Zuffa Boxing and Sky Sports Announce Landmark Broadcast Deal
Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing has secured a multi-year media rights agreement with Sky Sports, a leading UK broadcast giant. The deal will bring all Zuffa Boxing events worldwide to Sky Sports viewers in the UK and Ireland, beginning with Zuffa Boxing 5 on April 5th at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas.
Expanding Boxing’s Reach with Sky Sports
The partnership marks a significant step in Zuffa Boxing’s ambition to reshape the boxing landscape. The April 5th event features a lightweight clash between Andres Cortes and Eridson Garcia, with a co-feature bout between Feargal McCrory and Mark Magsayo Sky Sports.
Five UK Events Per Year
Zuffa Boxing plans to host a minimum of five events annually on UK soil, all broadcast live on Sky Sports. This commitment underscores the importance of the UK market, particularly following the high-profile signing of British boxing star Conor Benn The Independent.
Conor Benn and Future Plans
Benn’s agreement with Zuffa is for a single fight against Regis Prograis, scheduled for April 11th on the undercard of the Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov bout streamed on Netflix, with a reported purse of $15 million. Mark Shapiro, president of Zuffa’s parent company TKO, has expressed a desire to continue working with Benn beyond this initial fight The Independent. Zuffa also promotes Irish fighter Callum Walsh.
Early Events and Future Ambitions
To date, Zuffa Boxing has held four events featuring up-and-coming fighters at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas, broadcast on Paramount+. The promotion aims to introduce a league format with Zuffa Boxing championship belts, contingent upon the passage of the Muhammad Ali American Boxing Revival Act Sky Sports.
Zuffa’s Ownership and Vision
Zuffa Boxing is a partnership between Saudi Arabia’s SELA and TKO, the parent company of the WWE and UFC. Dana White, CEO of the UFC, and Nick Khan, President of WWE, alongside Turki Alalshikh, a boxing fight financier, are the key figures driving the new venture.
Industry Reaction
Jonathan Licht, Chief Officer UK & Ireland at Sky Sports, stated, “Sky Sports has been a long-standing partner to boxing for more than 30 years. Zuffa Boxing has exciting plans for the sport, and we share that same ambition when it comes to putting on the best fights for our customers.” Dana White added, “The UK has played such a pivotal role throughout the history of boxing. This is a massive milestone for Zuffa Boxing.” The Independent.