Promoter Boxxer, headed by Ben Shalom, has instructed lawyers to commence legal proceedings against The Times and Sunday Times in London.
Boxxer claims that inaccurate and incorrect headlines and statements documented in the publication over the last 18 months have had a damaging effect on their business, which has ultimately resulted in their exclusive contract with Sky Sports not being renewed.
Boxxer are now looking for a broadcast deal, but the Sky Sports contract is a prized asset and hugely-sought after in the British boxing market.
A source close to the promotional stable told BoxingScene that The Sunday Times and Times has published headlines, statements, and articles that are both inaccurate and misleading, centred around an “affiliation” with Mazhar Majeed.
Advisor Majeed worked with Boxxer on the Sky Sports Box Office bout between Amir Khan and Kell Brook, and he works with Chris Eubank Jnr and Joshua Buatsi, two fighters promoted by Boxxer. Majeed has been in headlines since 2010 when he was involved in a Pakistani cricket spot-fixing scandal. Among other claims at the time, Majeed had told undercover tabloid reporters when a Pakistani bowler would bowl a no ball. He was then arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud bookmakers and, in 2011, Majeed was sentenced to 32 months in prison having been convicted for “conspiracy to make corrupt payments” and “conspiracy to allow others to cheat at gambling.”
But BoxingScene understands that while the stories focused purely on the relationship Boxxer and Majeed, the agent – who does not hold a manager's licence with the British Boxing Board of Control – has also in that time worked with, and had discussions with, other leading promoters.
Majeed has served his time for his crimes but it is understood that the negative publicity surrounding his work with Boxxer is one of the reasons why the broadcast giants, Sky, have moved on.
A source said Boxxer had “no legal or corporate” relationship with Majeed and it is believed that there were more than 10 similar articles across both Times publications that followed a similar theme, and directed both accusations and scrutiny only at Boxxer and not other promotional stables for their dealings with other agents and advisors.
Boxxer’s concerns stem from efforts, the promotional outfit believe, to damage their commercial interests and distort their business relationships via unsubstantiated claims, and insiders linked to Boxxer contend that the negative publicity has impacted commercial relationships.
BoxingScene understands that the promoter will seek formal corrections and accountability as part of the IPSO Editors’ Code.
The Times and Sunday Times will likely have completed rounds of due diligence before running the articles, but it is the cumulative nature of them that has caused such a significant issue. As a consequence, Boxxer is now committed to taking robust action, despite the reputation and resources of the publication.
Boxxer’s stable includes the likes of Chris Billam-Smith, Adam Azim, Callum Simpson, Caroline Dubois, Buatsi, Eubank Jnr, Lauren Price and Natasha Jonas.
Sky Sports have yet to reveal how boxing will fit into their broadcast portfolio moving forward. They have had a long-standing relationship with the sport, and BoxingScene understands that they do want to stay involved in some capacity rather than sunset their boxing programming entirely.
However, with Top Rank’s ESPN deal in the US also at an end, it means Sky no longer has the UK rights to Top Rank shows, so Brian Norman’s welterweight title defense against Jin Sasaki was not shown yesterday. A spokesperson for Sky Sports said that they do not comment on broadcast details.
In a Boxxer statement, obtained by BoxingScene, the promoter said: “Boxxer has instructed lawyers to begin action against The Times and The Sunday Times for what it says is a series of inaccurate and misleading articles published over the past 18 months.
“The most recent article, published on 7 June 2025, contains significant factual errors which Boxxer believes have misrepresented the company’s business relationships and are causing ongoing damage to Boxxer’s commercial interests.
“Boxxer is committed to transparency and integrity in all its operations and will be pursuing appropriate remedies through the relevant legal and regulatory channels.”
BoxingScene contacted The Times for comment but a reply has not yet been forthcoming.