Zuffa Boxing have announced the day they will plant their flag on UK soil
After signing a multi-year broadcast deal with blue chip UK sports broadcaster Sky Sports, Zuffa Boxing’s entrance to the UK boxing market was inevitable.
Signing Conor Benn (25-1, 14ko’s) was Dana White’s first major power move over on these shores.
With Benn’s fights at least for now seemingly landing on Ring Magazine events, it is still yet to be seen what other UK talent Zuffa are going to bring to Sky Sports.
That is other than former cruiserweight world champion Chris Billiam Smith (21-2, 13ko’s) of course.
Zuffa Boxing is heading to Bournemouth as Chris Billiam Smith takes on Ryan Rozicki (21-1-1, 20ko’s) on June 6th.
Both fighters have penned multi-year deals with the sports newest promotion.
Chris Billiam Smith has been fighting on Sky Sports for a large part of his career, initially with Matchroom Boxing, and then with Boxxer.
Cruiserweight certainly seems to be a division that Zuffa are aggressively making a play for.
Former IBF and current Ring Magazine cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia (30-0, 23ko’s) became the first person to win a Zuffa belt in March, in extreme controversy.
Speaking on this announcement, ‘The Gentleman’ stated:
“This is a huge opportunity for me back in front of my amazing supporters”.
“Sky Sports know just how incredible these fight nights are in Bournemouth and this one will be no different”.
“Zuffa Boxing is all about proper fights under the lights and that’s exactly what Rozicki brings to the table”.
Rozicki brings an impressive knockout ratio, and is looking to upset this homecoming.
The man from Canada has stated in a press release:
“It’s a tough fight and that’s exactly what I wanted when I signed with Zuffa Boxing”.
“He hasn’t been in there with someone like me, the fans are going to get a real fight”.
What will be interesting is the undercard of this when it is revealed.
Will Zuffa provide UK prospects with opportunities, or will they stick to their mantra of strictly 50/50 fights?
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