First published 2022 updated Dec 2025
Key Takeaways
- Major Broadcast Deal: Wasserman Boxing has signed an exclusive partnership with Channel 5 to broadcast five live fight nights per year for free.
- Streaming Availability: All events will be simulcast and available on-demand via the My5 streaming platform.
- Target Audience: The move is designed to capture casual viewers and mass-market reach (1M+ potential viewers) rather than just hardcore pay-TV subscribers.
- Key Fighters: The stable benefitting from this exposure includes Josh Kelly, Nathan Gorman, and Linus Udofia.
- Strategic Goal: Wasserman aims to rival Matchroom and Queensberry by dominating the free-to-air market while keeping marquee names like Chris Eubank Jr. on pay-TV (Sky Sports).
A major shift just hit the British boxing landscape. Wasserman Boxing has secured a prime free to air broadcast partnership with Channel 5, positioning its fighters in front of massive national audiences and strengthening its presence in a fiercely competitive market.
This move puts Wasserman side by side with a network known for delivering breakout moments in British boxing history. Tyson Fury had some of his earliest televised steps on Channel 5. Carl Frampton boxed there. Big nights from names fans still talk about were watched in living rooms across the country for free. Now Wasserman wants that spotlight pointed firmly at its stable.
A New Stage for a Growing Stable
This strategic partnership gives Wasserman Boxing five free to air fight nights per year on Channel 5, all of which will also stream on the My5 platform.
The motivation is clear. With a stable that features Chris Eubank Junior, Josh Kelly, Nathan Gorman, and undefeated prospect Linus Udofia, Wasserman wants greater visibility and a platform that reaches beyond hardcore followers.
Sky Sports remains Wasserman’s pay TV home for major events and headline names. But Channel 5 offers something different. Reach. Volume. Casual viewers. The fans who become fans because they stumble across a fight while flicking through channels.
Kalle Sauerland, head of global boxing for Wasserman, has long pointed out the power of free to air. Past Channel 5 fight nights have delivered audiences over one million viewers. In a sport where visibility fuels careers, this is a serious strategic asset.
Why Free to Air Still Matters
The British market is currently dominated by subscription platforms. Matchroom is with DAZN. Queensberry is with TNT Sports. Boxxer is with Sky Sports. Each one sits behind a paywall.
Free to air is different. It reaches the fans who might not pay for a subscription but will watch boxing every time it appears on television. Historically, the numbers tell the story.
ITV pulled more than ten million viewers in the nineties. The BBC drew millions for Audley Harrison’s debut. Even the comedy focused channel Dave hit three million viewers for David Haye’s comeback.
When free to air goes big, it goes very big. Wasserman clearly sees that potential and wants its fighters benefiting from it.
A Wider Strategy Behind the Deal
Wasserman’s buyout of Team Sauerland last year signaled the launch of a serious global boxing division. The Channel 5 agreement is the next step in that expansion.
The company now has the commercial strength of the Wasserman Group behind it plus a broadcast platform that rewards fighters with national visibility. Expect more signings, more activity, and more attempts to muscle into a crowded promotional scene.
Sauerland has already said it plainly. This is the largest free to air platform available in the United Kingdom. Wasserman plans to use it fully.
What Fans Can Expect Next
A new calendar of Channel 5 fight nights will roll out across the year and will focus on rising names who need bigger stages. Fighters like Josh Kelly and Nathan Gorman stand to gain the most. Prospects such as Udofia will get consistent exposure. And the shows themselves will be backed by Infinitum Entertainment, the group that previously supported Channel 5 boxing programming.
Wasserman describes this partnership as a turning point. Channel 5 has the audience. Wasserman has the fighters. Now the sport has another major broadcast pillar.
British boxing is booming again and everyone wants their fighters in the shop window. With this deal, Wasserman just secured an entire shop front
Frequently Asked Questions: Wasserman Boxing on Channel 5
Q: Is boxing on Channel 5 free to watch?
A: Yes. The partnership between Wasserman Boxing and Channel 5 is exclusively for free-to-air broadcasts. You do not need a subscription or Pay-Per-View pass to watch these events on standard terrestrial TV.
Q: How can I watch Channel 5 boxing online?
A: All Wasserman Boxing events broadcast on Channel 5 are also streamed live on My5, the channel’s video-on-demand service. Replays are typically available on the platform shortly after the live broadcast concludes.
Q: Which fighters will appear on Channel 5?
A: The broadcasts focus on rising contenders and prospects who need national exposure. Confirmed names for this platform include Josh Kelly, Nathan Gorman, Harlem Eubank, and Linus Udofia. Major headline stars like Chris Eubank Jr. generally remain on Sky Sports Box Office.
Q: How many fight nights are on the schedule?
A: The current deal secures five live fight nights per year, produced in association with Infinitum Entertainment.
