BBC agree groundbreaking deal to bring boxing back to free-to-air TV
The BBC have teamed up with Boxxer - which means top-flight professional boxing will return to free-to-air television - in a historic deal.
It comes after Ben Shalom's promotion completed its deal with Sky Sports. Boxxer penned a four-year deal with Sky back in 2021 and - following the conclusion of the contract - the pay-per-view broadcaster opted to not extend the partnership.
Over the next year, the BBC will air fights from selected events across its channels as well as iPlayer and the BBC Sport website. Boxxer is currently home to some of the biggest names in UK boxing, including Olympic and world champion Lauren Price.
The promotion was founded back in 2018 by the UK's youngest licensed boxing promoter in Shalom - with a focus on "innovating the sport to attract a new, younger fanbase" and to "showcase the most exciting British boxing talent" with world-class potential.
"Bringing professional boxing back to primetime BBC television, free-to-air, and to our extensive digital platforms is an exciting moment for us and for boxing fans. Boxing is a sport that we know deeply resonates with younger audiences and this deal with BOXXER enables us to showcase the next generation of British fighters - delivering top-tier national boxing moments to all audiences, wherever and however they want it,' said Alex Kay-Jelski, director of BBC Sport.
Selected undercard fights and behind-the-scenes content will also be available across BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app, BBC Sounds and the BBC Sport social channels. The BBC have vowed that the deal will 'open boxing up to all audiences, making the sport more accessible than ever."
Full details of the first fight, undercard and presenting team is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. That said, the first event is expected to happen by the end of the year. Shalom recently staged an an all-women's card headlined by Price and Natasha Jonas as well as promoting Amir Khan v Kell Brook, Liam Smith v Chris Eubank Jr, Claressa Shields v Savannah Marshall and Fabio Wardley v Frazer Clarke in recent years.
Speaking about the partnership, Shalom said: 'Partnering with the BBC to deliver big-time British boxing on Saturday night TV is a historic moment. We're proud to bring the most entertaining British fighters to the biggest possible audience. This huge platform will give our fights the exposure they deserve and helps us take the sport to huge new audiences.'
In 1938, the BBC aired the first televised boxing match in the UK: Eric Boon vs Arthur Danahar. The broadcaster has since shown professional boxing in the decades since, including Joe Frazier vs Muhammad Ali and Lennox Lewis vs Hasim Rahman - which was the first light heavyweight title fight on BBC for over a decade.
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