The CSI Sports media company has signed a multi-year agreement for its Fight Sports Network to exclusively broadcast fights involving China’s Olympic boxing medallist Zhang Zhilei.
The 31-year-old heavyweight makes his professional debut on August 8 in Fallon, Nevada against an as-yet unnamed opponent and Fight Sports will show the bout live across Asia.
Fight Sports’ deal for Zhilei has been signed with the fighter’s management company and promoter Dynasty Boxing and includes all multimedia rights.
Zhilei became China’s first ever Olympic boxing medallist when he won silver at Beijing 2008 in the super-heavyweight category but was unable to repeat the feat at London 2012, beaten in the quarter-finals by eventual winner Anthony Joshua.
Craig Miele, co-chief executive of CSI Sports, said: “In addition to the media rights our agreement also gives us the rights to host and organise events featuring Zhang Zhilei, which will complement our plans for a new series of events on our network in the region.”