LAS VEGAS – September 26, 2023 – Fight week in the Boxing Capital of the World is officially underway as global superstar and Undisputed Super Middleweight World Champion Canelo Álvarez and Undisputed Junior Middleweight World Champion Jermell Charlo make their Grand Arrivals to Las Vegas today before they meet in a historic, first-of-its-kind matchup on Saturday, September 30 for Canelo’s undisputed 168-pound belts live on SHOWTIME PPV from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo Promotions will present the Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view.
As the two undisputed champions finalize preparations for one of the most anticipated fights of the year, here is a collection of news and notes from SHOWTIME SPORTS® for Fight Week.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
For the first time in history, two reigning, male undisputed champions will go toe-to-toe. All four of Canelo’s 168-pound belts will be up for grabs as the 154-pound champion Charlo moves up two weight classes to challenge Canelo. The only other undisputed vs. undisputed matchup in the four-belt era took place when undisputed women’s light welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron defeated undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor in May.
Having captured world titles at 154, 160, 168 and 175-pounds, Canelo will look to become the first man during the four-belt era to defend all four titles successfully three consecutive times.
With a win, Charlo would become just the second man to earn the undisputed title in two divisions during the four-belt era, after Terence Crawford, and would add his name alongside legendary champions such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Roy Jones Jr. by successfully jumping two weight classes to win a world title.
The SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube Channel will be home to live streaming coverage of all fight week events, including today’s Grand Arrivals, starting at 2:30 p.m. PT, Wednesday’s main event final press conference at 1 p.m. PT and open media undercard workouts kicking off at 3 p.m. PT, the final undercard press conference Thursday at 11 a.m. PT, the weigh-in on Friday at 2:30 p.m. PT, and the post-fight press conference. Luke Thomas and Brian Campbell, co-hosts of the award-winning live digital talk show MORNING KOMBAT, along with ALL THE SMOKE co-host and NBA Champion Stephen Jackson and former world champion and SHOWTIME Boxing®analyst Raul “El Diamante” Marquez will serve as the streaming hosts of the weigh-in. Thomas and Campbell will announce the SHOWTIME PPV COUNTDOWN show on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. PT, which will include live coverage of preliminary bouts and analysis of the upcoming pay-per-view card.
The four-fight pay-per-view event kicks off at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and is widely available for purchase and live streaming in the United States at SHOWTIME.com/ppv and via the SHOWTIME App on supported devices including Apple iOS and tvOS devices, Android Mobile, AndroidTV, Roku, Amazon FireTV, Samsung Smart TV and LG Smart TV (2019 models and newer), Xbox One, Xfinity Flex, the Cox Wireless 4K Contour Stream Player and online at SHOWTIME.com, FITE.tv and PPV.com. The event is also available for purchase in the U.S. via cable, satellite and telco systems including iNDEMAND, DIRECTV®, DISH and Sling TV. The suggested retail price is $84.95 (SRP). In Canada, viewers can purchase and access the event via traditional cable and satellite distributors (Bell, Rogers, Shaw, SaskTel/TELUS and digital distributor FITE TV). Liberty and Claro TV will offer the event in Puerto Rico. Joe Hand Promotions is the commercial distributor within the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.
The official promotional spot, which spotlights the historical significance and star power of the September 30 showdown, is available HERE.
THE INDUSTRY LEADERS
SHOWTIME SPORTS is in the midst of one of the hottest runs in the network’s 37-year history of televising live boxing. Since the start of 2023, the industry’s strongest schedule has included 20 marquee events (including Saturday’s event).
The schedule has included Fight of the Year contenders – Subriel Matias stopping Jeremias Ponce on February 25 and Brandon Figueroa decisioning Mark Magsayo on March 4. It has included KO of the Year contenders – Brian Mendoza’s one-punch KO of Sebastian Fundora, Tim Tszyu’s left-hook KO of Carlos Ocampo and Jaron Ennis’ brutal finish of Roiman Villa. It has also included the biggest names in the sport facing each other: Gervonta Davis vs. Ryan Garcia in a matchup that captured the world’s attention and served to elevate the star power of both men; David Benavídez vs. Caleb Plant, establishing Benavidez as one of the world’s top super middleweights; Errol Spence Jr. vs. Terence Crawford featuring two great, undefeated champions in their prime in the biggest welterweight fight since Mayweather-Pacquiao in 2015; and now Canelo vs. Charlo, another matchup with historic implications.
