updated 9:15 a.m. ET Feb. 24, 2004

NEW YORK - Boxing returns to network television for a second straight year with a series of five Saturday cards beginning April 17 on NBC.

The fights, which will air for five straight weeks, will feature such fighters as Olympic silver medalist Rocky Juarez, unbeaten in 19 fights as a pro, and promising junior welterweight Francisco Bojado.

NBC began televising fights last year after an 11-year absence, showing three fight cards that got respectable ratings. NBC’s Telemundo network will again televise an hour-long undercard in Spanish before the 90-minute NBC telecast begins.

NBC Sports president Ken Schanzer said the network was pleased with the response from last year’s fights involving fighters promoted by Main Events and will continue to show the same fighters so fans can follow their careers.

“We think this is a terrific product and that it will only enhance and grow over the years to come,” Schanzer said. “These stories take time and we intend to follow them all the way. A lot of it will depend on the reaction of the sponsors and the kind of audience we get.”

The first card on April 17 will feature Juan Diaz of Houston (23-0, 11 knockouts) against Martin O’Malley (21-2-1, 14 knockouts) of Edmonds, Wash., in a 10-round lightweight contest.

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