CBS Sports reports that Manny Pacquiao’s July 1st fight against Jeff Horn will be on ESPN to kick off a new Top Rank series with the network. No word what the new alignment means with Top Rank’s longstanding relationship with HBO.
A Ring.tv report indicates that the new partnership with ESPN will also telecast Vasyl Lomachenko against Orlando Salido. In August, it will also air a fight featuring Terence Crawford.
The new deal coincides with ESPN’s current series with Golden Boy Promotions which features young prospects.
Payout Perspective:
The news is another attempt this week to usurp the news cycle for the Andre Ward-Sergey Kovalev. Earlier this week we had the Mayweather-McGregor news and now the Pacquiao on ESPN news. This could be a major shift in programming for Boxing and ESPN. An interesting move considering the number of layoffs that occurred at ESPN and that Top Rank has had a long relationship with HBO. With that being said, Pacquiao returning to “free” television (not PPV) should boost ratings for a fight that many would not pay $60. But, with it going being cable, it will be a ratings boon.
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