By Matt Bozeat
CHANNEL Five reported viewing figures for this month’s Brighton show were the best for boxing on the channel for two years. Viewing figures peaked at 750,000 it was revealed to Boxing News.
It was the first of four shows promoters Wasserman have on the channel this year – the next will feature Michael Conlan challenging for the European featherweight title in May or June – and comes at an uncertain time for boxing on television in the United Kingdom.
Eurosport, who had lost interest in the sport after the collapse of Probellum, has disappeared from UK and Irish screens and this weekend’s show in Liverpool, topped by Nick Ball defending his WBA featherweight title, marks the end of Queensberry Promotions’ deal with TNT, previously BT Sport.
Daniel Dubois, the current IBF heavyweight champion, and Nicola Adams were Queensberry’s star signings when they started broadcasting on the channel, starting with Liam Williams-Liam Smith in April, 2017.
Queensberry have taken their shows to DAZN and stage the first of 13 shows over the next 12 months in Manchester on April 5 and their stable will also get work on smaller shows on the BoxNation YouTube Channel.
TNT Sport insiders have told Boxing News the channel’s bosses are keen to still show boxing “if the deal is right.”
TNT look set to negotiate with the Saudis over Riyadh Season and Ring magazine pay-per-view shows individually after missing out on next month’s Chris Eubank Jr.-Conor Benn fight.
That will be available on Sky Sports and DAZN Box Office. BOXXER’S contract with Sky runs out this summer. Channel Five figures show there is an appetite for boxing.
Wasserman have been handed four dates this year – it was six in 2024 – with the emphasis on “bigger shows,” according to sources close to the channel.
Boxing News understands that negotiations between Wasserman and Channel Five bosses are already underway for next year.
Nisse Sauerland said there are plans for “bigger shows” with a big date for Conlan in Belfast pencilled in for later in the year provided he wins the European title.
Sauerland said there’s also the possibility of Wasserman staging smaller, non-televised shows to get fights for their stable of 25 fighters.
Sauerland said: “DAZN does a great job with boxing, but we have a platform where everyone can watch.
“It’s important for boxing – and our fighters – to have this platform. We don’t just get boxing fans watching our shows. Everyone can watch.
“We have a platform that has one of the biggest reaches in the whole of combat sport and when you’re trying to build a young fighter’s career, you want to have as many people as possible watching.
“We have big names, established names, on the cards and we have young fighters like Tom Welland coming through.
“Terrestrial television is a great way to build talent.”
Channel Five has previously built the profiles of Tyson Fury, Josh Taylor, Chris Eubank Jr, Chris Billam-Smith and the McKenna brothers, Aaron and Stephen, and Welland has the look of a new star.
The four-round knockout of Ally B Lubanja was his eighth straight win in 16 months as a pro and the 20-year-old from Essex looks set to box again on the channel on Conlan’s undercard.
“Tom is the sort of fighter who’s made for terrestrial television,” said Sauerland, “because he’s always exciting.”
