BoxNation lands Mayweather-Berto, Groves title bid

Specialist boxing pay-television channel BoxNation has secured the UK rights to Floyd Mayweather Jr’s fight against Andre Berto.

In a fight that undefeated pound-for-pound superstar Mayweather has pledged will be his last, heavy underdog Berto will attempt to win the WBA super and WBC welterweight world titles in Las Vegas on September 12.

BoxNation has been the regular UK home to Mayweather fights since he signed a lucrative six-fight deal with US cable operator Showtime in 2013. However, it missed out on May’s superfight between the American and Manny Pacquiao to pay-television broadcaster Sky, which showed the contest on its Sky Sports Box Office pay-per-view platform.

Berto has lost on three of his past six outings and is widely viewed as an underwhelming opponent for Mayweather’s career finale, leading to a far less fiercely contested rights battle when compared to the Pacquiao fight.

BoxNation will also air the Showtime-produced ‘All Access’ behind-the-scenes documentary series in the build-up to September 12, while Britain’s George Groves challenges Badou Jack for the WBC super-middleweight title on the undercard to provide added interest for the UK audience.