FITE Extends its Reach in the UK and Ireland with Netgem TV Launch

Press Release: New York, USA + London, UK, 22 June 2020: FITE,  the premium global platform for sports and entertainment, announced today their launch on Netgem TV, the TV service designed for modern and savvy viewers in the UK and Ireland. The popular global app, which specializes in live combat sports and special events will be available immediately via Netgem TV’s growing network of ISP operators and enabled Netgem TV devices. 

 

Televised news and entertainment have achieved a heightened role in this worldwide COVID environment, and providing live sports have been challenging for many content providers in this sector. FITE, which cites the UK as its second largest market, has worked hard to provide its viewers and fans with premium PPV events from the likes of AEW, Top Rank, WWE, and Impact Wrestling in the last few months and recently have ventured into motorsports, movies, and music. 

 

“We’ve been acquiring some amazing exclusive PPV events for our fans,” said Kim Hurwitz, CMO of FITE. “We’ll be expanding our slate even further in July when other popular leagues are ready to return, plus adding brand new sports to the mix. Stay tuned, as they’ll be on Netgem TV.”

 

Also launching on Netgem TV from the brand is a free linear channel called FITE 24/7 which broadcasts a variety of combat events and specials, interviews and more – always on, always free – with new additions added each week.

 

“We are very excited to welcome FITE into our catalogue,” said Sylvain Thevenot, Managing Director at Netgem TV. “This new addition, along with previous efforts to provide a diversified content offering for everyone, comes as great news for sports fans, who can find in Netgem TV a wide selection of sports at a very competitive price.” 

 

About FITE

FITE is the premium global platform for sports and entertainment. FITE is available worldwide through its iOS and Android mobile apps, Apple TV, Android TV, ROKU, Amazon Fire TV. In addition, FITE supports Netgem TV, Vizio SmartCast™, Chromecast, PS4, Xbox, Netrange, Vidaa/Hisense, Vewd, Xfinity 1 and Xfinity Flex as well as 7,000 models of Smart TVs. Available online at www.FITE.tv. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook.  If it Happens, it’s on FITE.

 

About Netgem TV

Netgem TV is the service designed for modern and savvy viewers in the UK and Ireland. The platform offers the best of free TV, inclusive of premium content and the most popular streaming services. 

 

Netgem TV is powered by Netgem, which has over 20 years of experience innovating in Internet-connected solutions for Operators. Netgem is a leading service provider for the next-gen Fibre homes, with an evolving range of connected home products and services.

 

Netgem creates a unique and unified experience across TV and mobile, offering access to the best digital TV, music and video streaming services across the biggest names in local and global content.  

Material and Graphic Courtesy of FITE Used with permission.

For more information about FITE TV including schedules and list of compatible streaming devices around the world please visit: www.FIte.TV

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Thoughts On Navarrete-Lopez

As the sport of Boxing looks to continue trying to resume under the circumstances of the COVID-19 epidemic, some might ask when we might see fights that had significant public interest prior to the epidemic and under what conditions would such bouts take place. A conundrum that many world champions and top contenders throughout the sport will have to deal with as the epidemic continues is whether or not they want to compete. A decision that many athletes throughout all of sports are contemplating. For fighters throughout combat sports there is both a question of potential risk to their health due to the potential exposure to the virus as well as the risk every fighter takes each time they compete. There is also a second question that is asked. Whether competing under such circumstances is more of a risk in terms of a fighter’s position in the sport as well as financially than there is a reward by competing.

 

After all, it is logical for a fan, those who cover the sport like yours truly, and others to question how many top level fights can be made under circumstances such as an epidemic where numbers have not yet indicated a legitimate decline. What is underestimated however, is the opportunity this can present fighters. It cannot be overlooked that the COVID-19 crisis has had a severe impact on just about every aspect of everyday life. For many fighters who are not fortunate enough to command multi-million dollar paydays each time they compete, the crisis has also resulted in potential opportunities being taken away simply because the sport has not been active. With the sport attempting to resume behind closed doors, it does open up opportunities for several fighters to not only earn income, but also potentially move themselves into position for more lucrative paydays down the line depending on when life including spectators going to sporting events may return to something akin to normal.

 

What this crisis has also done is present an opportunity of a different sort for world champions who are looking to stay active. While it might not be realistic to expect many fighters who are considered to be the top stars in the sport to resume active competition when they may not be able to earn as much money from both purses as well as from live gate revenue seeing as everything for the foreseeable future will be closed to the public, a problem many top fighters and world champions will have will be by being inactive it might have an effect on a fighter’s skills over time. Two world champions have however, shown that there are benefits to staying active even if it comes under circumstances such as COVID-19. I am referring of course to WBO Featherweight world champion Shakur Stevenson, who competed on June 9th as part of the first Boxing card to take place in the United States since March in defeating Felix Caraballo in a non-title bout held in the Jr. Lightweight division.

