McGuigan: Free TV coverage is crucial to the future of boxing

BARRY McGuigan believes boxing needs more free-to-air television coverage to protect the future of the sport.

Highly-rated Martin Bakole — who spars with Anthony Joshua — will top the billing on Channel 5 when McGuigan’s Cyclone Promotions host an impressive line-up at London’s York Hall on October 13.

Scotland-based Congolese star Bakole has been helping heavyweight champion Joshua prepare for his September 22 clash with Alexander Povetkin, and will face Michael Hunter in London in front of the Channel 5 cameras.

McGuigan believes the future of boxing depends just as heavily on free-to-air coverage as payper-view offerings, insisting the next generation of young boxers must be able to have easy access to quality fights.

“Free-to-air coverage is so important for the future of the game; it’s important to get the right sort of people to have an interest in the sport,” McGuigan said. “We want the general public to have the chance to see good quality fights, not just fights, but high quality fights, on free-to-air television. And that’s what we’re providing.

“It is a hard fight because we need the budget in order to get the right kind of fights.

“Most of the time we don’t have the budget, but Channel 5 are committed to professional boxing for — fingers crossed — a substantial length of time.

“I genuinely believe we are giving real value for money. I just hope the sports editor sticks with us. We’ve had audiences of 1.5million in the past. We believe we can continue to bring in big audiences.”