Showtime Boxing puts itself in position to build off last year’s successes with strong schedule to start 2022

If there was any criticism to be had in Showtime unveiling its loaded spring/summer boxing schedule on Tuesday, it was that the fluid nature of negotiations surrounding some of the higher-end fights delayed the announcement long enough so that many of the events had already been leaked through various media reports.  

The reality, however, is that Showtime took an impressive step forward this week toward its claim, alongside its presentation of Bellator MMA, for it being the industry leader in combat sports coverage. The robust lineup encompassing nine events over five months to close out the first half of 2022 largely speaks for itself in terms of quality and anticipation from blockbuster pay-per-view bouts to sneaky-good action fights aimed at serving the sport’s most fervent fan base.  

The names highlighting Showtime’s announcement, through it’s ongoing partnership with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions, are among the most popular and accomplished in the sport today, including Errol Spence Jr., Gervonta “Tank” Davis, David Benavidez and the world champion Charlo brothers, Jermell and Jermall.  

Among the matchups announced, 18 of the fighters are below the age of 28 while 21 competitors in all will bring unbeaten records into their respective fights. The announcement also features two title unification bouts, an undisputed championship rematch, seven world title fights and three world title eliminators.

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“The goal — and I think we achieved it — was evenly matched fights against top-tier fighters,” Showtime Sports president Stephen Espinoza told “Morning Kombat” on Tuesday. “That sounds simple enough and that’s what the sport should be everyday, whether it’s…