British or American influence, such as Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Panama, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, South Africa and Spain. In a relatively short time afterwards, Mexico established itself as one of the central places of boxing; the history of Mexican champions began to plant its roots in the sport with some of the finest boxing, as the then President of Mexico, Adolfo López Mateos, decided to create an organization to manage the unification of all world committees to control the spread of the sport called boxing; this is how on February 14, 1963 the World Boxing Council came into existence; initially it was founded by 11 countries: USA, Argentina, England, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, and Brazil. Its main founders were Mexicans Luis Spota and Professor Ramon G. Velasquez, who were presidents of the World Boxing Council, as well as Onslow Fane, of England, and Justiniano Montano, of The Philippines.
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