Frank Warren launches new boxing channel

September 22, 2011   ·   2 Comments

Boxing promoter Frank Warren has teamed up  with Boxing Channel Media to launch an independent, new boxing subscription channel called BoxNation.

The new channel is the first ever dedicated to serving the UK’s fight enthusiasts and sports fans, and is currently available to Sky customers on channel 456 – it will showcase its first live event on Friday 30th September.

The BoxNation schedule will feature two live championship promotions from the UK and around the world each week. Live boxing will also include major amateur tournaments starting with the mouth watering World Amateur Championships from Azerbaijan and then the Royal Albert Hall Cup from London.

Additional programming will include Steve Bunce’s ever popular, always controversial Buncey’s Boxing Hour which will be revived and often presented from the world famous Planet Hollywood restaurant in central London.

There will be daily fight news updates and an extensive archive bringing back classic fights from home and abroad and featuring some of the world’s greatest ever boxers including Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard and many more. In addition there will be extensive programming from the world of Mixed Martial Arts combat sports to make BoxNation the place to be for true fighting action.

Germany’s premier promoter Sauerland Promotions, who have world class talent from Germany and Eastern Europe, has signed an exclusive three year deal with BoxNation and features the WBO World Super Middleweight title clash between Robert Stieglitz and Mikkel Kessler.

The presenting line-up on BoxNation will include some of the most respected boxing broadcasters including Jim Rosenthal and Paul Dempsey, pundit Steve Bunce and commentator John Rawling.  The channel will initially be free-to-air, but will become a subscription channel before the end of the year and will be available at £10 per month.

Frank Warren is still contracted to Sky Sports until June next year and confirmed he would see the contract out while voicing his excitement about taking his marquee fighters to BoxNation and having the opportunity to get them in the ring more often throughout the year.

“This is what all boxing fans have been waiting for – a dedicated channel, 100% percent committed to showing the best fights from around the world. It’s a big challenge in my career, but I’m really excited by BoxNation and it takes me back to my early years when I was at ITV doing a show a week” said Warren.

Richard Brooke, Chairman of BoxNation, said, “I am delighted to be involved in the launch of Britain’s first ever dedicated boxing channel. BoxNation will provide coverage of all levels of boxing to a large and committed audience of fight fans. The key to the success of BoxNation will be its relationships with rights holders and so I am pleased to announce that BoxNation has agreed a long term, multi-fight content deal with Frank Warren, Britain’s best and most successful boxing promoter.”

Simon Green, CEO of BoxNation, who has over 20 years’ of experience in sport broadcasting, said, “BoxNation is the most exciting thing to happen in many years for sports fans who crave a regular diet of high quality live boxing. I’m delighted that the best of British boxing talent along with top fighters from around the world will now be showcased on a dedicated UK fight network.”

Jim Rosenthal said, “This a truly exciting new venture and I’m delighted that I’ll be involved with BoxNation. Not only am I passionate about presenting at boxing events, but I’m also a big fan of the sport and I think this is great news for boxing fans everywhere.”

Forthcoming LIVE contests will include :

Friday 30 September – Liam Walsh and Paul Appleby from the spiritual home of boxing in London’s east end at York Hall. This is for the Commonwealth Super-Featherweight Championship, coverage from 8pm.

Friday 7 October -  The fiercely competitive Transatlantic amateur tournament between UK Combined Services and US Armed Services – ‘The Special Relationship – This Time It’s Personal’ will come live and exclusive from the world famous Royal Albert Hall on Friday 7 October when the winning team will be presented with the Royal Albert Hall Cup.

Saturday 15 October – BoxNation will feature a special double header, first live from Liverpool with the long awaited grudge match and most explosive showdown of the year between two British boxers when undefeated Nathan Cleverly and challenger Tony Bellew collide at the Liverpool Echo Arena for the WBO World Light-Heavyweight Championship. Then live from the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, the legendary Bernard Hopkins defends his WBC World Light-Heavyweight title against rival Chad Dawson.

Saturday 22 October – Another BoxNation double header as British Cruiserweight Champion Rob Norton headlines with a defence of his British Cruiserweight title; then live from Germany a massive unification showdown in the cruiserweight division sees WBC World Champion Marco Huck and WBO World Champion Krystof Wlodarczyk clash.

Friday 28 October – Hot talent Frankie Gavin, Britain’s only ever World Amateur Champion, completes a trailblazing month on BoxNation when he defends his WBO Intercontinental Welterweight title against the number four world rated Deigo Gabriel Scaves.

Saturday 5 November – More big live fights on BoxNation into November, kicking off with Ricky Burns WBO Interim World Lightweight Title fight against Michael Katsidis  from Wembley; on a big night, George Groves defends his British and Commonwealth Super Middleweight titles against the former champion Paul Smith, plus unbeaten prospect Ryan Walsh takes on Liam Richards for the Vacant English Super-Bantamweight title. Then it’s live to Copenhagen, Denmark for the super-middleweight clash between WBO World Super-Middleweight Champion Robert Stieglitz and former WBC Champion Mikkel Kessler.

Friday 18 November – British and Commonwealth Featherweight champion Lee Selby makes the first defence of his titles against Scotland’s former champion John Simpson live at York Hall.

BoxNation launch press conference :

Website : http://www.boxnation.tv/index.php | Twitter : http://twitter.com/boxnation

Tags: BoxNation, Frank Warren, Jim Rosenthal, Nathan Cleverly, Steve Bunce, Tony Bellew