Boxxer Explained

Boxxer
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Founder:Ben Shalom
Successors:-->
Areas Served:-->
Owners:-->

Boxxer, stylised as BOXXER, is a British professional boxing promotional company.

Founded by Ben Shalom, Boxxer began as Ultimate Boxxer, organising eight-man professional boxing elimination tournaments starting in April 2018 and preceding to host a total of six tournaments under the original name.[1] [2] In August 2020, Ultimate Boxxer rebranded to Boxxer, and announced its first signee; the winner of the Ultimate Boxxer 3 tournament, Derrick Osaze.[3] [4] The following month, and under the new branding, Boxxer announced its seventh tournament, "Boxxer Series 7", would take place in November 2020 with a new four-man elimination format.[5]

In June 2021, it was announced that Boxxer had signed a four-year deal with Sky Sports.[6] [7] In September, Boxxer revealed their roster of fighters, including Hughie Fury, Savannah Marshall and Caroline Dubois, as well as co-promotional deals with Claressa Shields and Chris Eubank Jr. A co-promotional deal was also made with Bob Arum's Top Rank in regards to the world title fight between Josh Taylor and Jack Catterall. Boxxer's first event on Sky Sports was a co-promotion with Wasserman Boxing, featuring Eubank Jr. on 2 October 2021.[8] [9]

The most notable, high profile event associated with Boxxer was between domestic rivals Amir Khan Vs Kell Brook on 19 February 2022.

Boxxer Series

Under the name Ultimate Boxxer, the tournament originally featured eight fighters from a given weight competing in 3 x 3 minute rounds in one night, with the winner of the inaugural tournament being awarded £16,000 and a golden robe.[10] [11]

Ultimate Boxxer I

The inaugural tournament was held in the welterweight division and took place on 27 April 2018 at the Manchester Arena. The quarter-finals were streamed live on UNILAD's Facebook page while the semi-finals were and final were aired on 5Spike. The competitors were Andy Kremner (9–0), Isaac Macleod (9–0), Jimmy Cooper (6–0–1), Drew Brown (7–0), Ben Eland (4–0–1), Tom Young (4–0), Kaisee Benjamin (4–0), and Sam Evans (8–0–1). Brown emerged victorious after defeating Young in the final.[11] [12]

Ultimate Boxxer II

The second edition was held in the light-heavyweight division and took place on 2 November 2018 at the indigo at The O2. The prize money was increased to £50,000 with the winner also getting a chance to fight in an eliminator for the British title. The competitors were Joel McIntyre (17–2), Darrell Church (7–2–1), Sam Horsfall (2–1), Dec Spelman (12–1), Shakan Pitters (7–0), Sam Smith (4–1), Jordan Joseph (7–2–1), and Georgii Bacon (1–1), who was a late replacement for John McCallum. Pitters emerged victorious after defeating Spelmen in the final.[13] [14] [15]

Ultimate Boxxer III

Ultimate Boxxer III was held in the middleweight division and took place on 2 May 2019 at the indigo at The O2. The competitors were Tey Lynn-Jones (11–1), Kaan Hawes (4–0–1), Sean Phillips (5–0–1), Grant Dennis (12–1), Kieron Conway (9–0), Josh Groombridge (7–1), Derrick Osaze (6–0) and Joe Hurn (10–0–1). Osaze emerged victorious after defeating Dennis in the final.[16] [17]

Ultimate Boxxer IV

The fourth edition was held in the cruiserweight division and took place on 19 July 2019 at the Planet ice Arena in Altrincham. The competitors were Damian Chambers (7–0), Matt Sen (5–1), Mikael Lawal (9–0), Antony Woolery (1–0), Dan Cooper (7–0–1), David Jamieson (4–0), Tony Conquest (18–3) and Rhasian Earlington (5–0). Lawal emerged victorious after defeating Chambers in the final.[18] [19]

Ultimate Boxxer V

The fifth edition was held in the light-middleweight division and took place on 20 September 2019 at the indigo at The O2 in London, and was aired live on BT Sport. The competitors were Kingsley Egbunike (4–0), Lenny Fuller (6–0), Kaan Hawes (5–1–1), Joshua Ejakpovi (13–1), Lewis Syrett (6–0), Sean Robinson (9–0), Ish O'Connor (2–0) and Steven Donnelly (7–0). Donnelly emerged victorious after defeating Fuller in the final.[20] [21]

Ultimate Boxxer VI

The sixth edition was held in the heavyweight division and took place on 13 December 2019 at the Planet Ice Arena in Manchester. The participants were Nick Webb (13–2), Sean Turner (12–3), Mark Bennett (5–0), Jonathan Palata (7–0), Josh Sandland (4–1–1), Jay McFarlane (10–4), Kamil Sokolowski (7–15–2) and Chris Healey (8–6). Webb emerged victorious after defeating Bennett in the final.[22] [23]