The 2023 slate adds to an industry leading schedule that has included the biggest names and most meaningful fights in the sport over the past seven years. Since the start of 2017, SHOWTIME has televised 103 world title fights (not including interim title fights), 13 world championship unification fights and five undisputed world championship fights. The network has been the home to some of the most memorable fights of recent times, including Anthony Joshua vs. Wladimir Klitschko (Ring Magazine 2017 Fight of the Year), Jarrett Hurd vs. Erislandy Lara (ESPN 2018 Fight of the Year), Deontay Wilder vs. Tyson Fury I (Ring Magazine 2018 Round of the Year), Gervonta Davis vs. Leo Santa Cruz (Ring Magazine 2020 KO of the Year), Stephen Fulton vs. Brandon Figueroa (CBS Sports 2021 Fight of the Year) and Sebastian Fundora vs. Erickson Lubin (Ring Magazine 2022 Round of the Year).
AWARD-WINNING STORYTELLING
Two episodes of the EMMY® Award-winning SHOWTIME® original documentary series ALL ACCESS: CANELO VS. JERMELL CHARLO are available now on SHOWTIME, Paramount+ with SHOWTIME and on the SHOWTIME SPORTS YouTube channel for non-network subscribers. ALL ACCESS, which is voiced by Barry Pepper,provides an exclusive look into the mental and physical preparations of both men, and reveals never-before-seen aspects about the two champions.
Episode One currently has 1.7 million views, while Episode Two has 1.3 million views on the SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel alone. Both episodes also are available on SHOWTIME and the Premier Boxing Champions YouTube channel amassing additional viewership.
The ALL ACCESS cameras will be in Las Vegas all week, filming ALL ACCESS: CANELO VS. JERMELL CHARLO EPILOGUE, which will premiere Saturday, October 7. The epilogue will spotlight the drama of fight week and provide an exclusive, first-hand account from fight night like no other show on television, revealing private moments between the fighters, their teams and loved ones.
SHOWTIME VETERANS
September 30 will mark Canelo’s seventh appearance on SHOWTIME and Charlo’s 16th appearance on the network.
Canelo has previously appeared four times on SHOWTIME PPV and twice on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®. Canelo’s September 2013 blockbuster against Floyd Mayweather Jr. stands as the third highest grossing pay-per-view event of all time. Canelo also defeated Alfredo Angulo, Erislandy Lara and Caleb Plant in SHOWTIME PPV main events.
Charlo has risen up the ranks, graduating from the prospect development series SHOBOX: The New Generation®, all the way up to SHOWTIME PPV. He has appeared 11 times on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, twice on SHOWTIME BOXING: SPECIAL EDITION and made his SHOWTIME PPV debut when he headlined alongside his twin brother, Jermall, in a SHOWTIME PP doubleheader in September 2020.
HIGH PRAISE FROM A HALL OF FAMER
Hall of Fame SHOWTIME expert analyst Al Bernstein, who has called over 150 major pay-per-view telecasts in his storied career, says that the September 30 undercard is “perhaps the best of any I’ve done.”
Three matchups featuring rising stars, top contenders and former world champions from 147 to 160 pounds highlight the robust pay-per-view undercard. In the co-main event, undefeated sensation Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. takes on hard-hitting top contender Erickson “Hammer” Lubin in a WBC Super Welterweight Title Eliminator. The pay-per-view also includes former world champions Yordenis Ugas and Mario “El Azteca” Barrios going toe-to-toe for the Interim WBC Welterweight Title. Opening up the action are rising middleweights Elijah Garcia and Armando Reséndiz squaring off in a 10-round attraction.
“I think every one of these matches could be terrific and one or two may be fight of the year candidates,” Bernstein says.
HOW MUCH YOU WANT TO BET?
DraftKings, the official sportsbook sponsor of Canelo vs. Charlo, views the pound-for-pound Mexican star as the clear favorite on Saturday night. Álvarez is currently listed as a -400 favorite ($100 to win $25). Believers in Jermell Charlo have a chance to triple their money if he pulls off the upset, as he is currently listed at +300 ($100 to win $300).
The oddsmakers at DraftKings view the fight going into the later rounds as the most likely outcome. The odds for the fight to go over 10.5 rounds are -320 and the odds for the fight to go under 10.5 rounds are +220. For those who believe the fight will end via stoppage, the odds for Canelo to win by KO/TKO/DQ are +230, while the odds for Charlo to win via the same method are +900.
