The Global Boxing Series has partnered with Disney+Hotstar to usher in a thrilling new era for professional boxing in India. For the first time, a professional boxing series will be broadcast on India's leading sports OTT channel, and is set to get underway in Mumbai on June 1.
Spearheaded by promoter Devraj Das, one of the pioneers of professional boxing in India, and co-promoter Salil Acharya, an actor-RJ and advocate of combat sports and professional boxing on TV and OTT, the Global Boxing Series is a pioneering initiative that blends action, entertainment and broadcasting to create the best platform for professional boxing and boxers in India.
By partnering with Disney+ Hotstar, the Global Boxing Series will be able to offer fans a seamless streaming experience of every bout in 4K HD vision, allowing the community to enjoy every punch and knockout that happens on the ground with unmatched precision.
The Boxing Night will feature eight bouts featuring 16 boxers including the first ever Influencer Marquee Showdown between well-known influencer Tain de Villiers and Ishant Rawat, also known as the Knucklehead Warrior. The event will also feature notable female boxers, adding to the excitement and diversity of the competition.
https://www.hotstar.com/in/sports/boxing/global-boxing-series-2024-live-june-1st/1271316429/watch
Reflecting on the partnership and the vision for the series, Devraj Das, Co-Promoter of Global Boxing Series and Promoter of Marine Pro Boxing, India's only boxing management and fighter-led platform, said, “I am excited to join Disney+ Hotstar and embark on this journey to revolutionise professional boxing in India forever. Boxing has always had a special place in my heart, be it my participation at the grassroots level or my incredible achievements at world championships. However, too often our boxers get forgotten after their moment of glory, which prompted the creation of the Global Boxing Series, which aims to provide a continuity and platform. I wanted to leverage my passion for boxing and years of professional promotion to establish a sustainable ecosystem for the sport to thrive in India. With Salil's invaluable support, our aim is to continue to provide India's professional boxers with the opportunities and competition they so rightly deserve, and continue to broadcast.”
Disney+ Hotstar, the country's leading online video streaming platform, is known for its commitment to promoting mixed martial arts by streaming major tournaments in the country. With this partnership, the platform will expand its reach into boxing with the broadcast of the Global Boxing Series, further highlighting its commitment to bringing top-class sports entertainment to Indian audiences.
“For any sports league, having a streaming partner that can drive awareness and provide a highly immersive experience is crucial and we are pleased to have found a partner in Disney+ Hotstar. Their consistent promotion of combat sports is perfectly aligned with our vision of taking combat sports to the next level and establishing the premier platform for professional boxing in India. With its unmatched streaming capabilities and wide reach, GBS aims to attract millions of fans and bring the excitement of the ring to their homes. Influencer fights are a major phenomenon in global boxing that are held under intense scrutiny and having a match of such magnitude as part of our inaugural fixtures will mark a solid step forward for the professional boxing world. Our commitment is to deliver a world-class fight experience and cement the importance of professional boxing in the Indian sports landscape,” said Salil Acharya, co-promoter of the Global Boxing Series.
According to the Ormax Sports Audience Report: 2024, boxing will have a viewership of 107 million in India.
The Global Boxing Series will bring together 16 elite boxers across various weight classes including super middleweight, light heavyweight, super welterweight, welterweight, super lightweight, lightweight, featherweight, super bantamweight and super flyweight for a total of eight thrilling bouts.
