by David P. Greisman

Spike TV began showing boxing in 2015 as one of the many networks airing “Premier Boxing Champions” broadcasts — and the way many of those fights went helped make Spike into BoxingScene’s “Network of the Year” for last year.

The April 1 bout between 140-pound titleholder Adrien Broner and Ashley Theophane will be Spike’s first PBC show of the year. The network will have other related programs ahead of the broadcast, according to Jon Slusser, senior vice president of sports and specials.

“We’re going to supporting this fight in a lot of different ways, including creating shoulder programming that will air the week prior to the event,” Slusser said at the Feb. 29 press conference for the April 1 bout, which will take place at the D.C. Armory in Washington, D.C.

“Our crews have been with the camps. We’ve had unbelievable access. And so we’re going to have great stories to tell in this shoulder programming coming very soon, which will be the week of the event. Look for that. We’ll have more announcements on that.”

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