Martin Murray READY to RUMBLE – Boxing News
In a major coup for UK boxing fans, October 25’s “Title Tornado” card in Monte Carlo, jointly headlined by the UK’s Martin Murray in a world title eliminator and Stuart Hall in a world title fight, will be broadcast live on Channel Five in Britain. Working in collaboration with leading promoter Mick Hennessy, and Hennessy Sports’ William Storey, Golden Gloves promoter Rodney Berman has ensured that Murray’s WBC Silver middleweight title defense against Domenico Spada and Hall’s IBF world title fight against undefeated Randy Caballero will be seen by millions of households live on UK terrestrial television.
This is a significant milestone for the sport given that the last major world title fight broadcast live on UK terrestrial television was Carl Froch against Jean Pascal for the WBC title in December 2008, also promoted by Mick Hennessy on ITV.
“I’m delighted,” said Hennessy. “Murray is an elite-level fighter with a huge following at home. The fans deserve to see more of him.”
Another British highlight on the card is former world champion Hall’s crack at the IBF world title. UK fight fans will be able to see live whether Hall can regain the world title he held until four months ago. British fight fans will also get to see Europe’s most avoided middleweight, the West Country Warrior Nick Blackwell, making his Monte Carlo debut.
Berman expects over 100 countries to tune into the Monte Carlo tournament, which also features two world championship fights and another WBC Silver belt championship bout between unbeaten Ryno Liebenberg of South Africa and undefeated Eleider Alvarez of Colombia, with the winner certain to step into a full-blown world title fight against Adonis Stevenson.
When China’s Xiong Zhao Zhong challenges South African Hekkie Budler for the WBA and IBO minimumweight belts, expectations are that 300 million Chinese will watch the fight live, according to manager Gang Liu.
Africa’s SuperSport, which broadcasts in 54 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, will also showcase the event. No U.S. TV as of yet.