Al Haymon is preparing to move into the British boxing market from January by staging a fight between James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jnr on ITV Box Office.
The respected manager - long considered the sport's most powerful individual - has until now resisted the temptation to make fights in the United Kingdom despite having worked with some of the highest-profile British fighters, but is nearing an agreement for DeGale v Eubank Jnr to take place in London.
Unsuccessful negotiations had previously been held for the rival super-middleweights to fight on December 8 at London's O2 Arena or the Kensington Olympia where Eubank Jnr, prior to his participation in the World Boxing Super Series, had fought while promoted by Poxon Sports.
Haymon's influence - Floyd Mayweather has credited him with much of his success and his long-term shaping of the sport in the United States under the Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) banner has led to him recently signing Manny Pacquiao - is instead considered the key to finalising a date for January.
If his plans demonstrate the significant and growing interest in the British fight scene, PBC also now represents a potential long-term rival to Frȁnk Wȁɍɍȅn's Queensberry Promotions and Eddie Hearn's Matchroom, the most influential figures in the UK.
Both respectively compete via BT Sport and Sky Sports, and while Matchroom have most recently announced plans to venture into Italy and have already begun to do so in the US through streaming service DAZN USA, the promising platform offered by ITV has remained largely untapped.
It is also understood that both American and British bills will be broadcast by ITV, and not exclusively on pay-per-view television, and that British heavyweight Joe Joyce is central to their plans for multiple shows throughout 2019.
I don't see ITV Box Office taking off unless there's a big fight. Eubank v DeGale is probably the biggest All British fight Haymon can host right now as Joyce is not a draw (yet). If they're planning on putting some on free to air TV then that will benefit the name of the fighters massively before trying to get them on PPV. We could see some of his fighters coming over here though so I guess it mixes things up a bit.
Good for UK Boxing as we get to see more fights and more competition with Eddie and Frank but who will be promoting these?
joshj909 wrote: ↑09 Nov 2018, 05:56
I don't see ITV Box Office taking off unless there's a big fight. Eubank v DeGale is probably the biggest All British fight Haymon can host right now as Joyce is not a draw (yet). If they're planning on putting some on free to air TV then that will benefit the name of the fighters massively before trying to get them on PPV. We could see some of his fighters coming over here though so I guess it mixes things up a bit.
Good for UK Boxing as we get to see more fights and more competition with Eddie and Frank but who will be promoting these?
Based on what the article claims, ITV will be televising free-to-air PBC shows from the US and the UK. I guess one or two of them might by PPV's, but many won't.
Personally-speaking, I would have preferred for Haymon and Hearn to have established some sort of partnership, but they are increasingly becoming rivals. And the risk of this is the creation of another “Cold War”, whereby we might not be able to see that many bouts between PBC and Matchroom fighters.
joshj909 wrote: ↑09 Nov 2018, 05:56
I don't see ITV Box Office taking off unless there's a big fight. Eubank v DeGale is probably the biggest All British fight Haymon can host right now as Joyce is not a draw (yet). If they're planning on putting some on free to air TV then that will benefit the name of the fighters massively before trying to get them on PPV. We could see some of his fighters coming over here though so I guess it mixes things up a bit.
Good for UK Boxing as we get to see more fights and more competition with Eddie and Frank but who will be promoting these?
Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Nov 2018, 06:20
This has made me think what if Eubank-DeGale is on regular ITV as well.
Enlightened-One wrote: ↑09 Nov 2018, 05:44Al Haymon is preparing to move into the British boxing market from January by staging a fight between James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jnr on ITV Box Office.
Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Nov 2018, 06:20
This has made me think what if Eubank-DeGale is on regular ITV as well.
Enlightened-One wrote: ↑09 Nov 2018, 05:44Al Haymon is preparing to move into the British boxing market from January by staging a fight between James DeGale and Chris Eubank Jnr on ITV Box Office.
Box office is PPV.
Oh yeh. Missed that part. I'm assuming the US cards will generally be on ITV. Which is better than being on Sky or BN. PBC making big moves. free to air FOX in USA and free to air ITV in UK
