The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) is concerned that smaller promoters will eventually go out of business due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The spread of the COVID-19 virus has paused the sport of boxing in the UK since early March.

The British Board is looking to resume the sport in the month of July.

But when boxing resumes, the events will be be staged in a closed doors setting.

Smaller promoters, who don't have the backing of television networks, will be unable to stage events - as the majority of the revenue they generate comes from the sale of tickets.

In 2019, the British Board oversaw 270 shows and the "vast majority" were staged by promoters who do not have television backing.

"They do a fantastic job but they need bums on seats to make any money," BBBoC's general secretary Robert Smith told the BBC's 5 Live Boxing Podcast.

"So we do have concerns on whether they can come back. I would say if we go behind closed doors, [all] promoters are going to take a big financial hit. But [certain promoters] have contracts with TV companies and we want to get boxing back on TV.

"Unfortunately we will lose some [promoters]. That is a business. If they are strong enough, they will survive, if they are not, we will lose some. We are trying to help some where we can but we don't have an endless money pit. It's not nice to say but there will be casualties but the strong will get through it."

The British Board put together a strict set of guidelines to ensure the upcoming events are staged in a safe manner.

"We have to keep things as sterile as possible," Smith said.

"What we were really saying is - as you know if you've been to boxing and see boxers spitting on the canvas - we are the same as other sports like football, where they are being discouraged from spitting during the action."