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ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights" season came to an end last week, but there will be more live boxing on various ESPN platforms in the fall until the series returns in January.
ESPN announced on Thursday a lineup of five boxing events, four of which are international, that will air live in the United States on ESPN3.com, the network's streaming video website that offers various sporting events, and other ESPN networks.
The lineup includes world title bouts involving heavyweight champion brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko and middleweight titlist Felix Sturm.
The lineup kicks off with Sturm's defense against Giovanni Lorenzo from Cologne, Germany, on Saturday. Coverage on ESPN3.com and Spanish-language ESPN Deportes begins at 4:30 p.m. ET.
A dispute with promoter Universum kept Sturm (33-2-1, 14 KOs) idle for 14 months since outpointing Khoren Gevor. But Sturm and Universum recently reached a settlement and they parted ways.
Lorenzo (29-2, 21 KOs), a New Yorker born in the Dominican Republic, is getting his second title opportunity after dropping a split decision to titlist Sebastian Sylvester in Germany last September.
In a previously announced bout, ESPN3.com will carry live coverage at 5 p.m. ET of heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko's Sept. 11 rematch with former titlist Samuel Peter from Frankfurt, Germany. For those who prefer television coverage, there will be a same-day taped broadcast on ESPN Deportes at 8 p.m. ET, with a 4:30 p.m. ET replay Sept. 12 on ESPN.
Klitschko (54-3, 48 KOs) suffered three knockdowns but won a unanimous decision against Peter (34-3, 27 KOs) when they first met in a 2005 title elimination bout.
In honor of Mexico's bicentennial celebration, flyweight Wilbert Uicab (29-5-1, 18 KOs) of Mexico meets the Philippines' Edin Dapudong (20-2, 10 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round bout from Cancun, Mexico, on Sept. 17.
On the undercard, Russia's Alisher Rahimov (20-0, 11 KOs) faces Jose Emilio Perea (18-0, 10 KOs) of Mexico in a 12-round lightweight fight. There will be live coverage on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.
On Oct. 16, Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KOs) defends his heavyweight belt against former champ Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KOs) in Hamburg, Germany. Live coverage on ESPN3.com begins at 5 p.m. ET.
ESPN will replay the fight at 2 p.m. ET on Oct. 17. ESPN Deportes also will have taped coverage at a time to be announced.
In honor of Veterans Day, a special military-themed card will air at 8 p.m. ET Nov. 8 on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com, with a Nov. 9 replay at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN Deportes. The bouts are to be announced.
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter @danrafaelespn.
from espn.com/boxing
ESPN announced on Thursday a lineup of five boxing events, four of which are international, that will air live in the United States on ESPN3.com, the network's streaming video website that offers various sporting events, and other ESPN networks.
The lineup includes world title bouts involving heavyweight champion brothers Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko and middleweight titlist Felix Sturm.
The lineup kicks off with Sturm's defense against Giovanni Lorenzo from Cologne, Germany, on Saturday. Coverage on ESPN3.com and Spanish-language ESPN Deportes begins at 4:30 p.m. ET.
A dispute with promoter Universum kept Sturm (33-2-1, 14 KOs) idle for 14 months since outpointing Khoren Gevor. But Sturm and Universum recently reached a settlement and they parted ways.
Lorenzo (29-2, 21 KOs), a New Yorker born in the Dominican Republic, is getting his second title opportunity after dropping a split decision to titlist Sebastian Sylvester in Germany last September.
In a previously announced bout, ESPN3.com will carry live coverage at 5 p.m. ET of heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko's Sept. 11 rematch with former titlist Samuel Peter from Frankfurt, Germany. For those who prefer television coverage, there will be a same-day taped broadcast on ESPN Deportes at 8 p.m. ET, with a 4:30 p.m. ET replay Sept. 12 on ESPN.
Klitschko (54-3, 48 KOs) suffered three knockdowns but won a unanimous decision against Peter (34-3, 27 KOs) when they first met in a 2005 title elimination bout.
In honor of Mexico's bicentennial celebration, flyweight Wilbert Uicab (29-5-1, 18 KOs) of Mexico meets the Philippines' Edin Dapudong (20-2, 10 KOs) in a scheduled 12-round bout from Cancun, Mexico, on Sept. 17.
On the undercard, Russia's Alisher Rahimov (20-0, 11 KOs) faces Jose Emilio Perea (18-0, 10 KOs) of Mexico in a 12-round lightweight fight. There will be live coverage on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET.
On Oct. 16, Vitali Klitschko (40-2, 38 KOs) defends his heavyweight belt against former champ Shannon Briggs (51-5-1, 45 KOs) in Hamburg, Germany. Live coverage on ESPN3.com begins at 5 p.m. ET.
ESPN will replay the fight at 2 p.m. ET on Oct. 17. ESPN Deportes also will have taped coverage at a time to be announced.
In honor of Veterans Day, a special military-themed card will air at 8 p.m. ET Nov. 8 on ESPN2 and ESPN3.com, with a Nov. 9 replay at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN Deportes. The bouts are to be announced.
Dan Rafael is the boxing writer for ESPN.com. Follow him on Twitter @danrafaelespn.
from espn.com/boxing
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