By Carlos Boogs
Knockout's debut season was both a critical and financial success that left fans wanting more. The first season was able to gel world class trainers working with up and coming talent, while featuring some of boxing's hottest names in special guest appearances.
After BoxingScene.com was given exclusive access to the fine cut of the opening episode of season 2, it looks like HBO, Showtime and VH1 style programming all wrapped up in one. The fast moving pace and the visuals directed by Benny Boom were able to provide the viewer with a 24/7, All Access meets Love and Hip Hop style that is heads and shoulders above anything else that has been seen in the combat sports world.
Boxing is at an all time high with the Mayweather-Pacquiao super-fight breaking virtually every record in boxing history. The fight has been rumored to have produced about 5.5 million pay-per-view buys with close to $600 million in revenue thanks to a one-time partnership between boxing power broker Al Haymon and Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank.
When it comes to the hybrid of boxing, reality television and music, the peerless industry leader is Knockout show creator Steven Marcano. No one else in boxing or television has been able to fuse these three forms of entertainment the way Marcano has.
In watching every step from the first season to the second, the improvement is incredible. Knockout is the American Idol of boxing and will become a staple in boxing. Roy Jones said it best, "young fighters need Knockout to get an opportunity while boxing needs Knockout to find the next Roy Jones, Floyd Mayweather, Mike Tyson and Shane Mosley."
The live fight card will either take place on July 18th or 25th, and with WBA/WBO/IBF light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (who makes a special appearance in the second season of Knockout) fighting in Las Vegas on July 18th, the fight card will likely take place on the 25th instead of going up against one of HBO's highest ratings draws.
Knockout Season 2 is set to premier on June 10th, 2015 on NUVOtv/Fuse. Grab your popcorn and lock in the date. You don't want to miss!