 

Current WBO Jr. Featherweight world champion Emanuel Navarrete took a similar approach as he returned to the ring on June 20th to face a veteran Uriel Lopez in a non-title bout in Mexico City, Mexico. The bout, which like all the bouts we have seen that have taken place in Las Vegas and in Mexico, took place behind closed doors without spectators. Much like Stevenson’s bout against Caraballo, Navarrette moved up one weight class to the Featherweight division for this fight.

 

Although one should never go into a fight with a preconceived idea of what will take place as anything can happen at any time, this was a fight for Navarrette to test the waters of a new weight class against a “Game”, but ultimately over matched opponent. For six rounds, Navarrette used his complete skill set to dictate how the fight was fought and dominate the action.

 

What was particularly impressive about Navarrette’s approach was how he balanced his attack to the head and body of Lopez, as well as showing his patience in taking his time. In the fifth round, Navarrette dropped Lopez with a left hook to the body. Although Lopez, who entered the fight with an even record of 13-13-1, with 6 Knockouts, had all the appearance of a fighter who was thought to be a mere opponent, he did get up and did attempt to fight on. A second knockdown from another left hook to the body of Lopez in round six however, would end matters.

 

While there may be some criticism of this fight based on the record Lopez compared to Navarrette, who entered with a record of 31-1, with 27 Knockouts, it is important to remember that it was not uncommon for many years to see world champions take fights in between title defenses as a method to both stay busy as well as test the waters of a new division against fighters who are thought to be below their level. For many reasons the least of which being economic, this has been something that world champions have gone away from in recent years.

 

The COVID-19 epidemic however, has made such fights a necessity for those fighters both world champions and contenders, who want to stay active under the current conditions. As things remain uncertain both in terms of the crisis and Boxing’s ability to operate both efficiently and effectively under the circumstances, no one can really say with a degree of certainty as to what the future plans for any fighter might be until the circumstances of the COVID-19 virus can be something that can be controlled. In the meantime, for fighters like Emanuel Navarrete, the goal should be to stay busy as opportunities present itself.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

Flores Dominates Ruiz

Undefeated Lightweight prospect Gabriel Flores Jr. scored a dominant ten round unanimous decision over veteran Josec Ruiz on Thursday night at the MGM Grand Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. Flores’ quicker hands, lateral movement, and combination punching were the story of this fight as he controlled the tempo of the combat from the opening bell. The highlight of this fight beyond Flores’ overall performance came in round two when he landed a flush left hook to the jaw followed by a right hand that sent Ruiz down. Ruiz remained “Game “ throughout the entire fight, but could not land anything significant to turn the ebb and flow in his favor as he consistently followed Flores around and sustained punishment as he came forward. At the conclusion of this bout all three judges turned in identical scores giving Flores every round 100-89. Gabriel Flores Jr. advances to 18-0, with 6 Knockouts. Josec Ruiz falls to 21-3-3, with 14 Knockouts 

 

Also on this card:

 

Super-Middleweight Clay Collard pounded out a six round split decision over previously undefeated David Kaminsky. Collard forced the fight in close from the opening bell and cut Kaminsky over the left eye as a result of a punch in round one. Collard’s non-stop aggression and out landing Kaminsky was enough to earn a hard fought split decision with all three judges turning in identical scores of 58-56, but two of the scorecards were scored in Collard’s favor. Clay Collard advances to 7-2-3, with 2 Knockouts. David Kaminsky falls to 6-1, with 3 Knockouts.

 

 

In a battle of undefeated Bantamweights Robert Rodriguez scored a second round stoppage of previously unbeaten Adrian Servin. After an uneventful first round Rodriguez stepped up the pressure and dropped Servin with a body shot followed by a hook to the head. Although Servin, who was moving up two weight classes was able to get up, he had no answer for the follow up barrage by Rodriguez and the fight was stopped at 2:48 of round two. Robert Rodriguez advances to 8-0-1, with 4 Knockouts. Adrian Servin falls to 9-1-1, with 3 Knockouts.

 

Unbeaten Jr. Welterweight Victor Rodriguez scored a workmanlike four round unanimous decision over Justin Horsley. All three judges scored every round in favor of Rodriguez 40-36. Victor Rodriguez advances to 3-0, with 1 Knockout. Justin Horsley falls to 0-3, with 0 Knockouts.

 

Undefeated Jr. Lightweight Frevian Gonzalez scored a four round unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Jose Martinez. Despite the fight being closely fought from start to finish where neither fighter was able to stand out clearly, the three official judges felt Gonzalez had done enough to win a unanimous decision. Official scores were 39-37 (On two scorecards) and 40-36 in favor of Gonzalez. Frevian Gonzalez advances to 3-0, with 1 Knockout. Jose Martinez falls to 2-1, with 1 Knockout.

