Zuffa Boxing’s first present within the UK, that includes Chris Billam-Smith, seems set to go forward on Saturday regardless of authorized motion from rival promoter Boxxer.
Former WBO cruiserweight champion Billam-Smith is scheduled to struggle Canadian Ryan Rozicki on the Bournemouth Worldwide Centre because the headline bout, with fellow Britons Jack Massey and Sam Hickey each on the undercard.
The occasion is because of be proven on Sky Sports activities, however promoter Boxxer claims to have contractual rights involving fighters on the invoice and says they’re showing with out “consent or authorisation”.
BBC Sport understands that Zuffa doesn’t settle for the claims by Boxxer and plans to proceed with the occasion as deliberate.
“Boxxer can affirm it’s searching for pressing injunctive reduction in opposition to Zuffa Boxing and Sky Sports activities in regards to the promotion and proposed participation of fighters who stay topic to binding contractual obligations to Boxxer,” mentioned a press release from Boxxer.
“Boxxer have ensured that every one events concerned are totally conscious of the contractual obligations owed to Boxxer by the fighters being promoted for Saturday’s occasion. Regardless of this, these fighters proceed to be marketed and promoted with out Boxxer’s consent.
“Because of the conduct it has witnessed in latest months, Boxxer has been left with no possibility however to hunt additional reduction from the English courts.”
Zuffa Boxing, which was based by UFC president Dana White and backed by Saudi Arabian funding, is seeking to rival the game’s established promoters.
Billam-Smith signed a multi-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing in April after beforehand being promoted by Ben Shalom’s Boxxer.
