ITV confirms return of boxing to schedule

ITV has signed a deal to bring back boxing as a "key part" of its sporting portfolio.

The sport will become a "regular fixture" of the network's schedule for the first time in a decade under the two year deal with Frank Warren, Europe’s leading boxing promoter.

"We pride ourselves on bringing the nation top quality events," explained Mark Sharman, controller of sport at ITV. "Big time boxing fits the bill perfectly."

As many as eight Big Fight Live bouts will be screened on ITV1, including competitions featuring newly-crowned world champion Ricky Hatton and Cardiff’s Joe Calzaghe. Extra matches will be screened initially on ITV2 and then on ITV4, a new male-oriented station launching in November.

Nigel Pickard, ITV's director of programmes, added: "There is still a real audience for boxing on mainstream terrestrial television and we hope to build boxing back into a primetime sporting event."