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By Jake Donovan - HBO's loss becomes Showtime's gain this weekend, when Juan Manuel Marquez squares off against Rocky Juarez a compelling junior lightweight battle headlining a full night of action in Tucson, AZ (Saturday, SHOWTIME 10PM ET/PT).
Of course, one glance at the schedule might leave many scratching their heads in disbelief. While Showtime is sweating in the desert, HBO travels across the pond to present the 168 lb. world title bout between Joe Calzaghe and Mikkel Kessler, a battle not only between the two best 168 lb. fighters in the world, both of whom are also undefeated, but the most significant in the division's 20+ year history.
Surely, the HBO brass isn't concerned with what's going on across the street this weekend.
Or are they?
The storyline behind this weekend's SHOWTIME card is not so much the televised doubleheader itself, though both bouts (Robert Guerrero-Martin Honorio appearing in the co-feature) should prove to be highly entertaining. What makes this weekend unique is that it marks the first time that Oscar de la Hoya and his Golden Boy Promotions outfit airs a card on America's #1 Fight Network, after having nearly his entire career (fighter and promoter) as HBO's favorite son.
To take it one step further, the debut comes with a fight that benefits of two months worth of promotions from HBO and its PPV arm.
Marquez-Juarez initially began as Marquez-Jorge Barrios, which was to headline a September 15 HBO PPV card. Rocky Juarez' original role was supporting act, as he was to square off against Robert Guerrero in the co-feature. The main event was compromised once pre-fight medical tests revealed detached retinas for Barrios, bouncing the free-swinging Argentinean from the show. [details]
Of course, one glance at the schedule might leave many scratching their heads in disbelief. While Showtime is sweating in the desert, HBO travels across the pond to present the 168 lb. world title bout between Joe Calzaghe and Mikkel Kessler, a battle not only between the two best 168 lb. fighters in the world, both of whom are also undefeated, but the most significant in the division's 20+ year history.
Surely, the HBO brass isn't concerned with what's going on across the street this weekend.
Or are they?
The storyline behind this weekend's SHOWTIME card is not so much the televised doubleheader itself, though both bouts (Robert Guerrero-Martin Honorio appearing in the co-feature) should prove to be highly entertaining. What makes this weekend unique is that it marks the first time that Oscar de la Hoya and his Golden Boy Promotions outfit airs a card on America's #1 Fight Network, after having nearly his entire career (fighter and promoter) as HBO's favorite son.
To take it one step further, the debut comes with a fight that benefits of two months worth of promotions from HBO and its PPV arm.
Marquez-Juarez initially began as Marquez-Jorge Barrios, which was to headline a September 15 HBO PPV card. Rocky Juarez' original role was supporting act, as he was to square off against Robert Guerrero in the co-feature. The main event was compromised once pre-fight medical tests revealed detached retinas for Barrios, bouncing the free-swinging Argentinean from the show. [details]
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