Premier Boxing Champions 2015: Fight Card and TV for April 11
A total of three world champions will be in action on Saturday at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the next installment of Premier Boxing Champions on NBC. With three titleholders fighting, you'd expect the gold to be on the line for each of them. However, only one title is at stake for the event.
WBO middleweight champion "Irish" Andy Lee (34-2, 24 KO) will defend his title against the former holder of the belt, Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin (31-0, 22 KO). In the main event, WBA and WBC light welterweight champion Danny "Swift" Garcia (29-0, 17 KO) will face IBF light welterweight champ Lamont "Havoc" Peterson (33-2-1, 17 KO) at a 143-pound catchweight. Unfortunately, neither man's titles are on the line.
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The stakes are still high, though. The winner will be in position to make a strong move to the 147-pound division, where most of the more lucrative fights are available.
Here's the viewing information and specifics for the event.
When: Saturday, April 11 at 8:30 p.m. ET
Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn
TV: NBC
Live Stream: NBC Online
Reasons to Watch Lee vs. Quillin
There's a Legitimate Title on the Line
World titles don't mean as much as they used to, but Lee's WBO crown is fairly legit. Quillin held it for nearly two years before he vacated the belt rather than face mandatory challenger Matt Korobov as part of his HBO deal, per ESPN.com's Dan Rafael.
Quillin wanted to sign with Al Haymon, which he has done, and be a part of the PBC movement. He took his chances by abandoning the title. The scrap with Lee isn't exactly a pay-per-view bout, but it does represent prime placement and an opportunity for Quillin to regain his title on his terms.
When Quillin dumped the WBO strap, Lee fought and defeated Korobov by a spectacular one-punch KO to win the title. Fast forward to Saturday, and things have come full circle, with Lee defending the title against the undefeated fighter who never lost the belt in the ring.
That's pretty compelling.
Lee's Unpredictable One-Punch Power
Korobov wasn't the only opponent Lee has stopped dramatically. In the fight prior to the win over Korobov, Lee decimated John Jackson in the fifth round with one shot. Like the fight against Korobov, Lee appeared to be losing when lightning struck and he vanquished his foe.
It seems less likely he'd be able to do the same thing to a slick boxer like Quillin, but Kid Chocolate's chin hasn't ever really been tested. If Lee connects, we'll find out a lot about Quillin's durability. As expected, Lee is confident about his pending title defense. Per Lem Satterfield of PBC.com, Lee said:
"I'm looking forward to returning to New York and defending my title against Quillin. I'm at the peak of my powers now. I cannot see myself losing to anyone. I want to be recognized as the best [160-pound fighter] in the world, and beating Quillin will go some way to proving that.
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Reasons to Watch Garcia vs. Peterson
Champion vs. Champion
Though the titles aren't on the line, this fight is almost like a 140-pound unification bout. With the WBO 140-pound title vacated, Garcia and Peterson are the only recognized world champions in the division.
Though it's tarnished by the catchweight, it's still great to see the two best fighters in the weight class squaring off against each other.
Potential Opponent for Mayweather-Pacquiao Winner
Many expect a rematch for Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao after the initial bout, but if the two don't renew acquaintances immediately, the winner of Garcia vs. Peterson would be a logical fit for the man who emerges victorious from the May 2 bout.
Peterson vs. Pacquiao might be interesting, but a bout between Havoc and Mayweather might end in a 12-0 shutout in favor of Money. Garcia would be a solid opponent for either man, though both Mayweather and Pacquiao would likely be huge favorites against Swift.
In any case, it's fun to speculate what the next step might be for the winner. On Saturday, we'll find out who earns the right to have options.
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