 

The original main event that was scheduled for this card between former two-division world champion Jose Pedraza and Mikkel LesPierre was postponed on the morning of the fight when it was revealed that a member of LesPierre’s camp had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. In accordance with strict protocols laid out by the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) the bout was postponed and members of LesPierre’s team were moved into quarantine according to ESPN. Although promoter Bob Arum, his promotional company Top Rank, Inc., and ESPN have stated that they hope to stage the fight on a rescheduled date in July at the MGM Grand Conference Center, there has not been an official announcement made as to when that might happen as of this writing. We will keep readers updated on any developments as they become available.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

 

 

 

Plania Upsets Greer In Las Vegas

Bantamweight Mike Plania scored an impressive ten round majority decision over WBO number one Bantamweight contender Joshua Greer on Tuesday night at the MGM Grand Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. A bout where Greer was favored was drastically changed in the first round when Plania dropped Greer with a flush counter left hook to the jaw. From this point in the fight, Plania used his range and elusiveness to dictate the combat. In round six, Plania scored a second knockdown of Greer with a short left hook to the head. From rounds eight through ten, Greer sensing that he was behind on the scorecards began to step up his aggression and appeared to outwork Plania down the stretch. This momentum shift was apparently enough to convince one official judge that the fight was a draw at the end of the ten round fight scoring the bout 95-95. This was overruled by the two remaining judges who turned in scores of 96-92 and 97-91 giving Mike Plania a convincing victory that should be viewed as an upset. Mike Plania advances to 24-1, with 12 Knockouts. Joshua Greer falls to 22-2-1, with 12 Knockouts.

Also on this card:

 

Unbeaten Welterweight prospect Bobirzhan Mominov scored a six round unanimous decision over Cameron Krael to remain undefeated. Mominov consistently forced the action and backed Krael up with several right hands throughout the fight. Krael had his best moments in the last two rounds of the bout using lateral movement and combination punching to get the better of the action. The late rally as well as a point deduction against Mominov in the sixth and final round for rabbit punching, was not enough for Krael to pull the fight out on the scorecards as all three judges scored the fight in favor of Mominov. Official scores were 58-55 (On two scorecards), and 57-56. Bobirzhan Mominov advances to 11-0, with 8 Knockouts. Cameron Krael falls to 17-16-3, with 4 Knockouts.

 

 

Undefeated Middleweight prospect Nikoloz Sekhniashvili scored a workmanlike six round unanimous decision over Isiah Jones. Sekhniashvili simply pressed the action over the course of the fight and outworked Jones, who could not get into a consistent rhythm. Official scores were 60-54, and 59-55 (On two scorecards) in favor of Sekhniashvili. Nikoloz Sekhniashvili advances to 6-0, with 4 Knockouts. Isiah Jones falls to 8-2, with 3 Knockouts.

 

Heavyweight Hector Perez outworked Juan Torres over six relatively uneventful rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory. Hector Perez advances to 7-2, with 3 Knockouts. Juan Torres falls to 5-3-1, with 2 Knockouts.

 

In the opening bout of the evening in the Welterweight division, undefeated prospect Giovani  Santillan scored a hard fought ten round majority decision over former WBC Lightweight world champion Antonio DeMarco. A competitive fight from the outset, the two fighters spent the majority of the early rounds fighting in case and neither fighter was able to clearly stand out from the other. As the fight progressed however, it appeared DeMarco was able to edge ahead by applying gradual pressure and landing offense to the body and head of Santillan. At the conclusion of ten rounds two of three official judges felt that Santillan had done enough to win the fight in turning in identical scores of 96-94 giving him the majority decision victory, while the third judge scored the fight 95-95 even. Giovani Santillan advances to 26-0, with 15 Knockouts. Antonio DeMarco falls to 33-9-1, with 24 Knockouts.

 

Although some portions of this card were formulaic and did not offer much in the way of analysis, two bouts that were featured, the Bantamweight bout between Mike Plania and Joshua Greer as well as the Welterweight bout between Giovani Santillan and Antonio DeMarco could well see rematches at some point. Even in unprecedented circumstances and times of much concern for the world, Boxing shows us once again that it is truly the theater of the unexpected.

 

“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”

 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

 

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

FITE Enters VIZIO’s SmartCast™ TV Arena in New Distribution Deal

Press Release: By FITE- New York, June 16, 2020 - FITE, the premium global platform for sports and entertainment, announced today that they have completed a multi-year deal with VIZIO,  Inc., the #1 American-based Smart TV brand[1], for distribution of the FITE app throughout the United States and Canada. FITE will be added as an app on VIZIO SmartCast® , the center of the smart home. This is the first major domestic Smart TV deal for FITE, which offers premiere special events on a Pay Per View, SVOD and free basis.

