Report- Triller/Madison Square Garden Have Fight Series Deal
As the Triller app continues to try to navigate through being a boxing broadcaster with their “Fight Club” series, a report Thursday says they have a deal with legendary Madison Square Garden in New York City to do an upcoming series of fights in the adjacent Hulu Theater.
New ESPN boxing insider, Mike Coppinger, reported Thursday afternoon, that the Triller series will commence in August with the rescheduling of Michael Hunter’s Heavyweight bout that was to have been part of the World Lightweight title card of Teofimo Lopez-George Kambosos In Miami last month,
Triller and MSG teaming up for new monthly boxing series at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, Triller co-founder @RyanKavanaugh tells ESPN. Tuesday night series begins Aug. 3 with @MichaelHunterII vs. Mike Wilson. @ChrisAlgieri in the chief support https://t.co/HlVf8qBABO
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) July 1, 2021
Triller co-founder Ryan Kavanaugh tells ESPN,
The series kicks off Aug. 3 with ESPN’s No. 9 heavyweight, Michael Hunter, taking on Mike Wilson in a title eliminator. Former 140-pound champion Chris Algieri will compete in the chief-support bout at a catchweight of 144 pounds against an opponent to be determined….
“We couldn’t be more excited to be bringing back ‘boxing Tuesdays’ at the Mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden, combining the excitement and purity of boxing with the innovation and cultural relevance of Verzuz,” Kavanaugh told ESPN.
Triller’s chief boxing officer, Peter Kahn, architected the deal and led negotiations with MSG. Kahn will oversee the boxing aspect of the series. Producers Swizz Beats and Timbaland will oversee the Verzuz rap battles. DiBella Entertainment will serve as the local promoter.
As we wrote previously, Hunter was to have been part of the undercard of Lopez-Kambosos, but that bout was postponed twice. The second time for the Undisputed champ testing positive and being symptomatic with Covid-19. It’s unknown when, or now even if, Lopez-Kambosos will happen.
Hunter (19-1-1,13 KOs) will be taking on Wilson (21-1, 10 KOs), as the feature fight in New York. Hunter’s last significant main event was his only pro loss in a World Crusierweight challenge to Oleksandr Usyk three years ago. He fought to a draw in Saudi Arabia (above) in December 2019 with former WBA World champ, Alexander Povetkin.
The 37 year old Algieri (24-3, 9 KOs) hails from Long Island, will also be a draw to the MSG fans and his opponent will be named soon.
A veteran broadcaster of over 25 years, T.J. has been a fight fan longer than that! He’s the host of the “Big Fight Weekend” podcast and will go “toe to toe” with anyone who thinks that Marvin Hagler beat Sugar Ray Leonard or that Tyson, Lennox Lewis or Deontay Wilder could have beaten Ali!
