Boxing Social understands that big-time boxing could return to BBC television.
The free-to-air channel, which already broadcast fights on their radio station BBC Five Live, are rumoured to be expanding their working relationship with promoter Eddie Hearn. The 42-year-old, who has his own BBC podcast called ‘No Passion, No Point’, was at Matchroom headquarters yesterday to officially launch a five-year deal with DAZN. The multi-million-pound agreement will see all of their boxing content made available on the streaming platform and begins with the second season of Fight Camp on July 31. The event which spans over three weeks features the likes of Conor Benn, Joshua Buatsi and Savannah Marshall as well as the featherweight world title fight between Kid Galahad and Jazza Dickens, and much more.
The coverage may not end there, however. We understand that the BBC may put together a next-day highlights show on one of their television channels as part of a deal which may stretch to working with Hearn more and more in the future. Nothing has been confirmed as of yet and the Matchroom Sport Chairman gave this comment on the matter to Boxing Social when we asked him about it today.
“Nothing confirmed yet – discussions with a number of broadcasters,” he said.
At the Fight Camp launch day yesterday Hearn told Boxing Social, “There will be another announcement about another deal upcoming with another broadcaster about content, about building narrative, about additional exposure. We need to cover all bases.”
A deal with a terrestrial television channel like the BBC would make perfect sense for all parties. Not only would it bring new subscribers to DAZN, have more eyes on Matchroom Boxing but for the first time in years fans would be treated to some big fights on the Beeb.