Boxxer VII

The seventh edition of the tournament, now renamed Boxxer, employed a new four-man format. Taking place in the super-middleweight division, the event took place on 10 November 2020 at the BT Sport Studios in London. The participants were Zak Chelli (7–1–1), Harry Woods (4–0), Mike McGoldrick (6–0) and Vladimir Georgiev (4–0). Georgiev was brought in as a late replacement after Ben Ridings tested positive for COVID-19. Chelli emerged victorious after defeating McGoldrick in the final.[24] [25] [26]

Current boxers

Boxer Nationality Weight
Dan Azeez EnglishLight-heavyweight
Adam Azim EnglishLightweight
Hassan Azim EnglishLight-welterweight
Zak Chelli EnglishSuper-middleweight
Frazer Clarke EnglishHeavyweight
Caroline Dubois EnglishLightweight
Scott Forrest ScottishCruiserweight
Hughie Fury EnglishHeavyweight
Cori Gibbs EnglishLightweight
April Hunter EnglishWelterweight
Natasha Jonas EnglishSuper-lightweight
Ebonie Jones EnglishBantamweight
Savannah Marshall EnglishMiddleweight
Florian Marku AlbaniaWelterweight
Georgia O'Connor EnglandLight-middleweight
Joe Pigford EnglishSuper-middleweight
Brad Rea EnglishMiddleweight
Richard Riakporhe EnglishCruiserweight
Dylan Cheema EnglishLightweight
Viddal Riley EnglishCruiserweight
Shakiel Thompson EnglishMiddleweight
Jeamie 'TVK' Tshikeva EnglishHeavyweight
Joshua Buatsi EnglishLight Heavyweight

