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NBC's Premier Boxing Champions Returns to NBC Saturday

By: Apr. 13, 2016
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NBC's Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) returns to Brooklyn in primetime this Saturday, April 16 live at 8:30 p.m. ET, highlighted by a 10-round welterweight bout between the undefeated Errol "The Truth" Spence Jr. (19-0) and former champion Chris Algieri (21-2) from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

NBC's coverage also features Krzysztof Glowacki (25-0) making the first defense of his cruiserweight championship against two-time former champion Steve "U.S.S." Cunningham (28-7-1). In addition, "Sir"Marcus Browne (17-0) faces Radivoje "Hot Rod" Kalajdzic (21-0) in a light heavyweight clash.

Kenny Rice calls the action alongside analyst B.J. Flores. Liam McHugh hosts the telecast, with Todd Harris reporting from ring-side.

A LOOK AT THE MATCHUPS

Undefeated Spence Jr. was dominant in his previous PBC on NBC primetime appearance, when he stopped Phil Lo Greco in the third round in June. Spence also owns TKO wins in 2015 over Chris van Heerden, Samuel Vargas and Alejandro Barrera. Spence had a decorated amateur career, which included an appearance at the 2012 Olympic Games. Since turning pro, Spence has dominated his opponents, knocking out 16 of 19 and winning the other 3 fights by overwhelming decisions.

Algieri gained wide recognition in June 2014 at Barclays Center when he upset Ruslan Provodnikov for a super lightweight title. He returns to Brooklyn for his third consecutive fight after earning a unanimous decision over Erick Bone in December. The former kickboxing champion grew up just 40 miles east of Barclays Center in Huntington, N.Y. His victory over Provodnikov earned him a shot at Manny Pacquiao in Nov. 2014, a bout that Algieri lost. He had previously defeated Mike Arnaoutis and Emanuel Taylor on the way to his world title and now seeks a title in the welterweight division.

Representing the great fight city of Philadelphia, Cunningham makes his Barclays Center debut on Saturday. Twice a titleholder as a cruiserweight, he defeated Krzysztof Wlodarczyk in 2006 to capture his belt before defending his title against Marco Huck via a twelfth-round TKO. He became a titleholder again in 2010 when he stopped Troy Ross in the fourth round. The experienced veteran also owns victories over previously unbeaten fighter Amir Mansour, and scored a knockdown of current heavyweight championTyson Fury during their 2013 bout.

Glowacki defends his title for the first time after his sensational knockout of cruiserweight king Marco Huckin August 2015, in what was voted the PBC Fight of the Year. With the win, he became the first fighter since Cunningham in 2007 to defeat Huck at cruiserweight. Glowacki, a native of Walcz, Poland, fights in the U.S. for the second time on Saturday.

Browne, a Staten Island-native, defeated Cornelius White and Aaron Pryor Jr. last year before knocking out former world champion Gabriel Campillo in the first round in September. He followed that victory with a 4th-round TKO over Francisco Sierra in December. Browne had a decorated amateur career, highlighted by his appearance at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina but now training out of Saint Petersburg, Fla., Kalajdzic ended 2015 with first-round stoppages of Fabio Garrido and Gilberto Matheus Domingos. He had a brief amateur career (19-6) before turning pro at the age of 19. Since then, he has won his first 21 fights, 14 by knockout (11 in the first round).



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