Category Sports News

World-class professional boxing will return to prime-time television and BBC iPlayer thanks to the BBC’s agreement to broadcast it through Boxxer.

Select events will be shown on BBC TV, iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website alongside fights from selected events.

Olympic and world champion boxer Lauren Price is just one of the biggest talents in British boxing at Boxxer right now.

Boxing professionals returning to primetime BBC television, free to air, and our extensive digital platforms is a fantastic time, according to BBC Sport director Alex Kay-Jelski.

By the end of the year, the first event is anticipated to take place, with announcements of dates and headliners expected.

In recent years, Boxxer promoted Amir Khan v. Kell Brook, Liam Smith v. Chris Eubank Jr., Claressa Shields v. Savannah Marshall, and Fabio Wardley v. Frazer Clarke under the direction of promoter Ben Shalom, as well as an all-women’s card headlined by Price and Natasha Jonas in March.

It’s historic to work with the BBC to bring big-time British boxing to Saturday night TV,” Shalom said.

“We’re proud to present the most entertaining British fighters to the largest audience possible.”

At the Cincinnati Open, Zizou Bergs defeated Jacob Fearnley from Great Britain.

Fearnley, a Belgian, was making his professional debut at the tournament, defeating him 6-1, 6-4, comfortably.

The 24-year-old struggled in his first encounter with the 26-year-old despite being ranked 55 in the world, just three places behind Bergs.

Fearnley was unable to convert one of his two break points because he had nine to lose on his serve.

His defeat comes after his most recent Canadian Open first-round defeat.

Britain’s Jacob Fearnley suffered a first-round defeat by Zizou Bergs at the Cincinnati Open.

Fearnley was making his debut at the tournament and was comfortably beaten 6-1 6-4 by the Belgian.

The 24-year-old is ranked 55 in the world – just three places below Bergs – but struggled in his first meeting with the 26-year-old.

Fearnley faced nine break points on his serve, losing four, and could only convert one of the two he earned.

His defeat follows a recent first-round exit at the Canadian Open.

St. Jude Championship – leaderboard for the first round

-8 A Bhatia (US), -7 T Fleetwood (Eng), -6 H Hall, J Rose (Eng), B Cauley (USA), -5 S Kim (Kor)

others were screened.

-4 R. Fowler, C. Morikawa (USA), -3 W. Clark, S. Scheffler (USA), and M. Fitzpatrick (Eng)

Tommy Fleetwood shot four birdies in the final four holes of the FedExCup play-offs’ first round, finishing one shot clear of the lead on day one.

Englishman Fleetwood, 34, was two under at the time but had a fantastic run of form when Akshay Bhatia finished the day at seven-under 63 in Memphis.

Harry Hall and Justin Rose, along with USA’s Bud Cauley, are a further shot back in joint-third place behind Fleetwood’s compatriots.

A top-50 finish qualifying player for the following years’ signature events led American Bhatia to the tournament 45th in the FedExCup standings.

The top 50 will advance to the Maryland BMW Championship on August 14 and 17 after Memphis.

The top 30 players will compete in the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta the following week.

Bhatia continued, “I’m just really trying to have a little more peace on the course.”

Because I don’t really want to live my life based on an unstable game, I think this game can consume your life and your happiness. I’m just trying to change that.

Before he won the Open last month, Bhatia’s remarks were comparable to those made by fellow world number one Scottie Scheffler.

After making a bogey at age 18, Scheffler is five shots clear of the leader.

St Jude Championship – first-round leaderboard

-8 A Bhatia (US); -7 T Fleetwood (Eng); -6 H Hall, J Rose (Eng), B Cauley (USA); -5 S Kim (Kor)

Selected others

-4 R Fowler, C Morikawa (USA); -3 W Clark, S Scheffler (USA), M Fitzpatrick (Eng)

Tommy Fleetwood hit four birdies in the final four holes at the St Jude Championship, the first round of the FedExCup play-offs, to finish one shot off the lead on day one.

Englishman Fleetwood, 34, was two under at the turn but hit a superb run of form coming in to end the day with a seven-under 63 – one behind leader Akshay Bhatia in Memphis.

Fleetwood’s compatriots Harry Hall and Justin Rose are a further shot back in joint-third, along with USA’s Bud Cauley.

American Bhatia came into the tournament 45th in the FedExCup standings, with a top-50 finish qualifying players for the following seasons signature events.

After Memphis, the top 50 will advance to the BMW Championship in Maryland on 14-17 August.

The season-ending Tour Championship, featuring the top 30 players, takes place in Atlanta the following week.

Bhatia said: “Im just really trying to have a little more peace on the golf course.

“I think this game can consume your life, your happiness, and so I’m just trying to figure out ways to change that because I feel like I don’t really want to live my life based off of an unstable game.”

Bhatia’s remarks are similar to those made by world number one Scottie Scheffler before he won the Open last month.

Scheffler is five shots off the lead after a bogey at 18.

Betfred Super League, Leigh Sports Village

Leigh (8) 14

Tries: Hanley, Brand 2 Goals: O’Brien

Leeds (10) 22

Leeds Rhinos climbed to fourth in the Super League table with a four-try victory at Leigh.

Trailing 8-0 after tries from Umyla Handley and Keanan Brand, Lachlan Miller got them on the board before Sam Lisone’s try put them ahead before half-time.

James Bentley’s try just after the break extended the lead but Leigh responded with Brand’s second try and twice went close to going back in front.

It moved Leeds above St Helens into fourth ahead of Saints ‘ trip to Wakefield on Friday.

Leigh stay third after the end of a run of four straight victories, having last lost at the end of June – also against Leeds.

The hosts took the lead after 10 minutes when Hanley skipped his way into a gap and sprinted into the right corner, before Lachlan Lam’s floated pass saw Brand score Leigh’s second try after a strong carry from Isaac Liu.

Leeds responded through Miller, who arced a run across the defence, dummied and darted into half a hole to slide over.

Leeds were much sharper at the start of the second half and, after just three minutes, extended their lead when Jake Connor, on the last tackle, floated a cross-field kick that Harry Newman climbed highest to take and offloaded inside for Bentley to go over under the posts.

The hosts responded with sustained pressure, and quick hands worked Brand into the right corner for his second try of the night.

Leigh thought they had retaken the lead when first Tesi Niu was held up over the line before Bailey Hodgson did touch down, only for the video referee to rule out the try for obstruction.

Leigh: Hodgson, Brand, Niu, Hanley, Charnley, O’Brien, Lam, Trout, Ipape, Ofahengaue, Halton, Hughes, Liu

Interchanges: McNamara, Mulhern, Davis, O’Neill

Leeds: Miller, Hall, Handley, Newman, Hankinson, Croft, Connor, Palasia, O’Connor, Jenkins, McDonnell, Gannon, Watkins

Interchanges: Bentley, Lisone, Cassell, Ackers