A new season of boxing is fast approaching and Sky Sports has unveiled a knockout line-up of six Fight Night Live shows to kick it all off this autumn.
Two world title fights from Scott Quigg and Paul Smith, heavyweight hope Anthony Joshua, the return of George Groves and another golden boy Luke Campbell are among the leading lights first up on Sky Sports in September and October, with many more top fights on the way in the winter and beyond from the Matchroom stable.
Sky Sports’ autumn schedule begins in Manchester, followed by trips to London, Germany and Hull, all featuring a bumper line-up of undercard fights, with the familiar presenting and commentary teams, led by Johnny Nelson, Nick Halling and Jim Watt, returning to the ringside to get boxing fans back in the mood after the quiet summer months.
The first of the super six Fight Night Live’s on Sky Sports features world bantamweight champion Scott Quigg, who is top of the bill in Manchester where he and some of his local friends line up in one of the nation’s best boxing venues, the Phones 4u Arena, on September 13.
Quigg defends his world title against Stephane Jamoye, while close friend Anthony Crolla takes on former world lightweight champion Gamaliel Diaz, hoping to get a shot at the WBO version himself.
On top of that, Britain’s heavyweight hope Anthony Joshua fights in his first bout in Manchester, against the tough and experienced Konstantin Airich.
A week later on September 20, George Groves gets back in the ring for the first time since being knocked out by Carl Froch earlier this year in their enthralling rematch at Wembley.
The Londoner will take on European super-middleweight champion Christopher Rebrasse at Wembley Arena, with the winner looking like getting a shot at the WBO world title.
The Wembley Arena bill will also see some future prospects take their chance to impress with Luke Campbell in action, the talented super-featherweight star Kal Yafai and another up-and-coming talent, lightweight Martin J Ward, completing the line-up of young guns on show.
On September 27, Paul Smith finally gets a shot at a world title, albeit away from home, against one of the most experienced champions out there in Arthur Abraham, with the Liverpudlian looking to spring a surprise.
The super-middleweight is not short of experience himself but Abraham has been around for some time and is a fighter to be feared, though Smith has nothing to lose on what could the most momentous night of his career.
Smith will get the usual sibling support on the night with brother Stephen also on the card while Matthew Macklin will also be in action.
On October 4, promising talent Josh Warrington takes on Italian David Dieli for the vacant European featherweight belt, a fight which tops the bill in Warrington’s home city of Leeds, while another young gun is also in action in the shape of Callum Smith.
There are two comeback kings on the Leeds card too. Brian Rose’s light-middleweight world title challenge was too much for him, so he gets back in the ring after a two-month break, while former two-weight world champion Ricky Burns is also back, with the Scot having not won his last three fights so really needs a fantastic fourth in Yorkshire.
A week later on October 11, Anthony Joshua returns to action as he fights for his first heavyweight title since turning professional after winning gold at the London 2012 Olympics.
The WBC International strap is up for grabs with the experienced Denis Bakhtov in the way at the O2 Arena, where the heavweight hopes will start to come to fruition.
Joshua is not the only young gun on the title hunt because Welsh wonder Lee Selby takes on Joel Brunker in a final eliminator for the IBF world featherweight title as chief support
On top of that, a young middleweight prospect from London, John Ryder, is also on the bill, facing the man who beat Frank Buglioni earlier this year, Sergey Khomitsky.
The last of the first six confirmed Fight Night Live shows on Sky Sports comes from Hull on October 25 with local and lightweight rivals both in action.
Olympic hero Luke Campbell is on a mission and could well move up to his first 10-rounder on a bust card, while the other man from Hull is the headline act.
Tommy Coyle is a neighbour but the pair are sure to meet sooner rather than later, but first he takes on a former world champion and a famous name in Michael Katsidis, who beat Kevin Mitchell but then went on to lose to Ricky Burns.
Sky Sports’ extensive live boxing coverage is complemented by a broad range of special features, documentaries and other support programming.
This includes the popular weekly magazine programme Ringside, presented by Adam Smith and Johnny Nelson, as well as Ringside Extra online and Ringside Specials.
In addition, the Sky Sports boxing website has all the latest news, analysis and previews of upcoming fights, plus special interviews and video clips.
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| SATURDAY 13th SEPTEMBER |
| Scott Quigg v Stephane Jamoye WBA Super-Bantamweight Title Anthony Crolla v Gamaliel Diaz Lightweight Contest Anthony Joshua v Konstantin Airich Heavyweight Contest Phones 4u Arena, Manchester (ENG) | 20:00 |
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| SATURDAY 20th SEPTEMBER |
| George Groves v Christopher Rebrasse European Super-Middleweight Title Luke Campbell v TBC Lightweight Contest Kal Yafai v TBC Flyweight Contest Martin J Ward v TBC Super-Featherweight Contest Wembley Arena, London (ENG) | 20:00 |
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| SATURDAY 27th SEPTEMBER |
| Arthur Abraham v Paul Smith WBO Super-Middleweight Title Luke Campbell v TBC Lightweight Contest Kiel (GER) | 20:30 |
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| SATURDAY 4th OCTOBER |
| Josh Warrington v Davide Dieli European Featherweight Title Ricky Burns v TBC Light-Welterweight Contest Brian Rose v TBC Light-Middleweight Contest Callum Smith v TBC Super-Middleweight Contest First Direct Arena, Leeds (ENG) | 20:30 |
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| SATURDAY 11th OCTOBER |
| Anthony Joshua v Denis Bakhtov WBC International Heavyweight Title Lee Selby v Joel Brunker IBF Featherweight Title Eliminator John Ryder v Sergey Khomitsky Middleweight Contest Phones 4u Arena, Manchester (ENG) | 20:00 |
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| SATURDAY 25th OCTOBER |
| Luke Campbell v TBC Lightweight Contest Tommy Coyle v Michael Katsidis Lightweight Contest Hull (ENG) | 20:30 |
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