Sky Sports is no longer planning on extending Boxxer an exclusive contract for all its fights per the latest reports, spelling the potential end of an exclusive broadcasting arrangement that existed since 2021—four years. With the contract between the two companies reportedly ending on June 30, Boxxer will be forced to shop for new networks they can stage their fights with.
According to prominent British news outlet the Daily Mail, the four-year deal between Boxxer and Sky Sports will not be renewed, though Boxxer may yet be able to showcase its most prevalent fights on the UK-based network.
Boxxer itself seems unwilling to divulge the true nature of proceedings between them and Sky Sports, though one of their recent messages hints at the coming split, and potentially a new broadcasting partner:
“Boxxer has enjoyed a hugely successful partnership with Sky Sports in our first broadcast cycle, delivering a series of groundbreaking events and establishing as the UK’s fastest-growing and most innovative boxing promoter,” a Boxxer spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
“We are approaching the start of a new broadcast cycle and look forward to making a formal announcement very soon.“
During the initial partnership formed in 2021, Boxxer replaced Matchroom Boxing―headed by Eddie Hearn―on Sky Sports’ boxing scheduling after the latter opted to broadcast their fights on DAZN.
Since then, the Ben Shalom-headed Boxxer has been fraught with controversies, mostly related towards pulling established fighters out of purse bids at the last moment for reasons still unknown. With the promotion also recently proving unable to handle accommodating their best fighters or prospects, there appear to be plenty of reasons for the coming split between the two companies.
Potential new broadcasters to pick up Boxxer’s fights could be DAZN, to whom rival Matchroom is signed, or TNT Sports with whom prominent British promotion, Queensberry Promotions, only recently split with to join DAZN.