Sky Sports Announces Top Rank And Boxxer Deals
Sky Sports has announced two new partnerships to bring ‘more boxing than ever before’ to its platforms.
The broadcaster has unveiled deals with US promoter Top Rank and the UK’s BOXXER, which it says will be the next phase in its ‘long and proud’ 30-year association with the sport.
Sky Sports will be the UK & Ireland home to Top Rank events from the United States as part of a new licensing agreement, while the BOXXER deal is part of the broadcaster’s ‘commitment to the very best UK fighters’.
Top Rank has a history of promoting events including the likes of Muhammad Ali, Manny Pacquiao, and George Foreman, and currently has the likes of Terence Crawford, Vasiliy Lomachenko, Josh Taylor and Mikaela Mayer on its books. Sky Sports will also be home to the promoter’s archive of content, which includes some of the most iconic fights in the sport’s history.
BOXXER, meanwhile, was founded by the youngest licensed promoter, Ben Shalom, and also includes former Head of Boxing, Matchroom Sport, John Wischhusen. A full UK schedule will be announced in August.
Sky Sports Managing Director Jonathan Licht said: “We’re very excited to partner with Top Rank and BOXXER to bring more world class boxing to Sky Sports. Top Rank are one of the biggest boxing promoters in the world, and our customers will now be able to see more of the world’s best boxers on Sky.
“BOXXER have ambitious and exciting plans for the sport in the UK, and we share a long-term view for boxing. Sky Sports has been a strong and close partner to boxing for more than 30 years and we look forward to continuing our partnership, giving a platform to the best fights at home and abroad and helping to grow the sport at elite and grassroots levels. We look forward to sharing more details with boxing fans in the next couple of months.”
Todd duBoef, President, Top Rank, said: “For decades, Sky has been the leading sports brand in the UK. The world’s biggest sporting events and boxing matches have been cultivated under the Sky banner.
“Top Rank is honoured to partner with Sky to continue to grow the sport both locally and globally for years to come.”
BOXXER founder Ben Shalom added: “Sky Sports has been the bedrock of British boxing for many years. We have been waiting for the opportunity to offer a transformative approach to the sport and we are delighted that Sky Sports has bought into this vision.
“We believe this will take the offering for fans to new heights. Sky will show the best fights from around the world alongside a powerful UK schedule.”
The partnership also aims to benefit the sport at grassroots levels, and includes a commitment to engage with the British Boxing Board of Control on how to ensure sustainable growth, as well as ‘developing initiatives to support grassroots boxing and the facilities to grow the sport’.
The move comes after Matchroom Boxing’s announcement of a five-year deal with sports streaming service DAZN, which will replace Sky Sports as the the broadcaster of its events.
