ESPN Offers Boxing Classics, Featuring Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali

It’s turn back the clock time Saturday, as ESPN will be featuring A grade prizefights, featuring top tier pugilists plying their trade.

With coronavirus making it’s way around the planet, live events are a no fly zone, so networks are looking to fill content holes. Last week, ESPN showed off highlights from the careers of such all-time all-stars as Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, George Foreman and Evander Holyfield. This time, the center-piece will be the 2015 clash between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao.

It was much anticipated, as any fan of the sweet science who isn’t a totally new convert well knows. Now, was the collision up top par, did it meet or exceed expectations? I will say hell no, but that’s for you to decide. Maybe with some distance from the hype, the 12 rounder will hold up better than I remember it.

The 2020 NFL Draft will be the lead-in, then, starting at 7 p.m. ET, classic will screen.

Joe Tessitore will chat with Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, who’ll touch on what hurdles must be overcome to return to a version of normacy, how the travel restrictions will impact the sport and what’s the latest on Fury-Wilder 3. The interview will air approximately at 9 p.m. ET.

Check out the the lineup with Draftkings Sportsbook :

Mayweather vs Judah (7 p.m.): This 2006 match marked the first time Mayweather would challenge for a welterweight world title. He had previously won titles at super featherweight, lightweight and super lightweight. Near the end of the 10th round, a brawl between the corners broke out after Judah hit Mayweather with a low blow, followed by a rabbit punch.

Pacquiao vs. Márquez 2 (8 p.m.): Pacquiao’s second fight against Márquez marked the first time the Filipino fighter would challenge for a world title at super featherweight. He was attempting to become the first Asian fighter to win world titles in four different weight classes.

Pacquiao vs. Cotto (9 p.m.): In his fight against Cotto, Pacquiao attempted to become the first fighter in boxing history to win a world title in seven different weight classes, while Cotto entered the bout making the second defense of his WBO welterweight title.

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao (10 p.m.): The event set records for the largest grossing live gate ($72 million) and the most pay-per-view buys (4.6 million) in combat sports history. The fight served as a unification bout, with Mayweather defending the WBA and WBC welterweight titles and Pacquiao defending the WBO title.

ESPN Boxing Schedule Saturday, April 25