Sports broadcaster ESPN is set to acquire the US rights for world heavyweight boxing champion Wladimir Klitschko’s defence of his WBA, WBO and IBF titles against Alex Leapai on April 26.
Although a contract is yet to be formally signed, the ESPN.com website said ESPN has agreed terms with the IMG agency, which is responsible for selling the international rights for the bout between Klitschko and his Australian challenger on April 26 at the König-Pilsener-Arena in Oberhausen, Germany.
In addition to airing live on ESPN’s main channel from 5pm ET, the fight will also be broadcast on Spanish-language subsidiary ESPN Deportes and available to stream on computers and mobile devices via the WatchESPN application.
The agreement means ESPN will show two heavyweight title bouts in as many weeks, as it last month secured the rights to the rematch between Bermane Stiverne and Chris Arreola for the WBC belt vacated by Klitschko’s older brother Vitali in December.