Premier Boxing Champions 2015: Dirrell vs. DeGale Card, TV Schedule for May 23

Boxing returns to network television this weekend, as Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions presents an afternoon matinee from Boston on NBC. Andre Dirrell and James DeGale will face off for the vacant IBF world super middleweight title. Here's the viewing information for this show:

When:	Saturday, May 23, at 4:30 p.m. ET
Where:	Agganis Arena in Boston
TV Information:	NBC
Co-Main Event:	Edwin Rodriguez vs. Craig Baker

A Long Road to the Top

Dirrell was a 2004 Olympian and has been one of the biggest names in the super middleweight division for more than half a decade. He took part in the historic Showtime Super Six tournament at 168 pounds between 2009 and 2011.  

In the first round of that tournament, in October 2009, Dirrell lost for the first time in his career, to Carl Froch. It was a hotly contested split decision that happened in Froch's hometown of Nottingham, England.

Dirrell looked terrific in Round 2 of the tournament in March 2010. He was far ahead on the cards when Arthur Abraham got disqualified for striking and knocking out Dirrell after Dirrell had slipped to the mat.

After that fight, Dirrell was out of action for more than a year. He's gone 5-0 since but has been facing lesser talent. In 2014, he beat Nick Brinson and Derek Edwards. While they are solid blue-collar professionals, they're hardly at the level of Abraham and Froch.

DeGale is by far the biggest name and most talented fighter Dirrell has faced in five-plus years.

A Hot Contender Due for a Title Shot

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At 29, DeGale is due to finally take a step up and fight at the world championship level. His only professional loss came in 2011 to fellow Brit George Groves.

Over the past year, he's arguably been the hottest contender in the division. In 2014, he knocked out three solid fighters in Gevorg Khatchikian, Brandon Gonzales and Marco Antonio Periban, who had a combined record of 58-2-2. Gonzales and Periban had both looked tough against other contenders.

DeGale has been fighting just below the championship level and biding his time for years now. Dirrell is the toughest opponent of his career, but this still might be the best chance he'll ever have to take the big move up. 

DeGale seems to be approaching this with the proper epic magnitude. He's hashtagging his Twitter feed in advance of his big trip across the pond with #History:

A Very Good Potential Co-Main Event

The co-main event for this fight is an outstanding light heavyweight matchup between rising contenders. Edwin Rodriguez will be traveling down Interstate 495 to Boston from Worcester, Massachusetts, to face unbeaten Craig Baker. 

Rodriguez is a big-puncher who has lost only to pound-for-pound star Andre Ward at the professional level. Baker is unbeaten in his pro career and coming off a stoppage victory of tough Cuban veteran Umberto Savigne. 

The winner of this bout could get a shot at Adonis Stevenson's WBC light heavyweight title.