Showtime Championship Boxing returns Saturday night with a doubleheader of title tilts, coming to fight fans live from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. Headlining the marquee is the WBC and IBF super middleweight championship bout between Badou Jack and James DeGale and at Friday’s weigh-ins, both champs came in on the money.
Jack (20-1-2, 12 KOs) seized his WBC belt to toppling Andre Dirrell’s brother Anthony a month prior to when DeGale did. Like his foe, the Swede has retained his crown twice: by eking past George Groves via split decision and then battling Bute to a draw last April. Jack came in a few ounces heavier than DeGale when he weighed 167.25 pounds.
The co-feature will see IBF junior lightweight champ Jose Pedraza (22-0, 12 KOs) make the third defense of his title when he takes on fellow unbeaten Gervonta Davis (16-0, 15 KOs). Both men came in under the 130-pound limit on Friday: Davis weighed in at 129 pounds while Pedraza checked in a half-pound heavier.
The action will be televised live on Showtime beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/6:30 p.m. PT. As a treat to boxing fans, a trio of bouts will be telecast live on Showtime Extreme as well, anchored by the women’s WBO junior featherweight championship between Amanda Serrano and Yazmin Rivas. The Showtime Extreme action goes live at 7 p.m. PT/4 p.m. PT.
Showtime Championship Boxing Weigh-in Results:
Badou Jack (167.25) vs. James DeGale (166.5)Jose Pedraza (129.5) vs. Gervonta Davis (129)
Amanda Serrano (120.75) vs. Yazmin Rivas (121.5)
Ievgen Khytrov (159.5) vs. Immanuwel Aleem (158.5)
Thomas Dulorme (145.75) vs. Brian Jones (144.5)