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bunce. Steve. 5 February 2018. Ultimate Boxxer offers a break from tradition and the chance to create an exciting new brand. live. 1 September 2021. The Independent. https://web.archive.org/web/20210901210900/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/boxing/ultimate-boxxer-ricky-hatton-paulie-malignaggi-what-is-it-break-from-tradition-a8195686.html . 1 September 2021 .
  2. Web site: Events. live. 1 September 2021. Boxxer. https://web.archive.org/web/20210901210905/https://www.boxxer.com/previous-events/ . 1 September 2021 .
  3. Web site: Khan. Daxx. Ultimate Boxxer Reveals New Brand Name And New Signing. live. 1 September 2021. Billy C Boxing. https://web.archive.org/web/20200813111123/http://billycboxing.com/daxxkhan/ultimate-boxxer-reveals-new-brand-name-and-new-signing/ . 13 August 2020 .
  4. Web site: 2020-08-11. Welcome to the Team: Derrick Osaze. live. 1 September 2021. Boxxer. https://web.archive.org/web/20210121182516/https://www.boxxer.com/videos/boxxer-signs-derrick-osaze/ . 21 January 2021 .
  5. Web site: 1 October 2020. Ultimate Boxxer 7 presents brand-new four man knockout competition in November. live. 1 September 2021. British Boxing News. https://web.archive.org/web/20210901215859/https://britishboxingnews.co.uk/blogs/ultimate-boxxer-7-present-brand-new-four-man-knockout-competition-in-november . 1 September 2021 .
  6. Web site: 11 June 2021. Sky Sports Finalizes Content Partnerships With Top Rank, BOXXER - Boxing News. 1 September 2021. Boxing Scene.
  7. Web site: 12 June 2021. Sky Sports announces new partnerships with Top Rank and BOXXER until 2025. live. 1 September 2021. Sky Sports. https://web.archive.org/web/20210611165935/https://www.skysports.com/amp/boxing/news/12183/12330123/sky-sports-announces-new-partnerships-with-top-rank-and-boxxer-until-2025 . 11 June 2021 .
  8. Web site: 1 September 2021. BOXXER announce their new signings: Chris Eubank Jr, Lewis Ritson, Caroline Dubois and more. live. 2 September 2021. British Boxing News. https://web.archive.org/web/20210901215905/https://britishboxingnews.co.uk/blogs/boxxer-announce-their-new-signings-chris-eubank-jr-lewis-ritson-caroline-dubois-and-more . 1 September 2021 .
  9. Web site: 1 September 2021. BOXXER unveils new signings to usher in exciting new era on Sky Sports. live. 2 September 2021. BOXXER. https://web.archive.org/web/20210901183526/https://www.boxxer.com/news/boxxer-unveils-new-signings-to-usher-in-exciting-new-era-on-sky-sports/ . 1 September 2021 .
  10. Web site: Rathborn. Jack. 29 April 2018. Why Ultimate Boxxer could be boxing's answer to discovering Jamie Vardy. live. 2 September 2021. Daily Mirror. https://web.archive.org/web/20190723152615/https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/boxing/ultimate-boxxer-could-boxing-equivalent-12449217 . 23 July 2019 .
  11. Web site: 26 April 2018. What is Ultimate Boxxer? - Boxing News. live. 2 September 2021. Boxing News Online. https://web.archive.org/web/20180426125424/http://www.boxingnewsonline.net/what-is-ultimate-boxxer/ . 26 April 2018 .
  12. Web site: 21 August 2020. Ultimate Boxxer 1. live. 2 September 2021. Boxxer. https://web.archive.org/web/20210121184303/https://www.boxxer.com/events/ultimate-boxxer-1/ . 21 January 2021 .
  13. Web site: 2 November 2018. Ultimate Boxxer II. live. 2 September 2021. The Sweet Science. https://web.archive.org/web/20201202060206/https://tss.ib.tv/boxing/featured-boxing-articles-boxing-news-videos-rankings-and-results/53571-ultimate-boxxer-ii . 2 December 2020 .
  14. Web site: Siza. Joseph. 3 November 2018. Shakan Pitters wins Ultimate Boxxer II – Full show report. live. 2 September 2021. British Boxing News. https://web.archive.org/web/20190515024358/http://britishboxingnews.co.uk:80/blogs/shakan-pitters-wins-ultimate-boxxer-ii-full-show-report . 15 May 2019 .
  15. Web site: 22 August 2020. Ultimate Boxxer 2. live. 2 September 2021. Boxxer. https://web.archive.org/web/20210121180305/https://www.boxxer.com/events/ultimate-boxxer-2/ . 21 January 2021 .
  16. Web site: Rickson. Tim. 18 February 2019. Ultimate Boxxer 3 line-up revealed. live. 3 September 2021. British Boxing News. https://web.archive.org/web/20190513062259/http://britishboxingnews.co.uk:80/blogs/ultimate-boxxer-3-line-up-revealed . 13 May 2019 .
  17. Web site: 22 August 2020. Ultimate Boxxer 3. live. 3 September 2021. Boxxer. https://web.archive.org/web/20210301034312/https://www.boxxer.com/events/ultimate-boxxer-3/ . 1 March 2021 .
  18. Web site: Rickson. Tim. 18 July 2019. Ultimate Boxxer 4 fight time, date, TV channel, undercard, schedule, venue, betting odds and live stream details. live. 16 September 2021. British Boxing News. https://web.archive.org/web/20210916233015/https://www.britishboxingnews.co.uk/blogs/ultimate-boxxer-4-fight-time-date-tv-channel-undercard-schedule-venue-betting-odds-and-live-stream-details . 16 September 2021 .
  19. Web site: 25 July 2019. Mikael Lawal impresses with standout Ultimate Boxxer IV triumph. live. 16 September 2021. World Boxing News. https://web.archive.org/web/20200815171012/https://www.worldboxingnews.net/2019/07/25/mikael-lawal-impresses-standout-ultimate-boxxer-iv-triumph/ . 15 August 2020 .
  20. Web site: Powers. Adam. 20 September 2019. Boxing tonight: Ultimate Boxxer 5 schedule, format, live stream, fight times, undercard. live. 16 September 2021. Daily Express. https://web.archive.org/web/20191006144204/https://www.express.co.uk/sport/boxing/1180309/Boxing-tonight-Ultimate-Boxxer-5-schedule-format-live-stream-fight-times-how-to-watch . 6 October 2019 .
  21. News: 21 September 2019. Donnelly wins Ultimate Boxxer event. BBC Sport. 16 September 2021.
  22. Web site: 19 October 2019. Ultimate Boxxer 6 heavyweights line-up revealed. live. 21 September 2021. British Boxing News. https://web.archive.org/web/20191012134610/http://britishboxingnews.co.uk/blogs/ultimate-boxxer-6-heavyweights-line-up-revealed . 12 October 2019 .
  23. Web site: Whittle. Andy. 16 December 2019. Nick Webb gets his career back on track - Boxing News. live. 21 September 2021. Boxing News Online. https://web.archive.org/web/20200926140430/https://www.boxingnewsonline.net/nick-webb-gets-his-career-back-on-track/ . 26 September 2020 .
  24. Web site: 6 November 2020. Ultimate Boxxer 7 super-middleweights – meet the contestants. live. 22 September 2021. British Boxing News. https://web.archive.org/web/20201106174652/https://britishboxingnews.co.uk/blogs/ultimate-boxxer-7-super-middleweights-meet-the-contestants . 6 November 2020 .
  25. Web site: Lord. Adam. 9 November 2020. Bury boxer ruled out of TV fight night after testing positive for Covid-19. live. 22 September 2021. Bury Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20201110004750/https://www.burytimes.co.uk/sport/18858970.covid-19-positive-test-rules-bury-boxer-tv-fight-night/ . 10 November 2020 .
  26. Web site: Lewis. Ron. 10 November 2020. Zak Chelli Wins BOXXER Tournament at BT Sport Studios in London. 22 September 2021. Boxing Scene.