FSN ANNOUNCES FIRST EVER ALL-WOMEN’S FIGHT CARD IN NETWORK HISTORY

 

For Immediate Release

Holly Holm --Ann Saccurato Bout Headlines

Championship Night of Boxing on Thursday, March 22

When Hillary Swank stepped into the ring for Million Dollar Baby, a role that earned her an Oscar, women’s boxing went from undercard curiosity to main event. Now FSN, in a first for the network, is riding the surge of popularity for female fighters, shining the spotlight on the sport’s growth and giving women their own night. As part of Best Damn Sports Show Period’s popular boxing series, FSN presents the Best Damn Championship Fight Night Period on Thursday, March 22 at 11:00 PM EST/8:00 PM local from the Isleta Casino and Resort in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

In an unparalleled move, FSN airs three championship bouts, all sanctioned by the IFBA (International Female Boxers Association), headlined by Albuquerque native and IFBA 2006 Fighter of the Year Holly Holm.

Holm (16-1-2, 5 KOs), who was also honored as Ring Magazine’s 2006 Female Fighter of the Year, is fighting for a record sixth title as she takes on Ann Saccurato (12-1-2, 5 KOs) in a 10-round match for the vacant IFBA welterweight title. A former kickboxing champion, Holm moved to the forefront of women’s boxing when she dominated then face-of-women’s-boxing Christy Martin in September 2005.

But Saccurato won’t be as easy to dispense of as Martin. A brawler from White Plains, NY, Saccurato is moving up a weight class to fight Holm. The No. 1 contender has her eyes set on leaving New Mexico with a belt and her power punching style and toughness will make her Holm’s toughest opponent yet.

Hall of Fame announcer Barry Tompkins calls the fights alongside award-winning boxing analyst Rich Marotta. The show is hosted by FSN’s Andrew Siciliano and BDSSP’s John Salley, with special guest, fighter Mia St. John, who lost a unanimous decision to Holm in December 2005.

In the first co-feature undercard, 2004 IFBA Fighter of the Year Kelsey Jeffries (33-9-1, KOs) defends her IFBA Featherweight title for an unprecedented 5th time as she takes on Rhonda Luna (11-0-1) in a 10-round bout. Luna, an English teacher by day who is hoping to teach Jeffries a lesson in the ring, has been sparring with St. John to prepare for her title shot.

The second co-featured pits New Mexico native Jackie Chavez (9-2, 3 KOs) against former IBA super bantamweight champion Lisa Brown (12-3-3, 4 KOs) in a 10-round IFBA junior featherweight championship.

"The IFBA is pleased to be sanctioning the first all women's boxing show on FSN. As the pioneer in bring women's boxing to television, we are especially excited to bring this championship triple header, in conjunction with Fresquez Productions, to FSN viewers nationwide," said IFBA President Judy Kulis.

IFBA

2007 marks the 10-year anniversary of the founding of the IFBA and its many accomplishments. Since 1997, the IFBA has sanctioned over 100 women's title bouts, been the first to sanction all women's cards on cable and broadcast television including ESPN2, USA Network, Pay-Per-View, Fox Sports International and on SBS, MBC and MBC-ESPN in Korea.

With the help of various State Boxing Commissions, the IFBA established many of the rules used in the sport today. In 2006 the IFBA held the first women's world title fights in China and crowned two champions from North Korea.

FSN

FSN, its affiliates and other FNG-owned networks reach more than 82 million homes through 25 regional networks. Based in Los Angeles, FSN owned – or affiliated regional sports networks serve as the TV home to 68 of the 82 MLB, NHL and NBA teams based in the United States. FSN produces close to 5,000 live events each year, including nearly 1000 in high definition. For the latest up-to-the-minute sports news and opinions, visit the FOX Sports/FSN website at www.FOXSports.com.