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Showtime will thrill boxing fans with an explosive light heavyweight championship doubleheader when IBO 175-pound champion and former undisputed light heavyweight kingpin Antonio Tarver faces IBF world titleholder Clinton Woods at the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa, Fla. on Saturday, April, 12.
Before Tarver and Woods exchange leather, fans will enjoy the highly anticipated light heavyweight championship fight between WBC titleholder Chad Dawson and former world champion Glen Johnson, making April 12 the most compelling and significant night for the division in years.
“Thanks to Showtime and Dennis Hobson, we have created a very special night for boxing fans and an important event for the light heavyweight division,” said Gary Shaw. “Four world class fighters are taking the risk to reap the reward in a best against best scenario. Tarver, Dawson, Woods and Johnson are in the fights of their lives and I’m proud to be promoting them.”
“I’m thrilled that we were able to put this fight together and add it to what was already a sensational fight card April 12 on Showtime,” said Ken Hershman, senior vice president and general manager, Sports and Event Programming for Showtime. “These two match-ups are not only world title fights, but have significant career implications for all four fighters. I give them and their promoters a tremendous amount of credit for agreeing to take these fights. Saturday, April 12 should be a spectacular night for Showtime subscribers.”
Tarver, 26-4 (19), of Tampa, will be appearing on Showtime for a third consecutive time. A southpaw who owns two victories over Roy Jones Jr., registered a fourth-round TKO over Danny Santiago on Dec. 1, 2007, on Showtime.
Woods, 41-3-1 (24), of Sheffield, England, will be making the fifth defense of the crown he won via fifth-round TKO over Rico Hoye on March 4, 2005. It will be Woods’ second start in the United States and his Showtime debut.
In his last outing, the hard-punching Woods retained his crown with a unanimous 12-round decision over former light heavy champ Julio Gonzalez on Sept. 29, 2007, in Sheffield.
Dawson, 25-0 (17), of New Haven, Conn., – a ShoBox alum – will be defending his WBC belt for a third time since winning it on Feb. 3, 2007. In his last outing, he registered an impressive fourth-round TKO over Epifanio Mendoza on Sept. 29, 2007.
Johnson, 47-11-2 (37), of Miami, by way of Jamaica, is seeking his fourth consecutive victory. The former IBF light heavyweight champ has fought the best in his division throughout his career including title defense victories over Jones Jr. and Tarver.
Tickets are now on sale at the McDonald’s Box Office at the St Pete Times Forum and all Ticketmaster outlets. Charge by phone at 813-287-8844 or 727-898-2100 or log onto ticketmaster.com.
Tickets are priced at $27.75, $52.75, $102.75, $202.75, $302.75. Limited ringside seats are available at $602.75. Limited VIP Packages are available at $1002.75. Prices do not include service charges. For dinner reservations, the night of the event, call 813-301-6926 or log on to ticketmaster.com. Parking passes are available at ticketmaster.com.
The world championship doubleheader, billed as “TNT: Title Night in Tampa,” is being promoted by Gary Shaw Productions and AT Entertainment in association with Fight Academy and will air live on Showtime Championship Boxing beginning at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the west coast).
Showtime Championship Boxing announcers Steve Albert and Al Bernstein will call the action from ringside with Jim Gray serving as roving reporter. The executive producer of Showtime Championship Boxing is David Dinkins Jr., with Bob Dunphy directing.
For more information on Showtime Sports, including exclusive behind-the-scenes video, photo galleries and complete telecast information, please visit http://www.SHO.com/Sports.
