Broadcasters Marv Albert, Bob Costas and Al Michaels, who "have never appeared on the same sports broadcast" together, will "join forces" for NBC's "Premier Boxing Champions" telecast on April 11, according to Richard Deitsch of SI.com. The trio will come together "for a pair of boxing matches from Barclays Center." Albert (blow-by-blow announcer) and Michaels (host) already have "regular roles for the boxing series," while Costas has been added "as a special contributor for the event." Costas "will narrate and write a feature on the storied history of boxing" in N.Y. The "idea for the trio to work on the same broadcast" came from NBC Sports Exec Producer Sam Flood, "who called Costas and pitched him on it." Costas yesterday said, "We are all very good friends and we are more than familiar with each other’s work. I think it will just be a cool thing. Obviously there is mutual admiration and respect." There are "no plans yet to have a group outing after the event but Costas hopes it will happen" (SI.com, 3/31).
TRUTH SERUM: ESPN.com's Dan Rafael noted truTV and Top Rank yesterday announced a multiyear deal "under which Bob Arum's promotional company will put on a series of live Friday night boxing cards beginning May 1 -- the night before the Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao fight -- in Las Vegas." The series, "which will have eight cards this year, was announced as being 'in association with Turner Sports and HBO Sports.'" The first three fight cards -- including cards on May 8 and 15 -- "will take place on the eve of major fights HBO is involved in." Turner, "which will also assist in marketing, is consulting on the production of the series and will, along with Top Rank, provide the broadcast team, which has not been announced yet." The new series is the "latest in what has been a boom for boxing" this year. The truTV series is "not a time buy" (ESPN.com, 3/30).
