Tag: BT Sport

Daniel Dubois vs. Joe Joyce confirmed for Nov. 28

Daniel Dubois’ long-awaited fight with Joe Joyce has been confirmed for Nov. 28 by promoter Frank Warren.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

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The long-awaited clash between Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce has been confirmed for Nov. 28 by promoter Frank Warren.

Warren said the show would not be a pay-per-view event, which was a surprise. It will be televised on BT Sport in the U.K.

Carrying the slogan “At Last”, the fight will be one of the most anticipated matchups in British boxing this year. Previous dates for Dubois (15-0, 14 KOs) vs. Joyce (11-0, 10 KOs) in April, July and October were all canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Warren said that the decision not to charge a pay-per-view fee was made in recognition of the economic downturn suffered by many Britons.

“This is about keeping boxing alive and relevant at a tough time and doing something for the fans, and we have moved heaven and earth to put this on as a BT Sport subscription ‘Fight Night’ instead,” he said.

“With boxing still being behind closed doors and struggling back to its feet post-lockdown, I wanted to give something of a gift to British boxing fans. Dubois versus Joyce is the best fight on the British boxing calendar, and I want this to be something as many people as possible can enjoy.

“It’s a bonus that the added exposure gained from the fight will really help the boxers as they move forward with their careers. Above all, this is about making sure that the fans are looked after and this fight will be available to BT Sport subscribers.”

Warren went on: “I owe a huge debt of gratitude to BT Sport for being willing to make this happen. I sound like a broken record I’m sure, but sometimes you have to put the sport and the fans first. Queensberry gets that and BT Sport gets that.”

Dubois will put his Commonwealth and British heavyweight belts on the line and they will also fight for the European heavyweight title.

Daniel Dubois vs. Joe Joyce confirmed for Nov. 28

Daniel Dubois’ long-awaited fight with Joe Joyce has been confirmed for Nov. 28 by promoter Frank Warren.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.

***

The long-awaited clash between Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce has been confirmed for Nov. 28 by promoter Frank Warren.

Warren said the show would not be a pay-per-view event, which was a surprise. It will be televised on BT Sport in the U.K.

Carrying the slogan “At Last”, the fight will be one of the most anticipated matchups in British boxing this year. Previous dates for Dubois (15-0, 14 KOs) vs. Joyce (11-0, 10 KOs) in April, July and October were all canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Warren said that the decision not to charge a pay-per-view fee was made in recognition of the economic downturn suffered by many Britons.

“This is about keeping boxing alive and relevant at a tough time and doing something for the fans, and we have moved heaven and earth to put this on as a BT Sport subscription ‘Fight Night’ instead,” he said.

“With boxing still being behind closed doors and struggling back to its feet post-lockdown, I wanted to give something of a gift to British boxing fans. Dubois versus Joyce is the best fight on the British boxing calendar, and I want this to be something as many people as possible can enjoy.

“It’s a bonus that the added exposure gained from the fight will really help the boxers as they move forward with their careers. Above all, this is about making sure that the fans are looked after and this fight will be available to BT Sport subscribers.”

Warren went on: “I owe a huge debt of gratitude to BT Sport for being willing to make this happen. I sound like a broken record I’m sure, but sometimes you have to put the sport and the fans first. Queensberry gets that and BT Sport gets that.”

Dubois will put his Commonwealth and British heavyweight belts on the line and they will also fight for the European heavyweight title.

Brad Foster excited to head first post-lockdown card in U.K.

Boxing returns to the U.K. on Friday. And Brad Foster is thrilled to be at the center of it.

Boxing returns to the U.K. on Friday. And Brad Foster is thrilled to be at the center of it.

The junior featherweight prospect is scheduled to defend his British and Commonwealth titles against James Beech Jr. in the main event of a five-bout card at the BT Studios in London, the first show in Britain since the coronavirus took hold.

No spectators will be allowed at ringside but plenty are expected to tune in on television.

“You saw the craziness and interest when football came back last month and it’s the same with boxing, lots of boxing fans want their live boxing back and my fight is the first main event after lockdown,” Foster told ESPN.

