By Keith Idec
Al Haymon’s long-rumored new deal with FOX reportedly has been completed.
According to a Ringtv.com story posted Tuesday, Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions has reached an agreement with FOX to televise PBC cards on FOX and FS1. The new commitment, which reportedly will include 10 shows on FOX and at least 12 additional FS1 telecasts, will go into effect in December.
This deal differs from PBC’s previous agreement with FOX in that FOX will pay for all of PBC’s content. PBC previously purchased time on FOX and FS1 to air its shows, some of which featured higher-profile fights than others.
Ringtv.com reported that FOX will grant PBC a $50 million budget to produce those cards on FOX and FS1.
This new deal will provide PBC with another platform for an organization that represents well over 100 boxers. It also affords FOX programming in a combat sport after the network lost its rights to UFC’s non-pay-per-view events earlier this year to ESPN.
It’s the second broadcast agreement PBC has announced in less than a week.
Showtime announced Thursday that the premium-cable network has struck a new three-year deal with PBC to produce monthly “Showtime Championship Boxing” telecasts.
Showtime regularly televises fights that exclusively feature PBC boxers, including WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, welterweight champions Errol Spence Jr. and Keith Thurman, four-division champion Mikey Garcia, former four-division champion Adrien Broner and the Charlo twins, Jermall and Jermell. Showtime will air an intriguing main event Saturday night that’ll match former welterweight champions Danny Garcia and Shawn Porter in a 12-round fight for the vacant WBC welterweight title at Barclays Center in Brooklyn (9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT).
FOX also has aired several Wilder fights.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.