BOXXER announces first BBC show as Frazer Clarke fights Jeamie TKV for British heavyweight title on the same night as Parker vs Wardley

Live professional boxing will return to BBC primetime on Saturday, October 25, when Frazer Clarke faces Jeamie TKV for the British heavyweight title at the Vaillant Live Arena in Derby. 

The fight will headline BOXXER's first show following its new broadcast deal with the BBC, with the main card airing on BBC Two from 8-10pm and undercard action streaming live on BBC iPlayer.

The event will take place on the same night as Joseph Parker's heavyweight clash with Fabio Wardley, but promoters have confirmed the two shows will not overlap, allowing fans to watch both bouts.

Clarke, a Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medallist, will be aiming to win the British title at the third attempt after previously fighting to a draw with Wardley in March 2024 before losing the rematch by knockout. 

Clarke - who returned from that defeat with a first-round stoppage of Ebenezer Tetteh in April - is signalling he is ready to challenge for domestic supremacy once more.

'It's amazing to be headlining on the BBC. There are going to be so many eyes on this fight, and I can't wait to get out there and put on a show,' Clarke said following the announcement. 

'I've always dreamed of winning the British title. I'm so hungry for this fight, so eager to finally make it mine. I'm going to be ice cold in there. Jeamie won't hear the final bell. I'm a more complete fighter now than I've ever been, and with that comes knockouts.'

TKV, who previously suffered a controversial defeat in a British title challenge against David Adeleye earlier this year, said he was determined to seize the opportunity on a national platform.

'I'm excited to get the opportunity to showcase my skills in front of millions on primetime television,' TKV said. 'Me and Frazer have been going back and forth for years, and now's the right time.'

He went on to add: 'We finally get to settle it for the British title. Frazer's a good fighter, but I'm bringing the heat and the fire. This fight isn't going the distance - we're going to war.'

The British heavyweight title is one of the sport's most prestigious domestic honours. Previous holders include Henry Cooper, Lennox Lewis, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Clarke and TKV will fight for the vacant Lonsdale Belt after David Adeleye opted to vacate it to take a fight against Filip Hrgovic in August.

The show marks the start of a new era for BOXXER and the BBC. The promoter announced an exclusive multi-year broadcast deal with the BBC in September following the end of its partnership with Sky Sports in June. 

Selected undercard fights and behind-the-scenes content will also be available across BBC digital platforms, including BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and app, and BBC Sport social channels.

Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport, said the event would 'bring boxing back to BBC primetime' and give the sport exposure to a wider audience. BOXXER founder Ben Shalom described the fight as 'impossible to call' and said the partnership with the BBC would introduce the sport to a generation that has grown up without free-to-air boxing.

Clarke vs TKV will be the culmination of a tense domestic rivalry. Clarke, from Burton-On-Trent, first challenged for the British title against Fabio Wardley before suffering defeat in the rematch. 

TKV, from Tottenham, was controversially denied victory in his last title attempt against Adeleye after a contentious referee stoppage. Both men have vowed to leave nothing to chance this time, with Clarke emphasising his focus and TKV promising an aggressive start.