Plans for Boxxer’s high-profile debut on the BBC have been thrown into disarray after heavyweight contender Jeamie “TKV” Tshikeva suffered a rib injury in training, putting his October 25 bout against Frazer Clarke in serious jeopardy.
The pair were scheduled to fight for the vacant British heavyweight title at the Vaillant Live Arena in Derby, in what was set to be a landmark moment for British boxing as it is the first live professional boxing broadcast on the BBC in over two decades.
According to reports, Tshikeva’s injury could force his withdrawal from the contest. As of now, it’s unclear whether the event will proceed with a replacement opponent, whether Clarke will feature in a non-title fight, or whether Boxxer will postpone the entire show.
The timing of the setback is particularly damaging for promoter Ben Shalom, whose company recently ended its partnership with Sky Sports and was counting on the BBC debut to mark a strong new chapter. The Clarke-Tshikeva bout was the clear headliner of the card, and the undercard lacks a matchup strong enough to anchor the event should the main event fall through.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions is staging a rival heavyweight show on the same night - Joseph Parker vs. Fabio Wardley on DAZN - leading to criticism from Warren that Boxxer’s scheduling was “disrespectful” to the sport.
Tshikeva, 31, had been scheduled to fulfill media duties on Wednesday to promote the event, but those appearances have now been canceled. Boxxer has yet to issue an official update, though it’s expected that a decision on the event’s status will be made in the coming days.
Read more about TKV vs. Clarke.
Image Credit: The Ring