Sky Sports reveals new chapter in boxing with Top Rank and Boxxer

Sky Sports has announced details of its new generation of boxing coverage following deals with promotional companies Top Rank and Boxxer.

Sky Sports will show live Top Rank events from the US in the UK and Ireland, while the partnership with Boxxer will deliver fights from elite fighters from the UK. Following the partnership announcement in June, Sky Sports is also refreshing its boxing offering and brand with the aim of giving fight fans unparalleled access to the sport’s leading pound-for-pound fighters from across the globe.

The four-year US output deal with Top Rank gives Sky Sports access to the US promoter’s current stable of nine of the top 18 pound-for-pound fighters and a minimum of 18 US fight nights, while through a four-year promotional deal with Boxxer, Sky Sports plans to show around 14 UK fight nights plus pay-per-view fights and new formats.

As the new generation of boxing begins, Sky Sports, Top Rank and Boxxer are bringing fight fans a range of new formats with the aim of increasing competitivity in the ring. In addition to pay-per-view fights, viewers will be able to enjoy action in the form of Fight Nights and Boxxer Series Tournament shows. As well as high-quality boxing, the tournament shows are designed to bring more of an event feel to screens in the hope of attracting new audiences to the sport. They will also provide opportunities for amateur boxers to fight on the big stage.

Alongside the British Boxing Board of Control, Sky is also furthering its commitment to grassroots boxing through a commitment to the development of up-and-coming fighters with plans to offer the live-streaming of amateur boxing events on the broadcaster’s platforms.

The Tokyo Olympics once again showed how important the amateur game is – whether at elite or club level – where boxing gyms can act as youth centres. Sky Sports and Boxxer are committed to supporting grass roots boxing and will feature a series of amateur tournaments and a new annual Cup match.

Boxxer Series events are one-night tournaments which provide opportunities and exposure for boxers across the UK, as part of a commitment to supporting the sport at a grassroots level in the UK. In partnership with Sky Sports Boxing, Boxxer Series events will be staged in every major UK city. An event has already been confirmed for Saturday 6 November at the M&S Bank Arena Liverpool. TV and radio presenter Vick Hope will be the face of the Boxxer Series events.

Boxxer founder Ben Shalom said: “We’re excited to continue the rich Sky Sports Boxing legacy and take it into a new era. We founded Boxxer to make the professional sport more accessible and create better opportunities in the sport for fighters. This long-term deal with Sky allows us to take that mission to the next level. The strategy will put fans first; showcasing the best fights from around the world and building the sport in the UK.”

Top Rank president Todd duBoef said: “Sky Sports has been home to the biggest sporting events throughout the UK for decades, and we look forward to bringing the world’s biggest boxing events and star talent from around the world to UK boxing fans.”

Sky Sports managing director Jonathan Licht said: “We’re thrilled to announce the first phase of our exciting new boxing schedule and we look forward to working closely with Top Rank and Boxxer to deliver the best fights to Sky Sports Boxing viewers, and to showcasing some of the best up-and-coming fighters in the UK. Sky Sports customers will have more access to boxing than ever before.”

The first UK event of the new partnership with Boxxer takes place on Saturday 2 October when Wasserman Boxing athlete Chris Eubank Jr meets Sven Elbir at London’s SSE Arena, Wembley. They top a stacked card which features David Avanesyan defending his European championship against the UK’s Liam Taylor, unbeaten since 2015, and Cruiserweight contender Richard Riakporhe returning from injury to get back on the world title hunt.

Sky’s new coverage will also feature some of boxing’s best female fighters including a Super-Featherweight title unification showdown between Top Rank’s Mikaela Mayer and Maiva Hamadouche. In addition, Olympian Caroline Dubois also joins the ranks of Boxxer, alongside WBO Middleweight champion Savannah Marshall and unified two-weight champion Claressa Shields. Shields will be fighting on Sky Sports in the UK, after agreement with salita promotions to fight on Boxxer shows.

In addition to the new list of names, two-time unified world Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is set to take on Oleksandr Usyk at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 25 September, Live on Sky Sports Box Office.