It’s Showtime for Frampton v Donaire – U.S. network ready to show Belfast fight
It could be Showtime in more ways than one when Carl Frampton [24(14)-1(0)] takes on Nonito Donaire [38(24)-4(1)] on April 21st.
‘The Jackal’ welcomes a fellow former Fighter of the Year to the Belfast later this month in a fight that is being built as must-win for both.
The show has captured the attention of the Belfast public, will be broadcast around Britain and Ireland on BT Sport, and now it seems American TV want to air the clash.
In what is big news for Frampton, who wants a rematch with Mexican-American Leo Santa Cruz as well as a fight with another California Latino in Oscar Valdez, Showtime boss Stephen Espinoza is close to acquiring the American TV rights for the fight.
Speaking to Boxingscene.com Espinoza said his network is, “pursuing it aggressively and I think hopefully there will be an announcement within the next week or so.”
“I mean it fits right in with our priorities, not just our history with Carl recently but because of all our activity in the featherweight division and I think it’s just an intriguing stand-alone fight on its own,” said Espinoza,
“Donaire’s been a little bit inactive but he’s always been an athletic, entertaining fighter and it’s a tough match-up for him in Carl Frampton who’s one of the very best at that weight class.”
Showtime has proved the American TV home for a number of big Frampton fights, with both Leo Santa Cruz fights being aired on the network, not to mention his clash with Scott Quigg which was an afternoon broadcast Stateside, and his most recent fight with Horacio Garcia which was streamed on the Showtime Facebook page.
It’s a perfect platform for the former two-weight world champion to keep his name relevant Stateside and four-time world champion Donaire seems the perfect foe in that regard too.
It’s unsure whether the undercard will be picked up by Showtime, but it may be a massive chance for two if not all six of the fighters partaking in All Irish fights to get exposure across the Atlantic.
