Boxxer battles alleged insider sabotage in court, with reputations and fighter contracts on the line.
Boxing promotion Boxxer is in the Royal Courts of Justice seeking an interim injunction against its former executive, John Wischhusen.
The case centres on a dispute over the promotion’s expired $48.96m (£36m) Sky Sports contract. It has all the hallmarks of a thriller, with deleted emails, alleged secret negotiations, a new rival venture and tens of millions at stake.
Wischhusen, 65, is accused of negotiating with Sky Sports three months before Boxxer’s four-year deal expired in June, while allegedly deleting key emails and spreadsheets. Boxxer claims these actions were designed to frustrate its renewal talks and position Wischhusen’s new venture, Blue Wolf Sports, to poach contracted fighters and staff.
Sky’s refusal to renew the deal forced Boxxer onto a lesser agreement with the BBC in August, marking the first time the sport will air on the UK’s national broadcaster in 20 years.
Boxxer events will be broadcast on BBC Two, BBC Three, iPlayer and the BBC Sport website, with its first event expected by the end of 2025. Promoter Ben Shalom hailed the deal as a “historic moment” for British boxing, allowing the company to reach the widest possible audience and grow its roster’s appeal.
However, Shalom remains focused on what he sees as insider sabotage. He claims Wischhusen was in contact with Sky’s director of rights, Rob Selmes, in early 2025. During that time, he allegedly prepared spreadsheets and draft emails outlining alternative deals and potential fighter moves, all while secretly planning Blue Wolf Sports.
Wischhusen denies any wrongdoing. He admits deleting the emails but says it was a “panic” move after seeing how litigious Shalom could be. He says the spreadsheets were just hypothetical exercises exploring alternative structures. He also denies agreeing to a non-compete clause, which is a key part of Boxxer’s breach-of-contract claim.
Heavy blows or swinging at air?
Fights outside the ring are nothing new in boxing, especially when media rights are involved. High-profile examples, like Eddie Hearn taking Matchroom from Sky to DAZN, have shown just how high the commercial stakes can be.
However, past boxing disputes usually involved straightforward negotiations without the need of legal action.
Boxxer is seeking an injunction to stop Wischhusen from working with Sky or rival promoters until the trial concludes. A successful ruling would protect Boxxer’s BBC contract and prevent Blue Wolf Sports from poaching fighters or staff.
If the injunction is denied, Wischhusen could immediately pitch to Sky or other networks, leaving Boxxer to rely solely on its smaller BBC deal.
The commercial stakes are significant. The BBC deal guarantees a broadcast outlet, but at a fraction of the revenue Boxxer earned from Sky. Free-to-air exposure increases reach, but short-term income is lower.
The case could also reshape industry practices. Promoters may tighten non-compete and document-retention clauses to avoid similar disputes. Broadcasters might demand extra assurances, like “executive warranty” clauses, before committing to contracts.
Boxing has been criticised in the past for rubbing shoulders with less-than-honourable figures, but credibility still matters. A legal win could strengthen Boxxer’s image as a promotion that defends its contracts, boosting confidence among fighters and sponsors. A loss, however, could damage its standing.
For Wischhusen and Blue Wolf Sports, an injunction or damages would limit broadcast opportunities. A successful defence could instead provide a strong entry point into the sport and potential new partnerships.
The court is expected to provide a decision this week on whether the injunction will be granted.
