NBC Sports Group and boxing manager Al Haymon today announced a multiyear deal for 20 fights, with the first show to "be presented March 7," according to Richard Sandomir of the N.Y. TIMES. NBC "is expected to carry five cards in prime time and six on Saturday afternoons" of what is being called the Premier Boxing Champions series. The remaining nine shows "will be on NBCSN in prime time." Floyd Mayweather, Haymon’s "best-known fighter, will not be involved." Instead, NBC and NBCSN’s "stars" will be Adrien Broner, John Molina and Robert Guerrero. A source said that in what is "called a time-buy arrangement, Haymon Boxing will pay" at least $20M annually to purchase time on NBC and NBCSN to "show bouts that will feature Haymon fighters." NBC "will produce the shows, with Al Michaels hosting the NBC prime-time bouts." Boxing HOFer Sugar Ray Leonard "will be an analyst for some of the cards" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/14). BOXING SCENE's Jake Donovan notes it has "been nearly two decades since boxing has aired on free network TV during primetime, going back to the initial launching of Don King’s series on Fox." The Dec. '95 card "was topped by Mike Tyson ... knocking out Buster Mathis Jr. inside of three rounds." It "was the only card to air in prime time, however; subsequent shows aired briefly during overnight slots on Fox -- no earlier than 11:00pm ET -- before being moved to Fox Sports Net" (BOXINGSCENE.com, 1/14).
