The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) umbrella body of free-to-air broadcasters across the continent has struck a rights deal with the World Boxing body.
Through an agreement unveiled today, the EBU's over-the-top streaming site, Eurovision Sport, will showcase the inaugural World Boxing Championships, set to take place in Liverpool, UK, between September 4 and 14.
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This marks the first time a boxing competition will be shown on Eurovision Sport, which was launched in February last year.
The deal gives fans across a wide range of global territories "access to live and on-demand coverage of the competition," which is set to feature over 500 boxers from over 60 countries, across 10 weight classes for both men and women.
The coverage will extend to territories across all continents and regions – Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, North America, Oceania, and sub-Saharan Africa.
In addition to the Eurovision Sport element of the tie-up between the EBU and Switzerland-based World Boxing, EBU member networks from across the continent will also be allowed to cover the World Championships through highlights and news features – and, in some cases, live broadcast rights.
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By GlobalDataAlan Fagan, managing director at Eurovision Sport, has said: "This event will be the first boxing tournament streamed on Eurovision Sport and the first time men and women will compete for world titles together in Olympic-style boxing, marking our commitment to gender-balanced sports coverage and broadening our Olympic sports portfolio.”
Simon Toulson, World Boxing's chief operating officer, added: "The enthusiasm, professionalism, and resources provided by Eurovision Sport will give these events significant audience reach and allow us to showcase Olympic-style boxing in a way not seen in recent times.”
World Boxing, the rebel governing body for the sport – originally set up in early 2023 – was awarded provisional recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in February this year, in a major coup.
This essentially meant that the IOC now recognizes World Boxing as the sport’s international federation within the Olympic movement.
This represents a significant boost for boxing’s chances of being included in the sporting program for the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028 – currently, its future as an Olympic sport is in serious doubt, following the International Boxing Association (IBA) having its IOC recognition removed in 2023.
