TV3 Returns to the Ring with Free-to-Air Boxing   17 Jun 2016

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Friday June 17, 2016

TV3 Returns to the Ring with Free-to-Air Boxing

TV3’s stellar Friday night line-up is getting super served on July 1, with Kiwi professional boxing’s showcase event Big Bash Boxing screening LIVE and free-to-air at 9.30pm.

The broadcast of Big Bash Boxing LIVE from the ASB Stadium in Auckland marks the return of world class boxing on TV3.

“Our prime time audience is in for an action-packed night, with big fights, big hits and big moments,” says Andrew Szusterman, MediaWorks’ Chief Content Officer.

“Kiwis are huge boxing fans and we’re thrilled to showcase the next generation of great New Zealand fighters – live and free.”

Headlined by a NZPBA title fight between Gunnar “The Stunna” Jackson – a fighter who went 10 rounds with Anthony Mundine in 2014 – and NZNBF middleweight champion “Iron” Mose Auimatagi Jnr, the Big Bash Boxing card is chocked full of explosive encounters.

From David Tua’s world title battle with Lennox Lewis to Mike Tyson’s ‘ear-bite’ fight with Evander Holyfield and the first six celebrity Fight For Life events, TV3 has a proud history of bringing the biggest and best moments from the ring to New Zealand audiences.

“Joseph Parker is making waves in the sport internationally but is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to local boxing talent, and the line-up promises an action-packed night for those tuning in,” says Big Bash director Andrew Higgins.

Perhaps the best example of that is Junior Fa, the towering heavyweight who denied Joseph Parker his dream of representing New Zealand at the Olympics. Fa (3-0 as a professional) beat Parker at the 2011 Oceania Olympic qualifiers and also defeated the WBO and IBF’s top contender in a New Zealand national amateur championship bout.

“Junior is undoubtedly the most exciting heavyweight prospect in the country,” says Higgins.

Fa takes on rugged pro Junior “Red-Eyed Pitbull” Pati in the co-main event.

The card also features Shane Cameron’s undefeated protégé Ricky “The Ghost” Murphy – the current NZPBA super welterweight champion – and the notorious Brown Buttabean.

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Big Bash Boxing

- Two-hour 45-minute broadcast from 9.30pm to 12.15am on TV3

- Six pro fights featuring Junior Fa (the man who twice beat Joseph Parker as an amateur), Gunnar Jackson, Mose Auimatagi, Ricky Murphy, Nik ‘the Greek’ Charalampous and the notorious Brown Buttabean

- Pro fight card preceded by nine corporate fights

- Live streaming from 8.00pm at tv3.co.nz/bigbashboxing

- GA Tickets available via tv3.co.nz/bigbashboxing

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