NBC SPORTS GROUP PRESENTS FIGHT NIGHT BOXING SERIES

Quarterly Boxing Matches Saturday Nights on NBC Sports Network

Series Debuts Saturday, January 21, 2012 from Philadelphia

Main Events To Coordinate Multi-Promoter Strategy with Hall-of-Fame Matchmaker J Russell Peltz

NEW YORK November 22, 2011 - NBC Sports Group announced today the formation of NBC Sports Network Fight Night, a boxing series featuring premier boxing talent. Fight Night will debut on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2012 on the NBC Sports Network (which will be renamed from VERSUS on Jan. 2, 2012), from Asylum Arena in Philadelphia, Pa. The Fight Night cards are being scheduled in cities that are served by a Comcast Sports Group regional network, and the regional networks will help promote the events and have the ability to re-air fights.

NBC Sports Group will work with Main Events and Hall-of-Fame matchmaker J Russell Peltz on a multi-promoter strategy for NBC Sports Network Fight Night designed to produce the best quality fights. It is a strategy in which any promoter can participate to get their boxers involved in these programs.

"This is a unique approach to have multiple promoters competing to put fights on NBC Sports Network," said Jon Miller, President, programming, NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network. "That, coupled with the legendary matchmaker J Russell Peltz serving as our quality control expert, ensures that boxing fans will enjoy exciting and competitive matches."

"We are reaching out to all promoters to get involved in the series, and our priority is simply to make exciting fights. We don't care who brings the fighters," said Kathy Duva, president, Main Events. "We expect that multiple promoters will be involved in each of the Fight Night programs. All fighters who are willing to further their careers by engaging in compelling, interesting, meaningful matches are welcome."

"Fights in this series will be solid, competitive and exciting," said Peltz. "Borrowing the philosophy of the late Madison Square Garden matchmaker Teddy Brenner, my bouts will be made on the following criteria: Do the fighters' styles mesh to make an exciting fight? Does this fight lead to something? And would I buy a ticket to it? These should be good fights for boxing fans."

NBC SPORTS NETWORK FIGHT NIGHT SCHEDULE (All Times ET)

Saturday, January 21, 9-11 p.m. - Philadelphia

Saturday, March 24, 10 p.m.-Midnight - Site TBA

Saturday, June 16, 9-11 p.m. - Site TBA

Saturday, December 8, 9-11 p.m. - Site TBA

ESPN'S 2012 FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS SEASON OPENS JANUARY 6TH IN KEY WEST

By: Kevin Rooney, Jr., Dibella Entertainment

New York, NY (11/21/2011) - On Friday, January 6th, DiBella Entertainment will kick off the 2012 season of ESPN's "Friday Night Fights" with what promises to be an action-packed night of boxing, outdoors at Mallory Square, in beautiful Key West, Florida. Headlining the card will be WBC and WBA #9 rated Super Middleweight, Dyah Davis (20-2-1, 9KO's), taking on hard-hitting Alfonso Lopez (22-1, 17KO's), in a 10-round match-up. Opening up the show will be a can't-miss junior middleweight showdown between DiBella Entertainment's highly regarded up-and-coming prospects, Steve Martinez (11-0, 9KO's) and Jonathan Cepeda (11-0, 10KO's). Martinez-Cepeda is scheduled for eight rounds.

"January 6th begins ESPN's 2012 season with a bang," said Lou DiBella, CEO and President of DiBella Entertainment. "You have two huge punchers in the Martinez-Cepeda match-up, and someone's '0' must go. This is a terrific opener almost guaranteed to be explosive. In the main event, Dyah Davis looks to continue his climb toward a world title shot against emerging contender Alfonso Lopez. This is a helluva way to kick off the new year."

"We are pleased to be starting off the 2012 Friday Night Fights season from Key West Florida with Dibella Entertainment. Coming off a spectacular 2011 we expect the main event of Davis VS. Lopez to deliver action and excitement for our boxing fans," said ESPN Director fo Programming, Doug Loughrey.

The Florida-native Davis, son of former Olympic gold medal winner and world title challenger, Howard Davis, is two fights removed from his most impressive victory to date, a 10-round unanimous decision over previously undefeated Marcus Johnson (20-0, 15KO's, at the time). Davis followed up that win with another unanimous decision victory over the always dangerous Darnell Boone in October. Davis is hoping an impressive showing on the nationally televised ESPN network will move him one step closer toward challenging for a piece of the super middleweight crown. First though, he must get passed Lopez, whose only defeat as a pro came in a disputable majority decision loss to former middleweight kingpin Kelly Pavlik.

Puerto Rican Steven Martinez, who hails from the Bronx, and is co-managed by NY Giants Running Back, Brandon Jacobs, is one of the most promising prospects to come out of New York in years. A three-time New York Golden Gloves Champion, and 2008 National Golden Gloves Champion, the 21-year-old Martinez has everything you look for in an up-and-coming prospect; size, speed, and knockout power in either hand. Martinez recently spent time serving as one of the lead sparring partners in helping prepare reigning Middleweight Champion Sergio Martinez defend his title against Darren Barker this past October. Martinez was one of the featured bouts on the undercard that night, stopping the always tough Jay Krupp in the fifth round of their scheduled six-round junior middleweight contest.

Like Martinez, Cepeda is another can't-miss prospect, and a former Golden Gloves Champion. Cepeda, who is of Dominican descent, and originally hails from New Jersey, now lives and trains in Florida, under renowned trainer John David Jackson.

The bout on January 6th will be the first scheduled eight-round bout for both Martinez and Cepeda, as well as the first time either will be featured on national television.

The entire show is promoted by DiBella Entertainment. The show will air live on ESPN2, ESPN3 and ESPN Deportes at 9PM ET. A complete list of the undercard will be announced shortly. Tickets will go on sale soon.