Boxing may be a sport that isn’t at the height of what it used to be, but ESPN is really relying on the sport during the coronavirus pandemic. In the absence of new sporting events happening, ESPN has been showing some classic fights, and today, they are showing 11 straight hours of them.
A series of fights did well last week on ESPN2, so ESPN decided to show the marathon of boxing today.
The fights kick off at 12 p.m. EST, with the “Rumble in the Jungle”, the 1974 classic match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Kinshasa, Zaire, Africa. From there, the fights include five Ali fights, three Mike Tyson fights, and two Oscar De La Hoya matches. It will conclude with all three Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier bouts, which is believed to be the first time all three fights have been shown consecutively. It also marks the first time that Ali-Frazier I will be shown on any ESPN channel, and the first time it will be shown in the U.S. since August 1991.
This is the order of fights that will be shown:
12 p.m.: Ali-Foreman
1 p.m.: Foreman-Evander Holyfield
2 p.m.: De La Hoya-Julio Cesar Chavez I
3 p.m.: De La Hoya-Felix Trinidad
4 p.m.: Marvelous Marvin Hagler-Thomas Hearns
4:30 p.m.: Tyson-Trevor Berbick
5 p.m.: Tyson-Larry Holmes
5:30 p.m.: Tyson-Michael Spinks
6 p.m.: Cassius Clay-Sonny Liston I
7 p.m.: Ali-Frazier I
9 p.m.: Ali-Frazier II
10 p.m.: Ali-Frazier III
This is a big weekend for ESPN, with these fights happening today, and tomorrow marking the premiere of Jason Hehir’s documentary on Michael Jordan, The Last Dance. Both events are sure to draw in a good amount of viewers who are just looking for something sports-related to watch.
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