ITV to air Amir Khan fights

Amir Khan's next six fights will appear exclusively on ITV1, following a deal the broadcaster secured today with Frank Warren's Sports Network.

The new agreement, which comes into effect on Saturday, will see the next seven boxing events broadcast on ITV1 and offshoot programming on ITV4. Khan is set to feature in six of them.

A further five events, headlined by Khan, are being lined up for the network up over the coming year.

ITV director of news and sport Mark Sharman said:" We're very pleased to have signed this deal which will keep boxing at the heart of ITV Sport's free-to-air portfolio over the next year. Amir Khan is a huge star with great potential and has played an important role in renewing the interest in boxing over the last few years."

ITV returned to live boxing in 2005 after an absence of almost a decade with coverage of Khan's last amateur bout against Mario Kindelan, and then his first 12 professional fights.

He said: "I'm really pleased that Frank has agreed a deal for my fights to television on ITV. I've got a great fight against Willie Limond for the Commonwealth title on Saturday night and I aim to go all the way and win the world title.

The boxing deal is the latest in a number of acquisitions for ITV Sport this year as part of director of news and sport Mark Sharman's strategy to beef up sport on the network. Earlier this year the broadcaster secured the rights to FA Cup and England home games (from August 2008), the Grand Slam of Darts, and joint rights to the Euro 2008 Championships.

It already airs The Tour de France, the Boat Race, Formula One, this year's Rugby World Cup and the UEFA Cup and Champions League.

Source: Broadcast Now