WBO featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson will headline the return of Top Rank Boxing on ESPN. The bout between Stevenson and challenger Felix “La Sombra” Caraballo is set for Tuesday, June 9.
That June 9 card will kickoff a month of action that will see ESPN and Top Rank making up for lost time during the Covid-19 Pandemic. A press release from the network promises multiple cards each week across multiple networks.
All of the Top Rank events for the month are set to take place in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Conference Center Grand Ballroom. Only essential fight personnel will be allowed in.
“I would like to thank MGM Resorts and the Nevada State Athletic Commission for their assistance in helping to bring back world-class boxing,” Top Rank chairman Bob Arum said in a press release. “We are all looking forward to a spectacular summer of live boxing across ESPN platforms. Shakur is among the best young talents I’ve ever promoted, and he is going to put on a show on June 9.”
ESPN will keep their people away from Las Vegas as well for the most part. Joe Tessitore will call the action from a studio in Bristol. Former world champs Andre Ward and Tim Bradley, as well as boxing insider Mark Kriegel, will provide commentary from their homes. Only reporter Bernardo Osuna will be on location for the fights.
