Oh yes, it has been over twenty years now since once BBC decided to show professional boxing. Be careful what you wish for. It’s back.
The BBC is back in boxing.
Bigger than ever as well. Now in the tech era of online streaming BBC 2 will use the BBC player online as well as a new partnership with streaming giant DAZN to bring the action back to the UK.
Back to the masses on free television and free internet.
Boxxer and Ben Shalom achieved that. Let that sink in.
Maybe Donald Trump of the US who had some misgiving with the BBC recently will look at the BBC in a slightly more advantageous light for them in light of these new developments for professional boxing.
They can’t be that bad Trump anymore if they are showing big time boxing again. Maybe he’ll get them a deal. Maybe he won’t. Maybe he will leave them do their bidding for now.
On a boxing note, here’s what to look forward this weekend with the outstanding return of the BBC to professional boxing.
BOXXER’s “The World Awaits” event is tomorrow — January 31th 2026 — at the Copper Box Arena in London.
Broadcast: Live on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer (free-to-air in UK) — plus globally on DAZN (first BOXXER card under their new multi-year deal combining BBC + DAZN).
Main card highlights (after Azim vs Lemos postponement due to injuries):
- Main Event: Francesca Hennessy vs Ellie Boutell – Final eliminator for WBC World Bantamweight Title; WBC Silver Bantamweight Title on the line (both unbeaten).
- Co-Main: Gradus Kraus (IBF European Light Heavyweight Champ) vs Boris Crighton.
- Undercard key bouts: Archie Sharp vs Angelo Dragone (super featherweight), Hassan Azim vs Sean Murray, Ergal Elezaj vs Will Howe (heavyweight), plus others.
A good start overall for the BBC back in the sport.
Here are some more facts on DAZN’s new partnership with the BBC and BOXXER.
To put into context, as well, the last time the BBC broadcast a major professional boxing show on its main linear TV channels (like BBC One or BBC Two) before the recent BOXXER deal was in 2005.
Let that sink in.
Be careful what you wish for 🙂
Very well.
20 years on and here we are. Back again.
Well, well, well. What do we have here then.
On that time, let’s take a look the last time the BBC were in boxing.
Specifically that time was Clinton Woods vs Rico Hoye (IBF light-heavyweight world title fight) aired on BBC One in March 2005 in Rotherham.
This is widely cited as the last full pro boxing event on BBC linear TV at that scale — more or less — basically.
Roll on this weekend.
