Add it to your favourite lists. Frank Warren’s BoxNation,
which can be found on SKY channel 465, prepares to go live this evening with the highly anticipated clash between Norfolk prospect Liam Walsh, and Scotland’s Paul Appleby in a Commonwealth Super Featherweight title clash. The channel, which will eventually become available via subscription after an initial free-to-air period, will aim to bring us two live fight cards every week from all over the world.
The schedule for the months to come does look
impressive. The all British WBO Light Heavyweight Title fight between Nathan
Cleverly and Tony Bellew will be aired free of charge, with James Degale
looking to erase the defeat by arch rival George Groves from his mind, as he
challenges for European honours on the undercard. Aside from Warren shows, BoxNation
has also signed an exclusive three year deal with German based promoters Sauerland,
and will also be working closely with US based Golden Boy Promotions, as the
Light Heavyweight clash between Bernard Hopkins and ‘Bad’ Chad Dawson will also
hit our screens.
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. 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
As well as live fights, Warren has also promised boxing
fans that the channel will be screening classic battles from years gone by, as
well as reintroducing Steve Bunce’s Boxing Hour, bringing us Amateur shows so
fans can keep an eye on emerging talent, as well as doses of MMA.
Steve Bunce said “The return of the Boxing Hour –
it might actually be Two Hours – fills a gap that Ringside never tried to fill.
I think that was a pity and a mistake. All boxing on television – Primetime, Premier, Channel Five, SKY and now BoxNation needs consistency. Fans need to know where to go and they need to
know that there are months and months of fights. It’s simple. This is a
competitive time – there will be great British fights in the next 12 months
because there has to be great British fights in the next 12 months. We don’t
have a Joe Calzaghe or Ricky Hatton to dominate – we have terrific fighters at
all levels and that makes competition. It’s down to the promoters, the TV
people and the fighters to make the fights happen.”
Frankie Gavin, one of Warren’s rapidly rising stars added ‘People moan about there not being enough boxing on the tele, and now we’ll be getting two fights a week for the cost of a beer. Frank has said he wants to put on two
live shows a week, so we’ll be getting a boxing card for 1.25. I no times are
hard for everyone, but you won.t get better value than that. It’s brilliant for boxing.’
His optimism, however, isn’t shared by everyone. ‘Happy
Drinks’, a poster on EastSideBoxing says ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea to further
marginalise an already highly marginalised sport. Primetime might get good
numbers for Khan but that’s because Khan has already built up a fan base and
the general public have an interest in him. Do any of Frank’s fighters have a
following? I’d like to know how Frank plans to bring new fans into the sport.’
Another poster, Wrimc added ‘It has to be seen ultimately as a bad
thing for the sport in terms of exposure in the same way that moving boxing
from ITV to SKY marginalised the sport. No longer did we get the millions tuning
in for big fights, it was thousands. You can only assume that the same thing
will occur here. How does boxing fare without the backing of Sky Sports News
and major national media outlet. The casual fan is alienated further.
Others have highlighted other problems with the
channel. Rob Palmer, another EastSideBoxing user said ‘My main concern from a
personal point of view is that the production levels will be low – no HD, poor
sound quality. I do not think Frank Warren is the right person to be at the top
when it comes to creating something new and innovative. He is frankly too old
school and constently fails to listen to the opinion of the fans. A show of his
that you went to in 1990 is exactly like one you go to today right down to the
music played in between fights.’
The negativity, of course, is not shared by everyone. ‘We’ve been crying out for a dedicated boxing channel. And now it’s happening people are turning their noses up’ said another
internet forum user. Others concur by adding ‘As a hardcore boxing fan you
can’t help but think it’s a good idea, depending on whether all the mooted
ideas, such as amateur boxing, documentaries, news, magazine shows,
international cards etc, come to fruition’.
One thing is certain, BoxNation seems dedicated to bringing boxing fans high
quality shows we usually would not get to see. It seems that Frank Warren has
until the end of the free-to-air trail period to convince many to subscribe. If
the promises are kept and live shows continue to be broadcasted on the channel,
it will certainly be worth the cost of a pint of beer a week.
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