ITV back in the boxing ring?

As reported by BoxRec News a month ago, after having a moribund 2009 it looks like Hennessy Sports is to return to high level promoting with a show on Friday 10th September.

According to a BBBoC notice in July, John Murray was heading this bill with a defence of his EBU lightweight title.  This is no longer the case as he boxes in Altrincham on 25th September.  The show on the 10th, to take place at York Hall, will be headlined by John O'Donnell and Tyson Fury.

A spokesman for the promoter wouldn't reveal further details this morning - a press release will be forthcoming.

Entitled 'ShoBox: The New Generation', the bill would appear to be part of the series broadcast Stateside by US cable broadcaster Showtime - an exciting development for British boxing and Hennessy Sports (who already have strong promotional links in Canada).

Who, if anyone, will broadcast the show in the UK?  ITV Sport would seem to be the obvious candidates, especially as their logo still appears prominently on the Hennessy Sports website.  The broadcaster offered a regular diet of boxing on ITV4, working closely with Hennessy, before they decided to step back from the sport.  The only bill they have broadcast this year was Amir Khan's victory over Paulie Malignaggi in May - and word in the industry is that this is because they were offered the rights for next to nothing.

ITV suffered an eye-watering £2.7bn loss in 2008 but showed remarkable powers of recovery in 2009, posting a £25m profit, partly due to a huge decrease in commissioning work, of which boxing seemed to be just one victim.

If Showtime are putting up a few dollars, a slightly rosier financial outlook might encourage ITV to get back in the ring on September 10th.