BEN SHALOM promises to deliver a packed schedule, with free-to-air shows coming ‘thick and fast’, after announcing his multi-year deal with the BBC last month.
The Boxxer promoter was left searching for a new broadcast partner after his lucrative relationship with Sky Sports came to an end earlier this year.
It was European, British and Commonwealth super-middleweight champion Callum Simpson, in fact, who last headlined a Boxxer show on the platform in June.
And since then, it has seemingly been a hectic period in the career of Shalom who, before long, should finally be in a position to announce his first show with the BBC.
At first, it appeared that the agreed British heavyweight title clash between Frazer Clarke and Jeamie TKV was set to headline a Boxxer card on September 27.
But while that particular fight remains likely to occupy the main event slot, Shalom has now confirmed that his first BBC show, rather unsurprisingly, is being planned for a later date.
When asked to comment on the delay, Shalom told Boxing News: “To be honest, they were only rumours [that it would take place on September 27]. We announced the deal in August and, from there, it’s been 24/7.
“We knew it was going to take some time to get completely new production and talent teams. It’s very exciting for the BBC to be getting back into boxing after 25 years, and they want to make sure it’s right. The schedule will come thick and fast.”
Regarding the expected encounter between Clarke and TKV, it would seem that a date and location should become clear soon enough.
Shalom continued: “That is an unbelievable fight for the BBC, a British heavyweight title fight, so we’re looking forward to it.”
It has already been widely reported that Shalom, while promising to provide free-to-air shows on the BBC, is eager to find a home for his larger, pay-per-view events.
The strategy, it seems, is to increase the profiles of his fighters, with all of them benefiting from BBC coverage, so that, eventually, Boxxer can justify placing them behind a paywall.
“We’ve done our free-to-air deal on the biggest platform possible, and there will be paid TV partners as well,” Shalom added.
“Ultimately, we want to build the future box office stars of this country, and that’s why we’ve decided to take a multi-platform approach.
“So there will be a deal to involve the big events – the big pay-per-view events – and, as a promoter, you have to be flexible.
“Look at the big events happening on Netflix and Amazon Prime. You’ve also got Sky and TNT Sports, who are without promoters right now, so you’ve got to take advantage of the market.
“I can’t make an announcement yet, but there’ll be a lot of news coming soon.”
Shalom’s comments arrive at a time when Adam Azim, one of the UK’s most promising rising stars, has extended his promotional deal with Boxxer.
The 23-year-old last fought in February, back when he dismantled former world champion Sergey Lipinets, and is now set to secure himself an even more meaningful matchup.
“He’s got his biggest fight to date, which will be announced very soon,” Shalom teased. “He’ll be out in a massive fight towards the end of this year.
“This is a serious fight that propels him to the very top of the sport.”
As for the remainder of Shalom’s 2025 schedule, fans can also expect a British featherweight title showdown between Rhys Edwards and Gully Powar to materialise in the not too distant future.
“That’s one that will land on one of our cards before the end of the year,” the Boxxer promoter confirmed.
