Report- PBC and Fox considering studio fights in Summer

We all need some positive news when it comes to resuming some form of normalcy after the COVID-19 outbreak subsides, and sports will be part of that. So, plans are already being made about what to do in the U.S. in the immediate weeks and months when they can resume.

To that end, boxing is a sport that could easily become “studio television content” in the short-term. And a report Friday afternoon says that Premier Boxing Champions and television partner Fox Sports are at least discussing that scenario.

The Athletic’s boxing insider, Mike Coppinger, tweeted that PBC is it least having preliminary discussions with Fox about resuming their televised schedule, potentially, from the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City section of Los Angeles, California:

Sources: With boxing promoters creating various contingency plans to possibly return to business under safe-distancing guidelines during summertime, one option being explored for PBC on FOX fights is the use of the Fox Studio Lot in Los Angeles. Just one option amid uncertainty

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) April 10, 2020

While Coppinger qualified the report, as being only a scenario and very preliminary, it does make sense that the controlled environment would allow for safer conditions for all involved. And, also many more fights to potentially be had in a short amount of time at the same convenient locale.

Premier Boxing Champions currently has a multi-fight per month agreement with Fox to air fight cards on Fox Sports 1 cable and Fox Sports Network TV. This also includes occasional Fox pay-per-views, the most recent of which was the joint production with ESPN for Tyson Fury’s upset 7th round TKO win over Deontay Wilder for the WBC Heavyweight Title in February.

PBC shut down their televised fight cards that had been scheduled for April and May, when the Coronavirus outbreak hit the U.S. hard in mid-March.

However, not unlike the PGA Tour, which has already announced a June resumption of their schedule and Major League Baseball, which is talking about trying to at least begin their season potentially in May or early June, PBC is looking to be proactive for when fights can begin to happen again.

PBC still has fighters like Manny Pacquiao, Gervonta Davis, Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia, the Charlo brothers, and numerous others, who will want fight in the summer months. And while some of those will be a potential live draw success at arenas or even put on PPV, many PBC headliners may be willing to fight in the studio setting or virtually-empty arena with only essential personnel.

Time will tell on when it will all be able to start back up, but at least they are having the discussions.