Boxing will return to British terrestrial television, and to the BBC, after confirmation of a broadcast agreement between the organization and Boxxer.
The existence of Ben Shalom’s promotional organization had been threatened by the conclusion of its previously existing deal with Sky Sports, which chose against renewing it when it expired earlier in 2025.
Boxxer will re-emerge, however, on an even higher-profile platform, potentially enhancing the sport’s prospects on British national television decades after the BBC’s influence contributed to its popularity in Britain and two decades after – having broadcast the career of the British Olympic gold medalist Audley Harrison – its resources increasingly focused on other sports, such as tennis, athletics and soccer.
“BBC Sport and Boxxer announce a new broadcast deal that will see live, world-class professional boxing return to Saturday night primetime television and BBC iPlayer on a free-to- air basis,” read a statement issued by Boxxer.
“Selected undercard fights, features 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 new deal opens boxing up to all audiences, making the sport more accessible than ever. Full details of the first fight, undercard and BBC Sport presenting team will be announced in the coming weeks.”
Details regarding which of the BBC channels boxing will be broadcast on remain unconfirmed – as do details regarding its promising stable of fighters, who signed for them while Boxxer remained contracted to Sky Sports.
The popular European super middleweight titleholder Callum Simpson recently told BoxingScene that he expected his next fight to be with Boxxer, but Joshua Buatsi, who as a Boxxer fighter in February lost to Callum Smith, even more recently signed with Queensberry Promotions.
“Partnering with the BBC to deliver big-time British boxing on Saturday night TV is a historic moment,” said Shalom. "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.
“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,” said BBC director of sport Alex Kay-Jelski. “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.”
The development, though on a different continent, also perhaps represents a positive one for a sport potentially threatened by the conclusion of Top Rank’s broadcast agreement with ESPN.