 

“We’re excited to be available on VIZIO’s platform,” said Kim Hurwitz, CMO, FITE. “For fans seeking a variety of sports and other marquee special events on the big screen, they will have a tremendous array of new options with the FITE app.”   

 

FITE is known for offering live sports programming from around the globe. They specialize in  offerings from the leading combat sports providers such as PBC, Matchroom Boxing, AEW, BKFC, WWE, Top Rank, NWA, Rizin, and NJPW. As of this Spring, FITE has been expanding their event slate by offering platform-exclusive events in the motorsports world as well as movie premieres, BBQ competitions and even, jousting.  FITE will continue to expand with more sports and variety, with future offerings to include events like the South American World Cup Qualifiers and live concert events.

 

Michael Weber, COO of FITE stated, “I really admire the technology that is part of the VIZIO TV product. The fan in me is excited to deliver a front row seat to our FITE events on such a fantastic screen at a great value.”

 

FITE is now available on the VIZIO SmartCast™ line-up, just in time to experience the return of live GCW Wrestling on June 20^th and July 4^th, and the Monster Truck series debuting on June 29^th.

 

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About FITE:

FITE is the premium global platform for sports and entertainment. FITE is available worldwide through its iOS and Android mobile apps, Apple TV, Android TV, ROKU, Amazon Fire TV. In addition, FITE supports Vizio SmartCast™, Chromecast, PS4, Xbox, Netrange, Vidaa/Hisense, Xfinity 1 and Xfinity Flex as well as 7,000 models of TVs. Available online at www.FITE.tv. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook. If it Happens, it’s on FITE.

 

About VIZIO:

VIZIO, the #1 American-based TV brand and #1 Sound Bar Brand in America, delivers innovative entertainment solutions and value for millions of connected consumers. Formed in 2002 and quickly established as a daring leader, VIZIO has built a portfolio of industry-leading products that provide brilliant, awe-inspiring experiences while incorporating seamlessly with the smart home. The collection of televisions, sound bars, and the SmartCast smart TV platform are designed with the consumer's desires in mind, and have been rated America's Fastest Growing TV Brand with Quantum Dot and America's Fastest Growing Sound Bar Brand with Dolby Atmos. VIZIO product leadership is consistently highlighted by industry reviews and awards, which include 2019 Editor's Choice awards and inclusion on "Best of" lists from top review outlets including CNET, USA Today's Reviewed.com, Digital Trends  IGN, Wirecutter and Tom's Guide.

 

Material and Graphic Courtesy of FITE Used with permission. 

 

For more information about FITE please visit: www.FITE.TV

 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

FBHOF 2020 Induction Ceremony Postponed Until 2021

It has been announced that the annual Florida Boxing Hall of Fame induction weekend that was originally scheduled to take place this month in Tampa, FL and then rescheduled for late August, will be postponed until the weekend of June 18-20th, 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic.

We will keep readers updated on any developments regarding the rescheduled weekend as they become available. 

For more information about the Florida Boxing Hall of Fame please visit: www.floridaboxinghalloffame.com 

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison

Top Rank/ESPN 6/16/2020 Weights From Las Vegas

The official weigh-in for Tuesday’s closed door Boxing card presented by Bob Arum’s Top Rank, Inc took place earlier today in Las Vegas, NV. The weights for the entire card at the MGM Grand Convention Center, which will be televised in the United States on ESPN and are subject to change are as follows 

Main Event: Jr. Featherweight - 10Rds.

Josh Greer Jr. 120 1/4 lbs. vs. Mike Plania 119 1/2lbs.

Welterweight - 8Rds.

Cameron Krael 147 1/4lbs. vs. Bobirzhan Mominov 152lbs.

Welterweight - 10Rds.

Giovani Santillan 148lbs. vs. Antonio DeMarco 147lbs.

Heavyweight - 6Rds.

Hector Perez 221lbs. vs. Juan Torres 250lbs.

Middleweight - 6Rds. 

Nikoloz Sekhniashvili 159 1/4lbs. vs. Isiah Jones 158 1/4

*All bouts are closed to the public 

Top Rank Boxing on ESPN and ESPN+:  Greer vs.  Plania takes place tomorrow (Tuesday, June 16th) at the MGM Grand Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV. The card can be seen in the United States on ESPN as well through the ESPN app featuring ESPN+ on mobile, tablet, and connected streaming devices. Check your local listings internationally.

For more information about Top Rank Boxing on ESPN, ESPN, and to subscribe to ESPN+ please visit:

www.toprank.com www.ESPN.com plus.espn.com

The Boxing Truth®️ is a registered trademark of Beau Denison All Rights Reserved.

Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison