ESPN Lands Klitschko Fight, The Net's Second Heavyweight Title Bout In Two Weeks

The April 26 Wladimir Klitschko-Alex Leapai heavyweight title bout in Oberhausen, Germany will be televised live in the U.S. on ESPN "after the network reached a deal" yesterday with IMG, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com. ESPN will be “televising two heavyweight title bouts in two weeks" after the net made a “deal to televise live the May 10 rematch between Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola" at USC's Galen Center. ESPN Senior Dir of Programming & Acquisitions Brian Kweder said, "Two heavyweight championship fights in two weeks is just too good to pass up." Rafael reported in addition to ESPN's telecast of the fight, it also will "air on ESPN Deportes in Spanish and be available on WatchESPN." ESPN will "have its own announcers call the bout rather than rely on K2 Promotions' English-language international feed." IMG had been selling the "international rights" for Klitschko-Leapai (ESPN.com, 4/16).