“A lot of eyes will be on me and that’s why I’m going in there to shine, to impress. People haven’t watched boxing for ages so they will be tuning in on Friday night. A lot of people are staying in at the moment and there’s not much else to watch on Friday.

“People will want to watch it, so it might well be my largest audience.”

Brad Foster fights James Beech Jr. on Friday in London. Luke Walker / Getty Images

Foster (12-0-2, 5 KOs) understands that things will be different fighting amid a pandemic.

No crowd. Tightly controlled environment. Coronavirus testing. All of it. The former kickboxer will have to adjust but pointed out that everything will be familiar once he steps through the ropes.

“I’m going down there for business, not a holiday,” he said. “I’ve got to go down and stay in a hotel all week [beginning Tuesday] so we self isolate, and that’s going to be weird.

“It will be different but the job is still the same and the aim is still the same, to come back home with the belts.”

Foster, a 23-year-old from Lichfield, England, last fought on Feb. 22, when he stopped Lucien Reid in six rounds. Among his sparring partners for that fight: Beech (12-0, 2 KOs).

The coronavirus pandemic took hold the following month, making training for all boxers an unusual challenge. Foster told ESPN that he has had sufficient sparring in preparation for Beech but training in general has been unusual, to say the least.

“You haven’t got the facilities you normally have, and had to train on your own for a while,” he said. “I like to go to David Lloyd (a gym and fitness club) for the steam rooms and saunas. It’s good for the muscles and recovery, but I’ve not been able to do that because they’ve all been closed.

“But I’ve had some good sparring, that’s not been a problem. Even if I didn’t get the sparring in, I’ve fought before without sparring like when I first won the British title.

“I’ve worked hard and all my focus has been on this next fight.”

Frank Warren announces summer fight series beginning July 10

Promoter Frank Warren and broadcast partner BT Sport have announced the launch of a summer series that will kick off on July 10.

Boxing is set to return to the U.K.

Promoter Frank Warren and broadcast partner BT Sport have announced the launch of a summer series that will kick off on July 10 and feature prospects in three British title fights, BoxingScene.com is reporting.

The fights will take place at the BT Sport Studio in London — without spectators — because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The first card reportedly will feature Brad Foster (12-0-2, 5 KOs) vs. James Beech Jr. (12-0, 2 KOs) for the British and Commonwealth junior featherweight titles.

Two other regional title fights, for which dates have not been determined, also were mentioned. Anthony Cacace (18-1, 7 KOs) will defend his British junior lightweight belt against Leon Woodstock (12-2, 5 KOs). And Lerrone Richards (13-0, 3 KOs) will defend his British and Commonwealth super middleweight titles against Umar Sadiq (10-1, 6 KOs).

Warren said at least five televised shows are planned.

“I am thrilled to inform the fans that the wait for live boxing to return is coming to an end,” Warren said. “It has been a long haul and a trying time for everyone but we can now see the first flicker of light at the end of the tunnel.

“I am so excited to get going again after a period of unprecedented planning and detail to get to where we are. Unfortunately boxing without fans at the venue is the new, but I am sure temporary, normal and we have made it our business to bring the sport back at the earliest opportunity in line with government guidelines regarding health and safety protocols.

“Our opening show on July 10 is just for starters, and we will be looking to go bigger and better as we move along in our summer season that will see us deliver at least five TV shows.

“Across these dates it is our intention to showcase highly competitive fights between hungry young domestic fighters and increase the stakes from show to show. No easy fights, just British boxing as it should be.

“I am also looking forward to seeing our unparalleled crop of brilliant young fighters step up the risk levels and really make the most of what will be huge exposure for them across the BT Sport platforms.”

Warren added: “This is just the beginning. It’s going to be a magnificent summer of great British boxing, so sit back and enjoy every round live on BT Sport.”

The July 10 undercard reportedly will include a junior middleweight fight between Hamzah Sheeraz (10-0) and Paul Kean (12-1, KO) and separate fights featuring heavyweight David Adeleye (1-0, 1 KO) and lightweight Mark Chamberlain (5-0, 3 KOs).