LAUNCH DATE OF FRIDAY 30th SEPTEMBER
SKY PLATFORM CHANNEL 456
LONDON, September 22, 2011: Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren and Boxing Channel Media are delighted to announce the launch of BOXNATION – a new, groundbreaking and innovative sports TV channel.
The channel’s investors include Zoom Communications, South East Asia’s leading provider of broadcast services and facilities.
BOXNATION is the first ever channel dedicated to serving the UK’s LIVE fight enthusiasts and sports fans, It is currently available to Sky customers on EPG number 456 and will showcase its first LIVE event on Friday 30th September.
The line up of high quality content will mostly 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. Steve Bunce’s ever popular, always controversial Buncey’s Boxing Hour 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 exciting WBO World Super Middleweight title clash between Robert Stieglitz and Mikkel Kessler.
BOXNATION has secured some of the most respected boxing broadcasters including presenters Jim Rosenthal and Paul Dempsey, pundit Steve Bunce and commentator John Rawling, all making this home to the most knowledgeable and engaging team in the sport.
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 just £10 per month….. equivalent to less than the cost of a pint of beer per week.
BOXNATION’S first LIVE promotion will see the exciting championship contest between 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 next Friday 30th September at 7.30pm.
October opens up with 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 7th October when the winning team will be presented with the Royal Albert Hall Cup.
On Saturday 15th 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.
The following week, back at the York Hall, British Cruiserweight Champion Rob Norton will headline 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.
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 on Friday 28th October against the number four world rated Deigo Gabriel Scaves.
A November to remember on BOXNATION will continue with more LIVE big fights, kicking off with Ricky Burns WBO Interim World Lightweight Title fight against Michael Katsidis on Saturday 5th November 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.
Then on Friday 18th 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.
Warren, Britain’s most successful promoter and now into his fourth decade in the sport, said, “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.”
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.”
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, said, “We are very pleased to start working with BoxNation and bring some of the compelling boxing content to the British Fight Fans. The first one being the historic showdown of Bernard Hopkins – who will make his first title defense of his Light-Heavyweight World Title against Chad Dawson. At age 47, Hopkins is the oldest man to ever win a world title in boxing! This fight illustrates the commitment BoxNation has to boxing – bringing you the best and biggest fights not just from the UK but from around the world”.
Francis Warren, who heads Queensberry Promotions with brother George, said, “We are very proud that the first ever live show on BoxNation will be from Queensberry Promotions. We are looking forward to a long standing relationship with BoxNation and will be looking to showcase the best up-and-coming talent in the UK as well as developing current domestic title holders and tomorrow’s World Champions.”
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.”
Keith Walters, ABA Chairman, said, “This is tremendous for amateur boxing and I’m looking forward to working with Frank and BoxNation. The profile of amateur boxing will be lifted and that will be fantastic for the sport.”