ESPN will exclusively televise the 12-round WBC title fight and rematch between Bermane “B. Ware” Stiverne (23-1-1, 20 KOs) and Chris “The Nightmare” Arreola (36-3, 31 KOs) live on Saturday, May 10, at 8 p.m. ET. The fight from the USC Galen Center in Los Angeles, Calif., will be televised live in the U.S. on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
ESPN will also carry the fight exclusively in Latin America, the Caribbean, Brazil, and Canada (via TSN/RDS). In addition, ESPN will televise the fight in Australia and New Zealand. The card is co-promoted by Don King Productions and Goossen Tutor Promotions.
“ESPN has a long history of carrying world class boxing events, but this certainly ranks up there with the best that we’ve televised,” said Brian Kweder, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions. “Dan Goossen and Don King deserve credit for having the vision to distribute this historic match to as many households as possible and we are thrilled to be televising the fight.”
King, promoter of Stiverne, said, “ESPN is in it to win it…and ‘win’ in it they have…hitting a grand slam homerun in public opinion in welcoming the prodigal son of the sport of boxing – The WBC Heavyweight Championship of the World Title Event – back to America…Halleluiah!”
Goossen, promoter of Arreola, said, “For nearly 35 years, ESPN has been the premier destination for sports fans. We’re thrilled to work with their team to allow fans around the world the opportunity to watch a World Heavyweight Championship on what is the undisputed Worldwide Leader in Sports.”
Stiverne, a Florida resident of Haitian descent, first met California-based, Mexican-American Arreola last April for the right to challenge then-Heavyweight titleholder Vitali Klitschko for the WBC belt. Stiverne scored a 12-round unanimous decision win earning the right to face Klitschko. After Klitschko vacated his title in December to focus on his political career in the Ukraine, Stiverne and Arreola were chosen to fill the vacant title. The two will not only battle for the vacant WBC World Heavyweight title, but also to become the first boxers of Haitian or Mexican descent to hold a Heavyweight title.
