Frank Warren Signed For Itv

[Casey]

Just found out

[barryboy]

Here's the BBC report

Hatton, Calzaghe and Khan on ITV

Promoter Frank Warren has signed a deal with ITV to bring professional boxing back to terrestrial television.

ITV will broadcast 20 shows a year, including IBF light welterweight champion Ricky Hatton and WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe.

The first show will feature the pro debut of Olympic hero Amir Khan (Reported to be against David Bailey).

Khan features on the undercard of Matt Skelton's British heavyweight title defence against Danny Williams at the Bolton Arena on 16 July.

On 23 July, British and Commonwealth super featherweight champion Alex Arthur will attempt to win the European title against Boris Sinitsin at Edinburgh's Meadowbank Stadium.

Warren spent 14 years at ITV, delivering some of the biggest names in British boxing including Frank Bruno, Nigel Benn and Naseem Hamed.

Just imagine what kind of figures exciting fighters like Hatton and Calzaghe will pull in

He and his Sports Network outfit moved to Sky Sports in 1995 but the return to ITV of new controller of sport Mark Sharman, a keen boxing fan, prompted Warren's return.

Warren said: "We saw the huge potential of boxing on ITV when we promoted the Amir Khan-Mario Kindelan rematch in May.

"It delivered fantastic TV ratings - to the tune of 6.3m viewers - that beat everything else that night and is the biggest Saturday night viewership this year.

"Just imagine what kind of figures exciting fighters like Ricky Hatton and Joe Calzaghe will pull in."

Also on Warren's books are WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison and WBO cruiserweight king Johnny Nelson.

Mick Hennessy-promoted British, European and Commonwealth light welterweight champion Junior Witter will fight live on ITV on 9 July.

Meanwhile, Sky is to continue its commitment to boxing and will cherry-pick big fights.

[elveiel]

I'm glad we have mainstream boxing back on ITV, its better that way. Although i'll see how it goes before i cancel my SkySports package.

[loangunZ]

whats ITV? is it like basic cable over in the UK or something

[barryboy]

No ITV is a free channel but they stopped showing boxing on it around about the time of the Benn/McClellan fight so there's been a 10 year gap in their boxing coverage. BBC who are also free tried their hand in boxing recently but the shows were on too late for a lot of people and I don't think they did very well. I'd expect the ITV shows will be on at prime time and they have plenty of good fighters to feature so can't wait

[JUYJUY]

One things for sure, and that is that Chris Eubank won't be welcome back to do any commentating or anything like that He left ITV for Sky Sports in about 1993 and proceeded to slag ITV off in the press non-stop.

[majestiC]

who would want to hear a man with a lysp commentate anyways

[elveiel]

No ITV is a free channel but they stopped showing boxing on it around about the time of the Benn/McClellan fight so there's been a 10 year gap in their boxing coverage. BBC who are also free tried their hand in boxing recently but the shows were on too late for a lot of people and I don't think they did very well. I'd expect the ITV shows will be on at prime time and they have plenty of good fighters to feature so can't wait

BBC is free?? I wish mate

[Martin (Top Knowledge)]

Boxing on prime time terrestrial tv is nothing but GOOD for our sport.

[barryboy]

BBC is free?? I wish mate

I don't get you bro, I've never had to pay to watch anything on that channel and you don't subscribe to it either so I'm as confused as you.