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Zuffa Boxing signs deal with Sky Sports and rapid two-month expansion of Caps

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Zuffa Boxing and Sky Sports announced on Wednesday a multi-year broadcast agreement that will see Sky become the UK and Ireland broadcaster of all Zuffa Boxing events and commit to at least five shows per year in the UK. The deal gives Dana White’s promotional venture a enduring foothold in Europe’s largest boxing market less than two months after the first Paramount+ card was released.

The transaction was confirmed by a joint statement from TKO Group Holdings and Sky. The first Zuffa gala to be broadcast on Sky Sports will be Zuffa Boxing 05: Cortes vs. Garcia, which will take place on April 5 live from Meta Apex in Las Vegas, and in the main event, undefeated rising contender Andres Cortes (24-0, 13 KO) will face Eridson Garcia (23-1, 14 KO). On the fight card, former world champion Mark Magsayo (28-2, 18 KO) will face Irish Feargal McCrory (17-1, 9 KO).

The pace of expansion

The deal with Sky Sports limits a scope of activities that is unusual even by UFC standards. Since Paramount+ Zuffa Boxing’s first event on January 23 – Callum Walsh vs. Carlos Ocampo at Meta Apex – the promotion has progressed at a pace unmatched by any recent boxing venture in newfangled memory.

The timeline tells the story. On January 23, Zuffa Boxing 01 launched on Paramount+, with Walsh headlining the match against Ocampo. On February 1 at Zuffa Boxing 02, Jose Valenzuela vs. Diego Torres. On February 15, Efe Ajagba headlined Zuffa Boxing 03. On February 20, Conor Benn was announced as the first signing of the Zuffa brand, leaving Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, which sent shockwaves through the industry and was estimated to be worth $15 million for a single fight. On February 24, Zuffa published a graphic showing 96 signed players from different divisions. On February 26, TKO president Mark Shapiro confirmed that Zuffa would promote the Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Makhmudov heavyweight fight on April 11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, broadcast worldwide on Netflix. On March 8, Jai Opetaia defeated Brandon Glanton for Zuffa’s inaugural cruiserweight championship. And now, on March 18, the Sky Sports deal.

That means four promoted cards, a squad approaching 100 players, the crowning of a world champion, a US broadcast deal worth $100 million per year, a UK broadcast deal with one of the most established sports networks in Europe, a Tottenham Hotspur Stadium event with Tyson Fury on Netflix and a major signing of one of Britain’s most famed fighters – all in less than eight weeks.

What does heaven get?

Sky Sports has been synonymous with British boxing for over three decades. The network broadcast Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank’s rivalry in the 1990s, Naseem Hamed’s career, Ricky Hatton’s career, Anthony Joshua’s rise through the heavyweight ranks and the Matchroom Boxing card years before Hearn moved the UK production of Matchroom to DAZN in 2021. Sky later partnered with BOXXER, but that deal ended. Zuffa deal brings premium boxing back to the platform.

Sky Sports UK and Ireland chief executive Jonathan Licht described the deal as a renewal of the network’s long-standing relationship with sport.

“Sky Sports has been a long-term partner of boxing for over 30 years,” Licht said. “Zuffa Boxing has exhilarating plans for the sport and we share the same ambition when it comes to delivering the best fights for our customers.”

White saw the deal as indispensable to Zuffa’s international ambitions.

“Britain has played a key role in the history of boxing,” White said. “The fans there are some of the most true and passionate in the world. When it comes to boxing in this region, Sky Sports has always been home to legendary boxing matches. There is no bigger or better platform to showcase the best boxing in the UK.”

British list

The Sky Sports deal gains immediate significance in featherlight of Zuffa’s existing commitments in the UK. Conor Benn is scheduled to fight Regis Prograis in the 150-pound catchweight on April 11 at the Fury-Makhmudov gala in Tottenham. Benn, who left Matchroom after a decade of cooperation, brings one of the biggest names in British boxing to the Zuffa stable and gives Sky a fighter that his audience already knows.

Cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia, who won Zuffa’s first title on March 8, adds legitimacy to the championship. According to records, this promotion is also related to ongoing talks with Edgar Berlanga, Shakur Stevenson and Richardson Hitchins. various industry reportsalthough none of these signatures have been confirmed.

Competitive image

The deal with Sky Sports puts Zuffa in direct competition with DAZN on the British market. DAZN offers Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy and – as of today – Top Rank. Sky now wears Zuffa. For British boxing fans, the sport’s two dominant promotional ecosystems will play out on two different platforms, creating a competitive active not seen in the UK since the Sky-BT Sport rivalry in the mid-2010s.

The agreement also has a legal basis. Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions has filed a $1 billion lawsuit against TKO and Sela over the creation of Zuffa Boxing, alleging violations related to exclusivity and data-sharing agreements. Sela has publicly rejected these claims. The agreement with Sky Sports, signed during vigorous legal proceedings, signals the broadcaster’s confidence in Zuffa’s sustainability regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit.

White made it clear that the signing frenzy is not abating. “We will continue to sign not only the best players in the world, but also players who we believe have the potential to be world champions one day,” he said. Heavenly sports after the announcement.

According to both sides, a more detailed Zuffa Boxing fight schedule for the remainder of 2026 will be released in the coming weeks. BoxingInsider.com’s complete broadcast and streaming guide has been updated to reflect the recent deal.

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Derek Chisora Predicts Early KO in Dubois vs Wardley 2 Following First Fight Canvas Drama

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"Derek Chisora Predicts Early KO in Dubois vs Wardley 2 Following First Fight Canvas Drama"

Daniel Dubois seeks a repeat victory over Fabio Wardley in their WBO heavyweight title clash on Saturday, and ahead of the action, fellow British heavyweight Derek Chisora has offered his final prediction for the bout.

Wardley was elevated to full WBO world champion in late 2025 and accepted a daring first defence against ‘Triple D’ at Co-Op Live in Manchester, who had lost his IBF title to Oleksandr Usyk in his prior outing.

Despite being floored twice in the opening three rounds, Dubois was able to bring Wardley’s reign to an early end as he bounced back to dominate proceedings, battering Wardley until referee Howard Foster waved the contest off in round 11.

Wardley absorbed an enormous amount of punishment, but he was still quick to activate his rematch clause and initiate an immediate second meeting with Dubois, in the hopes of becoming a two-time heavyweight world champion.

Although, whilst pursuing a win that could define his career, Chisora told talkSPORT that he believes a second encounter with Dubois could turn out to be Wardley’s career finale, anticipating an early stoppage win for the reigning WBO heavyweight champion.

“I think that this is Wardley’s last fight. I don’t think that he wants to box anymore. This is his cash out.

“After three rounds, Daniel’s going to win it by knockout.”

All will be revealed when Dubois vs. Wardley II takes place this weekend at the O2 Arena in Londonwith Michael Gomez Jr set to challenge for Louie O’Doherty’s British lightweight title in the co-main event.

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Tyson Furys Advantage: The Importance of Leg Endurance in Boxing

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"Tyson Fury's Advantage: The Importance of Leg Endurance in Boxing"

Paulie Malignaggi likes Tyson Fury’s style against Anthony Joshuabut only if the Gypsy King’s legs still hold up to control range. He points out that Joshua must close the distance, yet doubts AJ has the footwork required to get there.

Fury’s movement creates the main problem. If he keeps Joshua following his lead and constantly resets AJ’s rhythm, Joshua risks spending the entire night chasing shadows instead of landing meaningful shots.

“AJ has to obviously get in close,” Malignaggi told Boxing King Media. “It’s not easy against a guy with the footing of Fury, but who knows, maybe Fury’s old legs are a little slower.”

That lingering doubt stops Paulie from locking in a definitive pick. Fury understands how to dictate distance against AJ, but executing that plan across twelve rounds takes functional wheels.

