Top Rank 3/14 & 3/17 Shows Are Still On; Cards Across North America Canceled Due To Coronavirus
A number of boxing promotions across North America have made announcements in regards to the coronavirus outbreak.
Top Rank Boxing has announced that its March 14 and March 17 shows taking place at The Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden will move forward as planned with no spectators allowed. The only individuals granted access to the events will be essential production and support staff, in addition to fighters and necessary team members, and credentialed media.
As for future events, Top Rank is consulting with its venue partners and will make a decision in due course. In North America, Top Rank has cards that will air on ESPN platforms on March 28, April 25 and May 9, all of which have world title fights in the main event.
The March 14 show will be headlined by Shakur Stevenson defending his WBO featherweight title against Miguel Marriaga and it will be televised on ESPN. The March 17 show will feature Irish featherweight contender Michael Conlan taking on Belmar Preciado and the card will be streamed on ESPN+.
In regards to other shows across North America, CES Boxing announced that tonight’s show from the Twins River Casino Hotel in Rhode Island has been postponed due to the coronavirus. Toka Kahn Clary was supposed to be fighting Dennis Contreras on the card. In Canada, fight cards on March 12, March 14 and March 21, all of which were set to take place at the Casino of Montreal, have been canceled. The March 13 ShoBox: The New Generation card from Hinckley, Minnesota is currently scheduled to move forward.
This follows a number of countries who have also made changes to upcoming boxing shows, especially Japan and Italy. Matchroom Boxing announced that the February 28 and March 27 cards in Italy have been postponed and the Japanese Boxing Commission & Japan Professional Boxing Association announced that all boxing events have been canceled and postponed until April 15.
