In honor of the late boxing promoter Dan Goossen, ESPN2 will televise live a three-hour ESPN Boxing Special on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 10 p.m. ET. Goossen, who passed away September 28, was a longtime promoter for ESPN’s boxing coverage. Thursday’s telecast will include a tribute from some of Goossen’s colleagues in the boxing world.
“We wanted to do something special in honor of Dan and we thought of no better way than to put on a great night of boxing just like he had done for so many years on ESPN,” said Brian Kweder, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions. “Dan’s contributions to the sport of boxing are well documented, but he was also a joy to work with and be around. I’m hopeful that he has a ringside seat wherever he may be for these fights.”
Headlining Thursday’s card will be a 10-round Jr. Middleweight matchup between former Jr. Middleweight titlist Austin “No Doubt” Trout (27-2, 14 KOs) of New Mexico and Mexico’s Luis Grajeda (17-3-2, 13 KOs). The bout from the Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, Calif.
In his last fight, Trout closed out the ESPN Friday Night Fights season on Aug. 22 with a 10-round unanimous decision win over Daniel Dawson. Grajeda, who also last fought on Friday Night Fights, is looking to get back to his winning ways following a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Willie Nelson.
Undercard:
Thursday’s show will include three fights in addition to the main event. Undefeated 2012 U.S. Olympian “Sir” Marcus Browne (12-0, 9 KOs) of New York, and Maryland’s Henry “Sugar Poo” Buchanan (21-4, 14 KOs) will meet in an eight-round Light Heavyweight contest. Former Light Heavyweight titlist Antonio “Magic Man” Tarver (30-6, 21 KOs) of Florida and former Cruiserweight world title challenger Johnathon Banks (29-2-1, 19 KOs) of Detroit will meet in a 10-round Heavyweight bout. Contenders Oscar “El Guerrero” Escandon (23-1, 16 KOs) of Los Angeles and Tyson “Prince of Hali” Cave (24-2, 8 KOs) of Canada, will square off in a 12-round WBA interim Super Bantamweight title fight.