If Fury has lost a step, Joshua gets a direct route into punching range without burning energy on pursuit. AJ does not need sudden speed if Fury can no longer skip away. Joshua simply has to capitalize whenever Fury sits in the pocket.

At the same time, Malignaggi remains skeptical about Joshua’s mobility.

“I think AJ’s feet are a bit cumbersome, though. So, I think the size of the ring and things like that will also matter in the fight.”

A larger ring hands Fury extra space to glide and forces Joshua to cover real estate. A tighter ring gives AJ a clear path to trap his rival, though he must cut off the ring instead of trailing behind.

Paulie’s breakdown hinges entirely on Fury’s mobility. If the legs work, Joshua’s heavy feet could leave him swinging at air. If those legs fade, AJ suddenly finds a manageable target. Malignaggi spots the stylistic edge, but he refuses to assume Fury can still pull it off. He is analyzing a long-gone version of Tyson Fury from ten years ago, not the lumbering heavyweight who actually steps into the ring today.

That 2015 night in Düsseldorf against Wladimir Klitschko might as well belong to another century. Ever since the Usyk beatdowns, the slow-motion survival against Wach, and that labored outing against Makhmudov, Fury has looked completely grounded.

The twitch reflex is gone, the lateral bounce has vanished, and his upper-body slips look like they are running through wet cement. When heavyweight legs check out, no amount of altitude running or motivational talk in Morecambe brings them back.

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Boxing 24/7 Wire

Boxing247.com is an independent boxing news publication covering the sport since 2001. It provides original reporting, fight analysis, schedules, results, and informed coverage of major fighters and events worldwide, backed by more than 25 years of professional boxing journalism.

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Nakisa Bidarian Explains the Financial Principles Driving Canelos Commitment

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"Nakisa Bidarian Explains the Financial Principles Driving Canelo's Commitment"

Nakisa Bidarian believes Canelo Alvarez could lose his purse if he withdraws from the October 31 fight with Christian Mbilli in Riyadh, but might still get paid if the organizers cancel. His theory offers a financial explanation for Canelo’s commitment to fighting despite the security concerns.

“My read: Canelo is due a lot of money. If he pulls out he is no longer due that money. If the event is cancelled he is probably also due that money. Tough situation,” said Bidarian on X.

Turki Alalshikh says Canelo remains committed to fighting Mbilli in Riyadh following deadly attacks on the city’s international airport. Reuters reported that a Saturday strike killed at least 12 people and wounded more than 300, with another attack on Sunday killing one person.

Bidarian’s reading gives Canelo’s willingness to proceed another possible explanation beyond the “he fears nothing” message. Under that theory, Canelo could protect his payday by remaining ready to fight and letting the organizers decide whether the event can proceed.

That would put Canelo in an awkward position. He could have concerns about traveling without wanting to formally withdraw and potentially give up a huge purse. Saying he’s available would make financial sense even if he privately preferred a postponement or a different location.

However, Bidarian hasn’t presented Canelo’s contract or identified a cancellation clause. His wording makes clear that this is his interpretation. Whether Canelo would receive payment after a cancellation remains unconfirmed.

His post also doesn’t establish that money is driving Canelo’s decision. But the public declaration that he’ll fight tells us little about the contractual consequences of refusing to travel.

There’s also an entire card to consider. Canelo saying he’s willing to fight doesn’t settle the safety and travel questions facing Mbilli, the undercard fighters, their trainers, and the event staff. They all have to get there, prepare, and work through fight week.

The organizers still have to explain how they intend to stage the event safely. Canelo’s commitment gives them a willing headliner. It doesn’t answer those questions.

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About the author

Boxing 24/7 Wire

Boxing247.com is an independent boxing news publication covering the sport since 2001. It provides original reporting, fight analysis, schedules, results, and informed coverage of major fighters and events worldwide, backed by more than 25 years of professional boxing journalism.

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