A HOMETOWN SENDOFF
Houston’s own Jermell Charlo received a hometown sendoff at Saturday’s University of Houston vs. Sam Houston State University college football game at TDECU Stadium. Charlo held a boxing clinic for kids from the Stafford Boys & Girls Club and was honored on the field during a timeout. Houston went on to defeat Sam Houston 38-7. Click HERE for photos from the sendoff event.
THE MAN BEHIND THE SCENES
David Dinkins Jr., the executive producer of SHOWTIME SPORTS, will once again be in control of what the fans at home see on September 30.
Since joining SHOWTIME in 1987, Dinkins has produced more than 600 world championship fights, 30 unification fights and over 1,000 professional prizefights. He has been in control of the two most-watched pay-per-view events in television history (Mayweather-Pacquiao and Mayweather-McGregor), and the three most lucrative (Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather-McGregor, Mayweather-Canelo).
He has also produced six Fight of the Year bouts:
- Ray Leonard vs. Marvin Hagler (1987)
- Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson I (1996)
- Diego Corrales vs. Jose Luis Castillo I (2005)
- Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez II (2007)
- Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez III (2008)
- Anthony Joshua vs. Vladimir Klitschko
Dinkins has played an integral role in spotlighting the careers of many of the sport’s greatest fighters including Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, Julio Cesar Chavez, Felix Trinidad, Pernell Whitaker and so many more.
“David Dinkins produced many of my fights,” said Tyson. “And as the years have gone by, I’ve watched them many times. The way he told my story as it was happening was excellent then and even better now.”
THE A TEAM
Veteran sportscaster and “The Last Stand” podcaster Brian Custer will host the SHOWTIME PPV telecast while versatile combat sports voice Mauro Ranallo will once again handle the blow-by-blow action alongside Hall of Fame analyst Al Bernstein and three-division world champion Abner Mares. The telecast will include Hall of Famers Jim Gray as ringside reporter, Jimmy Lennon, Jr., in his role as ring announcer and Steve Farhood as the unofficial scorer. Sportscaster Alejandro Luna will call the action in Spanish on Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) with former world champion and SHOBOX: The New Generation commentator Raúl “El Diamante” Marquez serving as the expert analyst. Felix DeJesus will serve as Spanish language interpreter. Dinkins will executive produce the telecast with acclaimed boxing director Bob Dunphy directing.
BELLATOR 300: FOUR TITLE FIGHTS IN ONE NIGHT
On Saturday, October 7, San Diego’s Pechanga Arena will host the culmination of over 14 years of mixed martial arts excellence, which for the first-time ever, includes four massive world championship fights for BELLATOR MMA’s historic 300th event. Nearly 3,500 MMA bouts and 5,300 days will have passed on the illustrious road from BELLATOR 1 to BELLATOR 300.
The one-million-dollar BELLATOR Lightweight World Grand Prix rolls on when incumbent champion Usman Nurmagomedov puts his belt and undefeated record on the line against former champion and current No. 4-ranked Brent Primus in a semifinal main event matchup. The top pound-for-pound female fighter in the world and current BELLATOR featherweight world champion Cris Cyborg faces No. 1-ranked Cat Zingano in what can best be described as a grudge match between two of the most recognizable athletes on the planet. BELLATOR’s reigning Heavyweight World Champion Ryan Bader defends his belt in a rematch against No. 1-ranked Linton Vassell. Finally, two of San Diego’s top fighters collide as Liz Carmouche defends her belt against former World Champion and No. 2-ranked Ilima-Lei Macfarlane in a highly anticipated battle between two close friends and training partners.
The action takes place live on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
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ABOUT CANELO VS. CHARLO
Canelo vs. Charlo will see pound-for-pound great Canelo Álvarez defend his undisputed super middleweight world titles in a blockbuster showdown against hard-hitting undisputed junior middleweight world champion Jermell Charlo headlining a SHOWTIME PPV Saturday, September 30 from T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. Canelo Promotions will present the Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view.
The pay-per-view begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and will see undefeated sensation Jesus “Mono” Ramos Jr. take on hard-hitting top contender Erickson “Hammer” Lubin in the 12-round super welterweight co-main event. The pay-per-view also includes former world champions Yordenis Ugas and Mario “El Azteca” Barrios going toe-to-toe for the Interim WBC Welterweight Title. Opening up the action are rising middleweights Elijah Garcia and Armando Reséndiz squaring off in a 10-round attraction.
For more information visit SHOWTIME.com/ppv and www.PremierBoxingChampions.com, follow #CaneloCharlo, follow on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @SHOSports, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotions, on Instagram @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing and @TGBPromotionss or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ShowtimeBoxing and www.Facebook.com/premierboxingchampions/.
