UTV Ireland has had a tough baptism since launch six months ago but the channel is committed to battling on and like many others seems to be turning to sport for its ‘appointment to view’ television.
In a month where fighting of various forms involving Irishmen in the US will be top of the agenda, Carl Frampton’s IBF World Super Bantamweight Title defence against Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. will be shown on UTV Ireland at 9.45pm on Saturday the 18th of July, live from the Don Haskins Centre in El Paso, Texas.
Belfast’s Carl Frampton won the World Title in Belfast in September 2014 in front of 16,000 ecstatic home fans. His first title defence against the USA’s Chris Avalos in February attracted a terrestrial television audience of over two million viewers in the UK and Ireland on ITV, UTV and UTV Ireland.
His second defence promises to raise his status even more being broadcast live on terrestrial television in both the USA on CBS, and Ireland on UTV Ireland.
“It is brilliant news that this fight will be shown live at primetime in the UK and Ireland and live on CBS in the USA. Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. is a young and dangerous Mexican challenger and I am expecting a tough fight. I feel I am the best Super Bantamweight in the world and I am excited to box in front of a huge television audience,” said Frampton
“Frampton has all the ingredients needed to become the leading figure in British and Irish boxing,” added his manager Irish boxing legend Barry McGuigan.
“He is a world-class boxer with a brilliant personality who has a fanatical fan base from all over the UK and Ireland. Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. is a hungry and dangerous young Mexican fighter who will be travelling to El Paso, Texas to rip that belt from Frampton. This is going to be a cracking contest for the millions of fans tuning in on both sides of the Atlantic.”
“We are hoping to build on the ratings success we saw for Carls’ fight against Chris Avalos earlier this year which attracted a peak audience of 200,000 Irish viewers who tuned in to watch the Belfast native beat his opponent in the Odyssey the last time around,” said Michael Wilson, Managing Director of UTV Ireland.
“We hope Carl will see the same level of support as he faces Alejandro Gonzalez Jr on July 18th.”
