Zuffa Boxing to Sky Sports Deal Done

[keithmoonhangover]

So who has deals with Sky Sports now?

Not Ben Shalom.

[Ruthless-RKO]

5 Zuffa events in the UK.

[johnmanchester]

Wow that's crazy. We were assured on here that Sky was done with boxing.


Now, watch out for some roster announcements. Expect to see some Top Rank names jumping ship.

[Ruthless-RKO]

ZUFFA BOXING SIGNS SKY SPORTS DEAL, FIVE U.K. EVENTS PER YEAR

Zuffa Boxing announced Wednesday a multi-year broadcast deal with Sky Sports.

The deal will see all Zuffa Boxing events broadcast on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Zuffa will also look to stage at least five shows per year on U.K. soil.

Zuffa Boxing chief Dana White said: "The UK has played such a pivotal role throughout the history of boxing. The fans there are some of the most loyal and passionate in the world.

"When you talk about boxing in that region, Sky Sports has always been the home for legendary boxing fights. There’s no bigger or better platform to showcase the best boxing in the U.K. This is a massive milestone for Zuffa Boxing.”

The first event to be broadcast on Sky Sports will be Zuffa Boxing 05: Cortes vs. Garcia on Sunday, April 5, live from the Meta APEX in Las Vegas.

Sky have been out of the sport since the final event of their deal with Boxxer, which was headlined by Callum Simpson and Ivan Zucco last June.

After Sky's fruitful, decade-long partnership with Matchroom Boxing ended in 2021, their future as broadcasters of the sport was an uncertain one, particularly after they decided not to renew their four-year contract with Boxxer last summer.

But now they're back with a bang. Having signed with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions in February, Sky now have a second deal on their books with Zuffa.

Zuffa earlier this year unveiled the signing of Brit star Conor Benn, who stunned the boxing world by leaving Matchroom and Eddie Hearn to join the upstart promotional company, which is headed up by The Ring's owner Turki Alalshikh, TKO Group Holdings' Nick Khan and UFC president White.

Benn will next fight on April 11 against Regis Prograis. The bout will take place on the undercard of Tyson Fury-Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, live on Netflix.

Sky Sports and Zuffa will reveal a more detailed fight schedule for the remainder of 2026 over the coming weeks.

Zuffa's events are shown on Paramount+ in the United States, with their last event, headlined by Jai Opetaia's win over Brandon Glanton, taking place on March 8.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Sky have signed deals with two US-based promotions.

Non UK

[Ruthless-RKO]

Zuffa Boxing and Sky Sports sign broadcast deal that includes five events in the UK

Sky Sports and Zuffa Boxing have announced a new multi-year deal, confirming Sky as the UK and Irish broadcaster for all Zuffa Boxing events.

Zuffa 5, which will be topped by the junior lightweight battle between Andreas Cortes and Eridson Garcia in Las Vegas, marks the first show that Sky will broadcast as part of the deal on April 5.

On top of their American output, Zuffa Boxing's Dana White, who bought the UFC in 2001 and then transformed MMA, will stage at least five shows per year in the UK, with the first card being targeted for May.

“It’s not rocket science; we want to put on the best possible fights with the best fighters in the world,” White told Sky Sports. “Everyone is undefeated in boxing. That’s going to change over the next couple of years.

“If you look at how the UFC was built, I took everything that I loved about boxing and everything that I hated about boxing, when building that business. If it worked so well for the UFC, it should work even better for boxing.”

White added that he is hoping to produce a product that appeals to a younger demographic and that, while in the UK, he has held meetings with several fighters about joining a roster that already includes Conor Benn and Jai Opetaia.

“We will continue to sign, not only the best fighters in the world,” White said, “but fighters that we believe have the potential to be world champion some day.

“Over the last 10 years boxing has been very European, and here in the UK. There has been a decline in the United States. Our goal is the build in the no-brainers: The United States; UK; Australia; Mexico. That’s what we’re focusing on.”

Sky Sports’ Chief Officer UK & Ireland, Jonathan Licht, said: “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. We look forward to a new era where we’ll use our platform to both build stars and showcase elite boxing talent here in the UK and internationally.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

[johnmanchester]

Sky have signed deals with two US-based promotions.

Non UK

They're probably still figuring that one out

All the talent is signed to MR /QB

Who would they build a UK stable around?

[Coco]

Sky have signed deals with two US-based promotions.

Non UK

They're probably still figuring that one out

All the talent is signed to MR /QB

Who would they build a UK stable around?

They have a TV contract, they have big money behind them.
It will be easy to set up a UK stable

[Frostieballs]

Have they announced if they are working with any UK fight figures who might be able to sign up talent?

I saw somewhere they were working with Steve Wood or have I made that up?

[johnmanchester]

Sky have signed deals with two US-based promotions.

Non UK

They're probably still figuring that one out

All the talent is signed to MR /QB

Who would they build a UK stable around?

They have a TV contract, they have big money behind them.
It will be easy to set up a UK stable

Not while people are under contract

Although I expect you'll see the likes of Sheeraz and Adam Azim poached this year

[coneye]

If Zuffa have signed a deal with sky , and putting on 5 plus UK shows a year , I would imagine theres al lot of managers contacting Dana , and kissing his arse at the moment , Even if its to say , I manage such and such , he's tied up at the moment BUT were gonna be available soon

[keithmoonhangover]

From a business point of view, SKY will be looking for PPV cards. I wonder how that will fit in with the Netflix deal.

[tony1234]

Unless they are decent fights at decent times it won't mean much to most, hopefully they have a plan for that

[Terminator666]

All sky need now then is a decent commentator

[Coco]

All sky need now then is a decent commentator

The tug of war over Smith between DAZN and Sky.......

[black panther]

If Zuffa have signed a deal with sky , and putting on 5 plus UK shows a year , I would imagine theres al lot of managers contacting Dana , and kissing his arse at the moment , Even if its to say , I manage such and such , he's tied up at the moment BUT were gonna be available soon

[black panther]

All sky need now then is a decent commentator

The tug of war over Smith between DAZN and Sky.......

Left Hook Adam will punch his way to the biggest and best deal.

On a serious note, I'm not fond of Dana White and the Saudis coming into boxing and chucking money at it. It's hardly like they're building interest in boxing from the ground up or investing in the sport at the grass roots level.

They're in it to feed their egos and Dana White in particular to both feed his ego and grab a load of cash to feed his ridiculous gambling addiction (loses as much as 8 million USD in one night). Watch any UFC press conference or announcement and you can see he's bored as eff with it now.

I hope there is someone who comes along with some fresh ideas to build interest in the sport from the ground up and gets young lads interested in real boxing again not just old hardcore fuddies like us.

[Ruthless-RKO]

ANNOUNCED: Richardson Hitchins and Edgar Berlanga have signed promotional deals with Zuffa Boxing.

[keithmoonhangover]

ANNOUNCED: Richardson Hitchins and Edgar Berlanga have signed promotional deals with Zuffa Boxing.

I really like Hitchins, but Berlanga is a busted flush.

[rd350lc]

All sky need now then is a decent commentator

The tug of war over Smith between DAZN and Sky.......

Left Hook Adam will punch his way to the biggest and best deal.

On a serious note, I'm not fond of Dana White and the Saudis coming into boxing and chucking money at it. It's hardly like they're building interest in boxing from the ground up or investing in the sport at the grass roots level.

They're in it to feed their egos and Dana White in particular to both feed his ego and grab a load of cash to feed his ridiculous gambling addiction (loses as much as 8 million USD in one night). Watch any UFC press conference or announcement and you can see he's bored as eff with it now.

I hope there is someone who comes along with some fresh ideas to build interest in the sport from the ground up and gets young lads interested in real boxing again not just old hardcore fuddies like us.

I think you're right, there doesn't seem much interest from youngsters on the whole.
Not good for the longevity of the sport.
I wonder what the average age is of posters on here? Does seem like the older generation to me.

[Boxerbeetle]

The tug of war over Smith between DAZN and Sky.......

Left Hook Adam will punch his way to the biggest and best deal.

On a serious note, I'm not fond of Dana White and the Saudis coming into boxing and chucking money at it. It's hardly like they're building interest in boxing from the ground up or investing in the sport at the grass roots level.

They're in it to feed their egos and Dana White in particular to both feed his ego and grab a load of cash to feed his ridiculous gambling addiction (loses as much as 8 million USD in one night). Watch any UFC press conference or announcement and you can see he's bored as eff with it now.

I hope there is someone who comes along with some fresh ideas to build interest in the sport from the ground up and gets young lads interested in real boxing again not just old hardcore fuddies like us.

I think you're right, there doesn't seem much interest from youngsters on the whole.
Not good for the longevity of the sport.
I wonder what the average age is of posters on here? Does seem like the older generation to me.

This is an old style forum though, and a very small one really. Go on the boxing sub on Reddit or look at boxing accounts on Twitter and there’s loads of traffic and interest from the younger generation.

[Glass Joe]

Alot signed up in their 20/30s now in their 40/50s

[black panther]

Left Hook Adam will punch his way to the biggest and best deal.

On a serious note, I'm not fond of Dana White and the Saudis coming into boxing and chucking money at it. It's hardly like they're building interest in boxing from the ground up or investing in the sport at the grass roots level.

They're in it to feed their egos and Dana White in particular to both feed his ego and grab a load of cash to feed his ridiculous gambling addiction (loses as much as 8 million USD in one night). Watch any UFC press conference or announcement and you can see he's bored as eff with it now.

I hope there is someone who comes along with some fresh ideas to build interest in the sport from the ground up and gets young lads interested in real boxing again not just old hardcore fuddies like us.

I think you're right, there doesn't seem much interest from youngsters on the whole.
Not good for the longevity of the sport.
I wonder what the average age is of posters on here? Does seem like the older generation to me.

This is an old style forum though, and a very small one really. Go on the boxing sub on Reddit or look at boxing accounts on Twitter and there’s loads of traffic and interest from the younger generation.

That's really good to hear mate!

[Ruthless-RKO]

Zuffa sign up Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins

Zuffa Boxing have signed promotional agreements with Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins.

According to Dana White’s promotional organisation both have agreed “multi-fight deals”. After their recruitment of Jai Opetaia and Conor Benn, they represent the addition to Zuffa of two further former Matchroom fighters.

“Zuffa Boxing is changing the game,” said the Puerto Rican Berlanga, 28. “I’m here for the biggest fights on boxing’s best platform. I’m here to put the super-middleweight division on notice. ‘The Monster’ is back. Thank you to Dana White, Nick Khan [of TKO Boxing], and the entire Zuffa Boxing team for believing in my talent.

“I also want to thank my father, Edgar Berlanga Snr, and my manager, Keith Connolly, for always guiding me in the right direction, and this move is no different. This is going to be a special journey.”

The addition of Hitchins, the 28-year-old IBF junior-welterweight champion, particularly intrigues. Opetaia was stripped of the IBF cruiserweight title after agreeing to contest the Zuffa Boxing belt; Zuffa also recognise only eight weight divisions, which includes lightweight and welterweight but not junior welterweight.

“This is a major step forward in my career,” said Hitchins. “I’m very grateful for this opportunity, and I want to thank Dana White, Nick Khan, and my manager, Keith Connolly, for giving a kid from Brooklyn the opportunity to fight on the biggest stage against the world’s best fighters.

“With Zuffa Boxing in my corner, I’m going to show the world that I am a pound-for-pound, generational fighter.”