MAJOR ANNOUNCEME​NTS FROM BOXNATION – THE CHANNEL OF CHAMPIONS

The Channel of Champions, BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546) has today cemented its position as the leading boxing broadcaster in the UK after bringing together some of the biggest names in British boxing.

BoxNation is delighted to make the following major announcements:

•We are in final negotiations with Bill Ives, Chairman of Rainham Steel, to acquire a major shareholding in BoxNation.
•After recent deals with Frank Maloney Promotions, Barry McGuigan’s Cyclone Promotions and Khan Promotions, we are delighted to announce that Ricky Hatton, of Hatton Promotions, has reached a co-promotional deal with Frank Warren which will see his stable of fighters appear exclusively on BoxNation. Part of the deal will see Frank Warren and Ricky Hatton co-promoting events on a regular basis.
•On Saturday 14th September, the fight billed as “The One”, Floyd Mayweather Jnr vs. Saul Alvarez will be screened live and exclusive in the UK on BoxNation.

It was September 2011 – almost two years ago – that BoxNation came into existence determined to offer a viable and sustainable broadcast platform for British boxing televising the best domestic and international fights, much of which would be otherwise unseen by a UK audience.

Since those heady start-up days, BoxNation has invested millions of pounds in the sport; from live coverage of the ABA’s to the epic Haye vs Chisora and from the home of London boxing The York Hall to the fight capital of the world Las Vegas.

With Bill Ives’ investment it will give further stability and financial resource to continue the growth of the channel and deliver the best of British and world boxing to our customers.

Today we have gathered together some of British boxing’s leading names who are all legends in their own right and a part of the UK’s only dedicated boxing channel.

BoxNation General Manager Jim McMunn said: “The last 18 months has been sensational for the channel and now with new agreements with the likes of Ricky Hatton and Barry McGuigan the future is only going to be even better.

We have David Price in a couple of weeks, Chisora and Frampton on the Wembley Bill, Cleverly in Cardiff, Billy Joe Saunders v John Ryder at the Copper Box Arena and Amir Khan scheduled for the end of the year. Not to mention the fight the whole world wanted Mayweather vs Alvarez in September. We know what boxing fans want to see and we will continue to deliver for them”.

Bill Ives, Chairman of Rainham Steel, said, “Boxing has always been my passion. In my younger days I fought as an amateur boxer to a good level and I have continued to love and enjoy the sport throughout my life.

I am delighted to have the opportunity to be able to support BoxNation, the only dedicated boxing channel in the world today”.

Over the past 20 months the channel has broadcast 535 LIVE professional fights including 94 World Championships, 30 British and Commonwealth Championships, 16 British regional Championships and 19 European Championships.

Recent top class highlights include British star Amir Khan in a thriller against Juan Diaz; the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter Floyd Mayweather Jnr. masterclass performance against Robert Guerrero and Miguel Cotto; last year’s sensational and controversial heavyweight showdown between David Haye and Dereck Chisora which was the biggest live gate of last year.

BoxNation Chairman Richard Brooke added: “BoxNation has an unrivalled schedule of fights. We aim to bring our viewers the best of British boxing and we are delighted to be associated with so many of Britain’s top promoters and boxers. We also bring major international names such as Adrien Broner, Saul Alvarez, Sergio Martinez and Guillermo Rigondeaux to the UK fans, fights which would otherwise go unseen. This has made BoxNation truly the Channel of Champions. Today’s announcement that we are in talks with Bill Ives with a view to him becoming a significant shareholder in the company is most welcome. We intend to continue to build and strengthen our services”.

The channel has also provide a home for British promoters and provided them with a platform to develop future World Champions.

Frank Warren said, “I’m proud to be sitting here just shy of our 2 Year anniversary at BoxNation. A lot of naysayers didn’t think we could achieve this but with hard work and dedication from some like-minded people who saw our vision, we are here; bigger and better than ever. BoxNation is now unquestionably the home of British Boxing. It has Exclusive deals with a host of the World’s top Promoters and their fighters. It has invested millions of pounds into UK and International boxing and will continue to do so.

“I’m delighted to have reached a deal with Ricky Hatton, one that many thought they would never see. However, Ricky and I, along with the other Promoters and Managers sitting here today see the importance in working together to deliver big opportunities for our fighters and in doing so, delivering major fights for subscribers and fans alike.

“I look forward to welcoming Bill Ives to the Board, Bill has always been a huge supporter of the channel and I am thrilled that he wants to become a major shareholder in the company”.

Promoter Ricky Hatton said: “BoxNation is a fantastic channel and is the first dedicated to boxing and boxing fans, I can see the platform going from strength to strength and this is a proud day for Hatton Promotions”.

“Hatton Promotions has a fantastic stable of young fighters and BoxNation is the best partner to showcase their talent. Together working alongside Frank Warren and the country’s leading boxing promotors we will be in a position to give boxing fans the fights they want to see. If you look at the combined talent signed to Hatton Promotions, Frank Warren and Frank Maloney that for me is the reason why BoxNation is the best boxing channel by far”.

Promoter Frank Maloney said: “A lot of sports fans would miss out on seeing British boxing talent if it wasn’t for BoxNation. The channel has stopped boxing being a minority sport on TV”.

Promoter Barry McGuigan said: “I’ve been involved in the sport of boxing since the early 1970s and the introduction of BoxNation, a dedicated boxing channel, which gives fans access to great fights all day, every day, is one of the best things that’s has happened to the sport”.

An action-packed summer of boxing starts on BoxNation this weekend (Friday 28th June) with a thrilling clash between unbeaten champions Frank Gavin, the British Welterweight king, and Denton Vassell, the Commonwealth title holder; the crucial heavyweight rematch between David Price and Tony Thompson on Saturday 6th July; the Wembley extravaganza on Saturday 20th July headlined by Dereck Chisora vs. Malik Scott plus the all-action Carl Frampton, Gary O’Sullivan v Billy Joe Saunders and Paul Butler; Nathan Cleverly’s WBO World Light-Heavyweight defence against the dynamite-punching Russian Sergey Kovalev at Cardiff Motorpoint Arena on Saturday 17th August; the mouthwatering clash between unbeaten warriors Billy Joe Saunders v John Ryder at the brand new Copper Box Arena at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on Saturday 21st September; plus the biggest fight in world boxing – “The One” – between the world’s greatest fighter Floyd Mayweather Jnr. and unbeaten sensation Saul Alvarez on Saturday 14th September from Las Vegas.

A fantastic line-up for the incredible value of just £10 per month – all live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546). To subscribe to BoxNation visit www.boxnation.com