King, HBO PPV Set Boxing Cards

By R. Thomas Umstead
published

Boxing promoter Don King will distribute an April 17 pay-per-view card featuring two of the three heavyweight titleholders.

International Boxing Federation champion Chris Byrd will face veteran fighter Andrew Golota, while World Boxing Association champion John Ruiz will meet Fres Oquendo on the four-fight card. The World Boxing Council heavyweight title is vacant.

On June 5, Home Box Office PPV will offer a doubleheader event featuring Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins. De La Hoya will challenge undefeated World Boxing Organization middleweight champion Felix Sturm, while undisputed middleweight champion Hopkins will take on No. 1 contender Robert Allen, the network said.

If De La Hoya and Hopkins win, they will most likely fight each other in a September PPV event.

R. Thomas Umstead
R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.