The newest kid on the block is prepared to live up to its name and create a heavy “Impact” once normalcy returns to the sport.
Impact Network plans to come out swinging this summer, announcing four shows for its Impact Boxing series and with plenty more to come. Steven Marcano, head of programming for Impact confirmed to BoxingScene.com that the network—which made its debut in boxing this past February—will return on June 19, with the rescheduled “Philly Special” event presented by Michelle “Raging Babe” Rosado from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The show was originally due to air on March 27, with Rosado and her team on the ground opting to pull the plug on the show amidst growing health concerns around the world. The decision came after huddling with all parties involved in the event—the network, the main event participant Stevie Ortiz and Damon Allen and their respective teams and other relevant participants—to ensure that the show can pick up where it left off in recent days.
It will now serve as a movement for Impact Network to make an industry splash, with Marcano and Impact head of legal Rick Torres huddling to present its version of a summer getaway.
Following the rescheduled June 19 date will come a June 27 card near and dear to the Impact team, taking place in its headquartered home region of Detroit.
From there, the series will return to where it all began. A July 16 show has been confirmed to take place at The Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort and Casino in Ruidoso, New Mexico. The show will be presented by Tapias Promotion, headed by Teresa Tapia who also took the lead for the inaugural installment of Impact Boxing, which was topped by former 154-pound titlist Austin Trout.
A fourth summer has been announced for August 1, to take place in Rochester, New York.
The aggressive push is in line with Impact Network’s mission statement upon entering the boxing scene, with the intention to stage 48 shows in its first year in the sport. Plans were scuttled for March 27 and April 4, but with the staff vision to map out a new schedule at a time when the world should be in a position to move past the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) health scare which has caused more than 30 shows to either postpone its shows or cancel outright.
As others have chosen to take a wait-and-see approach, Impact Network heads in the opposite direction and has chosen to already hit the ground running. The network, founded by Bishop Wayne T Jackson, is available in 86 million homes across various cable and satellite packages.
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox