Sky Boxing Contract

[JamesPhilips]

https://iclg.com/news/23099-high-court- ... boxing/amp

Sounds complex and difficult to resolve

[Ruthless-RKO]

Here.

Summarised it

———————

TRIAL AND INJUNCTION DETAILS
• Former executive John Wischhusen barred from working with competitors pending a November trial.
• High Court of England and Wales granted interim injunction in favor of Boxxer Limited.Judgment delivered by Mrs Justice Hill on 19 September.
• Serious issue to be tried regarding possible breach of contract by Mr Wischhusen.
• Allegations of secret collaboration with Sky Sports while employed by Boxxer.

BACKGROUND
• Boxxer, a new boxing promotion company, was founded by CEO Benjamin Shalom.
• Mr. Wischhusen joined Boxxer as head of boxing in 2020.
• His responsibilities included setting up boxing matches and maintaining relations with fighters and broadcasters, notably Sky Sports.
• Boxxer secured a key broadcast deal with Sky Sports due to expire in June 2025.
• A draft agreement in January 2024 included exclusivity provisions but was never signed.
• Boxxer claims Mr. Wischhusen accepted terms orally and through actions, such as invoicing and referring to bonus entitlements.

ESCALATION OF EVENTS
• Sky Sports declined to renew its deal with Boxxer in May 2025.
• Boxxer alleged Mr. Wischhusen undermined negotiations by engaging Sky about a rival venture.
• In August 2025, Mr. Wischhusen announced his resignation; Boxxer discovered he deleted relevant emails suggesting rival business plans.
• Boxxer sought injunctive relief, claiming breaches of loyalty and non-competition.

COURT ARGUMENTS
• Tom Cleaver (for Boxxer) argued serious trial issues exist, with potential damages not sufficient to address risks.
• Asserted that Mr. Wischhusen's actions threatened Boxxer’s relationships and reputation in a critical developmental phase.
• Ognjen Miletic (for Wischhusen) denied agreement to draft terms, arguing the unsigned document lacked contractual validity.
• Claimed email deletions were attempts to protect sensitive information, not conceal wrongdoing.
• Proposed compromise to avoid contacting Boxxer’s fighters, staff, or broadcasters, while seeking other opportunities in boxing.

COURT'S FINDINGS
• Mrs Justice Hill found serious trial issues and agreed with Boxxer’s concerns over commercial stability.
• Noted risks to Boxxer's reputation if Mr. Wischhusen worked with a competitor.
• Declared that damages could compensate Mr. Wischhusen if the injunction proved unjustified, given Boxxer's commitment to continue payments.
• Balanced convenience favored Boxxer, noting Mr. Wischhusen's admission of communication with Sky during Boxxer's negotiations.

FINAL INJUNCTION ORDER
• Mr. Wischhusen prohibited from:
• Contacting Boxxer fighters or their representatives except on Boxxer’s behalf.
• Engaging in boxing-related work for others.
• Soliciting Boxxer employees.
• Corresponding with Sky about boxing.
• Liaising with third parties concerning Boxxer fighters.
• Trial for Boxxer’s claims and damages expected in November.

PARTIES INVOLVED
• Boxxer (claimant) represented by Tom Cleaver from Blackstone Chambers, instructed by Russells.
• John Wischhusen (defendant) represented by Ognjen Miletic from Henderson Chambers, instructed by Lawrence Stephens.

[keithmoonhangover]

https://iclg.com/news/23099-high-court- ... boxing/amp

Where's your source about Robinson and Scott?

[Flump]

After all this, I think Sky will decide that boxing is too much hassle. Unless they reconnected with Frank or Eddie, which is now highly unlikely, it's hard to see where they would go.

[JamesPhilips]

Thanks for the great summary

[keithmoonhangover]

After all this, I think Sky will decide that boxing is too much hassle. Unless they reconnected with Frank or Eddie, which is now highly unlikely, it's hard to see where they would go.

I'll bet you a BoxRec £1 that SKY are back in the boxing business next year.

[Spud MK2]

What about a foreign promoter?

[JamesPhilips]

What about a foreign promoter?

So they would just be televising foreign shows? Or you mean Wasserman? (Don’t they have a channel 5 contract?)
Almost all the big shows are on DAZN now…. What scraps are left for Sky? They’re cooked. Sky boxing is done

[Spud MK2]

What about a foreign promoter?

So they would just be televising foreign shows? Or you mean Wasserman? (Don’t they have a channel 5 contract?)
Almost all the big shows are on DAZN now…. What scraps are left for Sky? They’re cooked. Sky boxing is done

How about Rik Reeno at Ring Magazine?

[Spud MK2]

What makes me think A British based promoter is in an impossible position is the sky executives are demanding the chosen promoter hits the ground running by putting on ppv standard shows.

As well as that sky executive are demanding a rapid improvement in viewing figures.

There is another nightmare for the chosen promoter,

Ben Shalom got somthing like £36m the new
Promoter will get less

[keithmoonhangover]

the sky executives are demanding the chosen promoter hits the ground running by putting on ppv standard shows.

You love passing off a tall story as fact.

[Spud MK2]

I know you and others wil hate it but it’s true

[keithmoonhangover]

I know you and others wil hate it but it’s true

It's fiction.

[Flump]

After all this, I think Sky will decide that boxing is too much hassle. Unless they reconnected with Frank or Eddie, which is now highly unlikely, it's hard to see where they would go.

I'll bet you a BoxRec £1 that SKY are back in the boxing business next year.

Haha, I'll take it, and I hope you're right. Nobody fan give it a push quite like Sky.

[magnus]

Sky can't make that sweet, sweet PPV money from any other sport.

The problem is they need "names" to make it work. Eubank Jnr vs Brook in 2026 anyone?

[Spud MK2]

Theres a lot of posts that make sense of on this thread.

I received the following from Rob Selmes who
Is head of contracts at Sky Sports interestingly he copied in jonathan licht who is head of sky sports.

Hi Andy.

Apologies for not replying sooner. I am on half term this week with my kids and trying to take some time away from emails for a few days but nonetheless I am sorry not to have responded yet to your email from Monday

Jonathan and I, like you, are both big boxing fans and are carefully considering our next steps in the sport.

We have had incoming emails like yours from many connected to the sport and are always grateful for opinions and information. We are also obviously very aware of @@ as both a manager and a promoter, however he is one of many well established candidates to have thrown their hats into the ring and we must consider all possible options to ensure we can deliver the best for our customers.

Thanks again for reaching out. Hopefully we can say hello at a fight night soon.

Best wishes

Rob

[Spud MK2]

I then sent a reply

Hello Rob,

You are very kind to respond to me.

I want to stress I came to my conclusions completely
Independent of any promoter. I do not work for any of them which made it easier for me to come to my conclusion.

I fully understood you are paying due diligence to all candidates and your decision is not easy.

If it proves to close to call have you considered splitting the contract by giving 2 or 3 promoters a provisional number of shows over a short period of time to prove themselves. You could then give a full contract to your best performers.

With that said I am confident ‘&&& will prove to be the outstanding candidate.

I have taken up far too much of your time.

Yours sincerely

Andy

[johnmanchester]

Weird thread this

The mentioning /positioning of Steve Wood /VIP as a contender for the Sky contract is a weird note in the music here.

OP does know some inside track stuff and is correct only two people are specifically on Sky Boxing payroll - the others are under Multisport - but there's an agenda at play in this thread I think.

it was initially thought, the favourites are wasserman, vip boxing, hennessy sports.

I have never heard anyone ever put VIP alongside the other two as a contender for Sky TV, let alone a favourite. Looks odd.

[johnmanchester]

Theres a lot of posts that make sense of on this thread.

I received the following from Rob Selmes who
Is head of contracts at Sky Sports interestingly he copied in jonathan licht who is head of sky sports.

Hi Andy.

Apologies for not replying sooner. I am on half term this week with my kids and trying to take some time away from emails for a few days but nonetheless I am sorry not to have responded yet to your email from Monday

Jonathan and I, like you, are both big boxing fans and are carefully considering our next steps in the sport.

We have had incoming emails like yours from many connected to the sport and are always grateful for opinions and information. We are also obviously very aware of @@ as both a manager and a promoter, however he is one of many well established candidates to have thrown their hats into the ring and we must consider all possible options to ensure we can deliver the best for our customers.

Thanks again for reaching out. Hopefully we can say hello at a fight night soon.

Best wishes

Rob

Who is the "manager and promoter" you mailed them about that they are aware of?

[Frostieballs]

Weird thread this

The mentioning /positioning of Steve Wood /VIP as a contender for the Sky contract is a weird note in the music here.

OP does know some inside track stuff and is correct only two people are specifically on Sky Boxing payroll - the others are under Multisport - but there's an agenda at play in this thread I think.

it was initially thought, the favourites are wasserman, vip boxing, hennessy sports.

I have never heard anyone ever put VIP alongside the other two as a contender for Sky TV, let alone a favourite. Looks odd.

Weirdest thing is people posting anonymously….

[CaptainSpacerod]

Glad to hear that Ed Robinson is still involved. Comes across as a top bloke with a real love for the sport and a deep knowledge of it.

He should have got the lead presenter gig on Sky when they hired that woman with the glasses. He ticked all the boxes but I guess fell short in the most important criterion - looking half decent in a short skirt.

[KiwiRider]

After all this, I think Sky will decide that boxing is too much hassle. Unless they reconnected with Frank or Eddie, which is now highly unlikely, it's hard to see where they would go.

They got enough money to do small hall shows, and as long as the fights are evenly matched, people will watch.
They might even introduce the next 'names' on the way up. Sky used to be the kingmaker for that.
Boxing on Sky doesn't have to be expensive, it just has to be entertaining.

[johnmanchester]

Weird thread this

The mentioning /positioning of Steve Wood /VIP as a contender for the Sky contract is a weird note in the music here.

OP does know some inside track stuff and is correct only two people are specifically on Sky Boxing payroll - the others are under Multisport - but there's an agenda at play in this thread I think.

it was initially thought, the favourites are wasserman, vip boxing, hennessy sports.

I have never heard anyone ever put VIP alongside the other two as a contender for Sky TV, let alone a favourite. Looks odd.

Weirdest thing is people posting anonymously….

It says Frostieballs on your passport does it?

[Frostieballs]

Weird thread this

The mentioning /positioning of Steve Wood /VIP as a contender for the Sky contract is a weird note in the music here.

OP does know some inside track stuff and is correct only two people are specifically on Sky Boxing payroll - the others are under Multisport - but there's an agenda at play in this thread I think.



I have never heard anyone ever put VIP alongside the other two as a contender for Sky TV, let alone a favourite. Looks odd.

Weirdest thing is people posting anonymously….

It says Frostieballs on your passport does it?

I’ve had an account on here for years and haven’t just cropped up to make a point.

I’m an open book and happy to introduce myself! Hi my name is Jason Frost. What’s yours?

[CaptainSpacerod]

In the interests of full disclosure I'm happy to confirm that my NASA passport does indeed say Captain Spacerod