ESPN's FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS & NOCHE DE COMBATES Returns Tonight

ESPN FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS presented by Corona Extra will return for its 18th season tonight, Jan. 9, at 9 p.m. ET, live on ESPN2 with a 12-round lightweight bout between WBA #1 ranked Darleys Pérez (31-1, 20 KOs) and Jonathan Maicelo (2 [Friday Night Fights 2015] 1-1, 12 KOs).

The winner of the bout will be next in line to fight WBA World Champion Richar Abril. The 10-round co-feature will feature up-and-coming welterweight contender Francisco Santana (21-3-1, 10 KOs). The fights, from the Chumash Resort and Casino in Santa Ynez, Calif., will also be televised on ESPN Deportes' Noche de Combates presentado por Corona Extra at 10:30 p.m. and will be carried live on broadband Spanish-language ESPN Deportes+. The card is promoted by Gary Shaw Productions.

"As seen with last year's WBC Heavyweight Title fight, the resurrection of the Boxcino tournament and our Fall Boxing Specials, our goal is to continue to find new ways to surprise and excite boxing fans," said Brian Kweder, ESPN senior director of programming and acquisitions. "This season promises to be no different with several stellar fights either scheduled or in the planning stages and the highly anticipated debut of the heavyweights in this year's edition of the Boxcino tournament."

ESPN2 Comme [Joe Todd Teddy Bernardo 2015] ntators/Studio:

Blow-by-blow commentators Joe Tessitoreand Todd Grisham (@GrishamESPN) will again share ringside duties alongside analyst Teddy Atlas on ESPN2. Both Tessitore and Atlas are recipients of the prestigious Sam Taub Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism presented by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA): Atlas (2001), Tessitore (2010). Grisham, who will call the fights with Atlas during the season opener, will also return for his third season as studio host providing all the latest boxing news and highlights when not calling fights. Bilingual reporter Bernardo Osuna(@osunaespn) will contribute to FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS in English, and Noche de Combates (Fight Night) in Spanish.

ESPN DEPORTES Commentators/Studio:

Delvin Rodríguez will call the fights withPablo Viruega for Noche de Combates on ESPN DEPORTES and ESPN Deportes+, whileLeopoldo González and Claudia Trejoswill return as studio hosts. Hall of Fame referee Joe Cortez will make appearances in studio throughout the season and Osunawill provide reports and interviews each week.

Golpe a Golpe, ESPN Deportes' weekly 60-minute boxing news and analysis show (generally 4 p.m. Saturdays), will be co-hosted by Juan Manuel Márquez and Jorge Eduardo Sánchez. A Los Golpes (7:30 p.m. Mondays) will provide the latest boxing news and analysis with co-hosts Osuna, David Faitelson and analyst Julio César Chávez Sr.

Viewership and Ratings Up:
In 2014, ESPN Boxing on ESPN2 (including FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS and ESPN Boxing Specials - 29 telecasts) saw a 13% increase in viewership - 393,000 viewers (P2+) in 2014 vs. 349,000 viewers (P2+) in 2013. The viewership numbers are based on a 50% increase among household ratings (0.3 HH US rating in 2014 vs. 0.2 HH US rating in 2013).

ESPN's most-watched and highest-rated fight across all ESPN networks in 2014 was the May 10 WBC World Heavyweight Championship fight between Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola televised on ESPN. The fight saw an average audience of 940,000 viewers (P2+) and delivered a 0.7 HH US rating, making it the highest-rated and most-viewed fight on ESPN and ESPN2 since 2006.

Noche de Combates on ESPN DEPORTES (34 telecasts) saw an 18% increase in Hispanic viewership (53,000 Hispanic P2+ impressions in 2014 vs. 45,000 Hispanic P2+ impressions in 2013) and was up 50% in Hispanic Household ratings (0.3 Hispanic HH US rating in 2014 vs. a 0.2 Hispanic HH US rating in 2013). Stiverne vs. Arreola was the highest-rated and most-watched fight on ESPN DEPORTES in 2014, and most-watched fight on the network among Hispanic Households since 2010. The fight averaged a 0.6 Hispanic Household US rating with 87,000 Hispanic Household impressions and 122,000 Hispanic P2+ impressions.

Return of Boxcino:
The single-elimination, two-weight class tournament, which garnered positive reaction from media and fans in 2014, will return in 2015 and will feature eight fighters in both the junior middleweight and heavyweight divisions. The competition - presented by Banner Promotions - will take place throughout the FRIDAY NIGHT FIGHTS and Noche de Combates season. Telecast dates below. Fighters and matchups will be announced at a later date.

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