NEW YORK – HBO Sports’ groundbreaking reality franchise “24/7,” which captured three Sports Emmy® Awards earlier this year, returns next month with the exclusive series CALZAGHE/JONES 24/7, leading up to their light heavyweight pay-per-view showdown on Nov. 8. The first episode of the three-episode, all-access series debuts SUNDAY, OCT. 26 (8:30-9:00 p.m. ET/PT), on HBO, with another episode debuting the following SUNDAY, NOV. 2, at the same time, while the finale debuts THURSDAY, NOV. 6 (11:00-11:30 p.m.), two days prior to the bout. All three episodes will also be available on HBO On Demand.
HBO Sports will provide exclusive behind-the-scenes access, along with in-depth interviews, as two surefire Hall of Famers finally trade punches and look to put an exclamation mark on their celebrated careers. A champion in four different weight classes, including the heavyweight division, Roy Jones Jr. has always called Pensacola, Fla., home. He first grabbed the spotlight at the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul, where he was named the finest boxer of the Games. Starting his pro career soon after, Jones quickly piled up championship belts and accolades, reigning as the sport’s pound-for-pound king during a significant portion of the 1990s and the first three years of this decade. His career mark of 52-4, 38 KOs includes a win over Felix Trinidad earlier this year.
A native of Newbridge, Wales, where he is trained by his father, Joe Calzaghe is the United Kingdom’s premier fighter, with an undefeated record of 45-0, 32 KOs that includes a record-tying 21 successful defenses of his world super middleweight title. Calzaghe migrated to the 175-pound division last April when he fought for the first time in the United States, turning back future Hall of Famer Bernard Hopkins and demonstrating why he figures in debates about the sport’s pound-for-pound king.
HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg says, “We are looking forward to presenting the remarkable contrasts of these two dynamic characters. We will again take viewers behind the scenes as Joe and Roy prepare for this important fight. ‘24/7’ is now a valuable franchise of HBO Sports.”
CALZAGHE/JONES 24/7 follows the runaway hits “De La Hoya/Mayweather 24/7,” which debuted in April 2007, and “Mayweather/Hatton 24/7,” which debuted in November 2007. Newsweek wrote, “ ‘De La Hoya/Mayweather 24/7’ is an engrossing look at both a boxing match and a personal circus, and fans of human drama will want to have a ringside seat.” ESPN The Magazine proclaimed the series “a masterfully entertaining reality show,” while the New York Daily News called it “compelling television.” Liev Schreiber, who narrated both previous “24/7” series, returns as narrator of CALZAGHE/JONES 24/7.
On Saturday, Nov. 8, at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT), HBO Pay-Per-View presents the showdown “Calzaghe vs. Jones,” live from Madison Square Garden.
The executive producers of CALZAGHE/JONES 24/7 are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; coordinating producer, Dave Harmon; producers, Scott Boggins and Bentley Weiner; narrator, Liev Schreiber.
