WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING RETURNS TO TERRESTRIAL TELEVISION

LONDON (23 OCT) World championship boxing returns to terrestrial television thiscoming Saturday night (October 25) when Darlington’s Stuart Hall fights American Randy Caballero for the IBF world bantamweight title live on Channel 5.

The show from Monte Carlo – which also features middleweight bouts Martin Murray vs. Domenico Spada and Nick Blackwell vs. Sergey Khomitsky – will commence on Channel 5 at 8.30pm and conclude at 11pm, meaning fight fans will be treated to some two-and-a-half hours’ worth of world-class boxing.

Promoter Mick Hennessy, who put together the deal to bring this Monte Carlo extravaganza to Channel 5, said, “The world title fight between Hall and Caballero will be going out to a much bigger audience than any other world title fight in recent times.

“In fact, not since Carl Froch and Jean Pascal contested the WBC world super-middleweight title in 2008 has a world title fight taken place on terrestrial television in this country.

“Therefore, this is an extremely positive move for the sport and shows that there is still potential to break down the barriers and reach the mainstream.

“Channel 5 have witnessed the talent and marketability of fighters like Tyson Fury and Kid Galahad and are aware that the general public will show an interest in boxing if the product and the fight is right.

“Well, this Saturday night we have a brilliant product and a number of extremely hard-to-call fights, one of which is for a legitimate world championship.

“In an era when many boxing events are marginalised due to subscription channels or pay-per-view, Channel 5 have delivered a world-class event on terrestrial television, one that can be watched by the masses. That can only be an encouraging sign for the growth of the sport in this country.”

Stuart Hall, 16-3 (7 KOs), is a former IBF world bantamweight champion and one of the most exciting fighters in the country. To win back his old belt, though, he must overcome the significant threat of highly-touted Californian Randy Caballero, 21-0 (13 KOs), who has yet to taste defeat in a five-year professional career and has won his last five fights by knockout.

Meanwhile, in a WBC Silver middleweight title fight, St. Helens’ Martin Murray, 28-1-1 (12 KOs), looks to keep his own world title ambitions on track with a win against Italian veteran Domenico Spada, 39-5 (19 KOs). Murray, of course, pushed both Felix Sturm and Sergio Martinez all the way in world middleweight title fights and aims to finally strike gold in the New Year.

Finally, talented Trowbridge middleweight Nick Blackwell meets Belarusian dangerman Sergey Khomitsky over eight rounds.

“All three fights will be shown on Channel 5 this Saturday,” said Hennessy. “Credit to them, Channel 5 have given us a magnificent primetime slot from 8.30pm to 11pmand we will endeavour to make full use of it.

“Fight fans will not be disappointed with the action coming their way. This is world-class, competitive boxing at its very best.”

*** Hall vs. Caballero, Murray vs. Spada and Blackwell vs. Khomitsky will all be televised this Saturday night (October 25) on Channel 5, 8.30pm – 11pm ***