Showtime has announced its boxing schedule for December 2016 and the beginning of 2017, which features a pair of title unification bouts and a highly anticipated world title rematch.
The first of two title unification bouts is at super middleweight, where WBC champion Badou Jack (20-1-2, 12 KOs) will take on IBF champion James DeGale (23-1-0, 13 KOs) on Jan. 14 on Showtime. Jack and DeGale both fought most recently on an April 2016 card that saw Jack draw with Lucian Bute to retain his title and DeGale beat Rogelio Medina by unanimous decision.
The other title unification bout is a major welterweight showdown between a pair of undefeated champions. The heavy-hadned WBA champion Keith Thurman (27-0, 22 KOs) will take on the skilled WBC champion Danny Garcia (32-0, 18 KOs) on March 4, either on CBS or Showtime. Thurman is coming off of a thrilling unanimous decision victory over Shawn Porter, while Garcia most recently defeated Robert Guerrero -- who Thurman has also defeated -- and will fight this November against Samuel Vargas.
Between the two title unification bouts on the schedule is a Jan. 28 rematch between WBC featherweight champion Carl Frampton (23-0, 14 KOs) and Leo Santa Cruz (32-1-1, 18 KOs). The two fought in July in a tremendously entertaining bout that is a serious candidate for the 2016 Fight of the Year. The rematch figures to be similarly action packed as Santa Cruz looks to avenge the only loss of his career.
Here is the full Showtime Boxing schedule through the beginning of March 2017:
Jan. 28: Carl Frampton (23-0, 14 KOs) vs. Leo Santa Cruz (32-1-1, 18 KOs)
Dejan Zlaticanin (18-0, 11 KOs) vs. Mikey Garcia (35-0, 29 KOs)
Feb. 11: Adrien Broner (32-2, 24 KOs) vs. Adrian Granados (18-4-2, 12 KOs)
March 4: Danny Garcia (32-0, 18 KOs) vs. Keith Thurman (27-0, 22 KOs)