Sky Sports has secured a multi-year broadcast deal with Zuffa Boxing, becoming the exclusive home for all Zuffa Boxing events in the UK, and Ireland. The agreement, announced Friday, marks a significant expansion for the nascent boxing promotion founded on the principles of the UFC, and a renewed commitment from Sky Sports to the sport.
The first event to be broadcast under the new partnership will be ZUFFA BOXING 05: CORTES vs. GARCIA on Sunday, April 5, live from the Meta APEX in Las Vegas. The card features a junior lightweight bout between undefeated Andres Cortes (24-0, 13 KOs) and Eridson Garcia (23-1, 14 KOs). The co-main event will pit former world champion Mark Magsayo (28-2, 18 KOs) against Ireland’s Feargal McCroy (17-1, 9 KOs).
Zuffa Boxing, a joint venture between TKO Group Holdings, Inc. And Sela, aims to replicate the success of the UFC model within the boxing world. Dana White, co-founder of Zuffa Boxing and long-time president of the UFC, stated the organization intends to stage at least five fight nights annually in the UK, beginning in May. White emphasized a focus on building stars and delivering high-quality matchups, telling Sky Sports, “Everyone is undefeated in boxing. That’s going to change over the next couple of years.”
Jonathan Licht, Chief Officer UK & Ireland at Sky Sports, echoed White’s ambition, stating, “Zuffa Boxing has exciting plans for the sport, and we share that same ambition when it comes to putting on the best fights for our customers. We look forward to a new era where we’ll use our platform to both build stars and showcase elite boxing talent here in the UK and internationally.” Sky Sports has been a mainstay in UK boxing coverage for over 30 years.
White also indicated plans to actively recruit fighters, including those already on Zuffa Boxing’s roster such as Conor Benn and Jai Opetaia, with a focus on developing talent in the United States, UK, Australia, and Mexico. He noted a perceived decline in boxing’s popularity in the US over the past decade, and a desire to appeal to a younger demographic.
The partnership with Sky Sports represents a “massive milestone” for Zuffa Boxing, according to White, who highlighted Sky Sports’ established position as a leading broadcaster of boxing in the UK. Further details regarding the remainder of the 2026 fight schedule are expected to be released in the coming weeks.
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