NO LIMIT FOR SKY
Broadcaster’s new lease of life
SKY SPORTS are put- ting their boxing plans in place for life after Matchroom and Eddie Hearn.
The broadcaster will stay committed to the sport, despite Hearn ending his 10-year exclusive deal with them to team up with DAZN on Thursday.
Sky Sports have been plotting their next step for a number of weeks and are now expected to work with various promoters, managers and fighters rather than pen any exclusive deal like the Matchroom one.
Three new figures are expected to assist with putting on fight cards.
They are former Matchroom stalwart John Wischhusen, the UFC’S former vice president and general manager of Europe, Middle East and Africa James
Elliott and Ultimate founder Ben Shalom.
Wischhusen is a popular figure having been head of boxing at Matchroom Sport before departing after more than two decades to join ITV’S return to the sport in 2016. He is expected to be a consultant or director.
Elliott’s agency will be involved in some way, while Shalom, who set up Ultimate Boxxer back in 2017, could act as the promoter.
The hybrid brought together a quick-fire professional tournament completed in one night
Boxxer between fringe contenders alongside music acts.
Dillian Whyte could box on the channel this summer as he has not joined Hearn at DAZN.
Unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has one fight left on his current Sky Sports contract and is open to extending his deal.
Joshua will face either Oleksandr Usyk or Whyte in that final bout on Sky Sports Box Office before negotiating new terms with the broadcaster or going to DAZN.
AJ will extend his Matchroom contract either way, though.
Sky will remain open to working with various established promoters on either side of the Atlantic as they will look to bring in big fights for their subscribers as well as stage events in the UK.