Fox Sports gets behind WBC’s World Cup of Boxing

The Fox Sports division of US network Fox has signed a multi-platform agreement with the World Boxing Council sanctioning body for the rights to the new WBC World Cup of Professional Boxing event.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Fox Sports has been granted exclusive broadcast rights in the US, where fights will be shown on pay-television channels Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2 and Fox Deportes.

Exclusive rights also apply in the Caribbean through Fox Sports 2 and Fox Deportes, while non-exclusive rights were acquired by Fox Sports in the Dominican Republic and Cuba.

In addition to broadcast rights, the deal also covers new media options, including live streaming, on-demand and highlights clips via the internet and mobile platforms.

The elimination-style event brings together champions from across 10 related intercontinental federations, plus the Silver and International Belts, in four divisions: featherweight, lightweight, welterweight and heavyweight.

Broken into an elimination phase, quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals, the first 20 broadcasts include two main events and have a two-hour window, while the finals are scheduled for 90 minutes.

Ten fight nights will take place in the US and Mexico, with a further four international venues yet to be determined. The inaugural World Cup is scheduled to run from October 18 to June 6.