TV Home Forum

20 Big Fights Live per year from ITV!

New ITV Boxing deal signed and sealed! (July 2005)

This site closed in March 2021 and is now a read-only archive
JJ
Juicy Joe Founding member
According to BBC News, ITV have secured rights to screen 20 Big Fights Live a year after Frank Warren secured a deal. The first one presumably on July 16th with Amir Khan! Very Happy

Hatton, Calzaghe and Khan on ITV

This is great news! The last Big Fight Live a few weeks back was a huge success and 20 of them a year should be fantastic! Laughing

Who needs The Premiership when you can have a Big Fight Live?

Guess Jim Rosenthal will not be able to present them all with his Formula 1 commitments, but I do hope he does present the majority of the fights!

What do you think? Confused:
DA
David_02
Great news.
DO
dodrade
Will they all be on ITV1 or will some be on digital channels?
BR
Brekkie
dodrade posted:
Will they all be on ITV1 or will some be on digital channels?


They'll be split between ITV1, ITV2 and ITV4.


Be interesting to see how these would do head to head with Match of the Day!
LL
Larry the Loafer
When it's finished, they'll probably create a Celebrity version.
AR
A:R:I:S:E
Delighted with this news!

Can anyone confirm the presentation team for tonight's bill on ITV2?
DJ
DJGM
Brekkie Boy posted:

dodrade posted:

Will they all be on ITV1 or will some be on digital channels?


They'll be split between ITV1, ITV2 and ITV4.


In that case, maybe they should air some old editions of "Fight Night" on ITV3 . . .
SE
Square Eyes Founding member
How fab to hear the Big Fight theme resurrected on ITV2 tonight.
AR
A:R:I:S:E
Delighted to see The Big Fight back on a regular basis- and 2 great fights tonight to welcome it back.

The only downside was the dreadful commentary of Steve Holdsworth, he really let the side down tonight.
JJ
Juicy Joe Founding member
Square Eyes posted:
How fab to hear the Big Fight theme resurrected on ITV2 tonight.


Agreed! It was great! Hope it is used for next week's Big Fight Live featuring Amir Khan!
SC
scottishender
Will ITV3 ever show old fights (Maybe Mike Tyson's EARLY FIGHTS which were shown on ITV)
AR
A:R:I:S:E
Well tonight will be a real test for ITV as it's their first professional bout for 5 years, and a return to regular boxing after a 10 year absence.

I've heard a rumour Steve Holdsworth ahs been dropped already as ITV's main commentator- he was truly awful last weekend, but having Duke McKenzie alongside him made it even worse. Apparently Jim Rosenthal will be tonight's commentator though I can't confirm this.

Good news this week as ITV signed Barry McGuigan from Sky. He was, of course, part of the old 'Big Fight' team, responsible for 'Barry McGuigan's Unofficial Scorecard'.

Jim and Barry are the only 2 members of the old Big Fight team I can realistically see coming back. Others were:

Jim Watt: Is full time at Sky and is likely to stay there now.

Reg Gutteridge- must be getting on a bit now, he's officially retired- legendary commentator though.

Gary Newbon- Does a bit for Central but is largely at Sky now presenting greyhound racing and darts. He was very hurt after being left out of Brian Barwick's team for Euro 2004 and soon jumped ship.

One piece of good news this week is that ITV are making a serious attempt to sign the excellent John Rawling as their new Big Fight commentator starting in September.

ITV failed in an attempt to sign Jeff Stelling to front their Champions League coverage this week. Stelling has signed a new contract at Sky and will front Monday Night Football from next season on top of his work on Soccer Saturday.

It seems Mark Sharman is serious about beefing up ITV Sport and he deserves great credit for doing so. This will stand the network in good stead after the disastrous Brian Barwick years which consisted of one stupid mistake after another, and with sport likely to play a prominent part in the ITV4 schedule they appear to have a good boss at the helm.

Newer posts