Fightzone Unveils Strong Spring Schedule In Bid To Become Major UK Boxing Player

What is FightZone TV, Why Was it Set up? And Who By?

FightZone TV, the App which televises small-hall boxing, was launched less than 12 months ago by Sheffield-based promoter Dennis Hobson. Hobson, best-known for representing Clinton Woods, Ricky Hatton and David Haye, aimed to get his shows under a TV platform and when he failed to buy out Box Nation, he set up his own platform: Fightzone.

Hobson formed Fight Academy with business partner Steve Crump. Fight Academy is the major promoter behind the Fightzone streaming service. They have also extensively worked with the Scottish-based promoter Sam Kynoch.

Fightzone TV aims to televise an event every week. And not just from the UK but also internationally. It is currently available for free until April 30. After that, it will be purchasable at a cutoff price point of just £1.99 a month. Fightzone’s selling point is the opportunity it gives fans to watch fighters and fights that would otherwise not be televised.

After some underwhelming shows and sub-par quality months in the 10 months since it has been active due to a lack of budget and quality opponents, Fightzone TV aims for a massive spring. British boxing is stronger than ever with all of the different promoters and networks broadcasting events and in the midst of that Fightzone TV will be a major force. 

FightZone TV: A New Major Player in UK Boxing

Fightzone TV will be broadcasting at least 3 significant events in the next 6 weeks. It all starts this Friday when British Flyweight Champion, Sheffield’s Tommy Frank (15-2) makes the first defence of his Lonsdale belt against Craig Derbyshire (8-28-3). Frank-Derbyshire will be held at the Magna Centre in Rotherham.

While Derbyshire’s record may not look pretty, do not let that deceive you. Derbyshire is a very capable fighter who is a two-time English super flyweight champion and a two-weight central area champion.

This is a massive opportunity for Derbyshire who will be looking to cause another upset. Also on that undercard is Keanen Wainwright and Levi Giles in 8-round contests.

On April 30, the Fightzone TV cameras will be heading to Bolton. IBO Cruiserweight Champion Jack Massey (19-1) will be defending his version of the world title against an unnamed foe.

After Massey won the title in November, there was a call out from British rival Isaac Chamberlain. Chamberlain-Massey would be a very good domestic clash for Fightzone to make.

On chief support, 24-year-old Super Middleweight, Chorley’s Mark Jeffers defends the WBO Global title he won last November over 10 rounds. Furthermore, we see the return of Dan Catlin, Zak Miller and Michael Gomez Jnr over 8 rounds.

Fightzone TV Ascends to another level

Fast Forward to May 13 and Fightzone TV is delivering its biggest show yet at the 12,500 capacity OVO Arena in Glasgow. This is the same venue where Josh Taylor defended his undisputed titles against Jack Catterall.

WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Hannah Rankin tops the bill in her Scottish homecoming. She faces Mexican Alejandra Ayala. 

Supporting Rankin is a stacked undercard featuring Commonwealth featherweight champion Nathaniel Collins, former Scottish champion Joe Ham, former WBC International Silver champion Kieran Smith, and current IBO international champion David Jamieson, unbeaten welterweight Michael McGurk and much more.

What makes these 3 shows so significant?

Keep in mind that Fightzone TV is supposed to be for small-hall boxing. An area or English title fight topping the bill and prospects vs journeymen on the undercard. It should not be able to deliver shows like Rankin Ayala that could feature five or more title fights on a single card including a world title and a major domestic title. 

In addition to these major shows, we shall be treated to a Fightzone show on April 9 in Oldham and possibly the return of heavyweights Kash Ali and Dave Allen. The next 12 months or so should definitely an exciting time for British boxing.

By Darshan Desai – EverythingBoxing

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