BBC fights to revive celebrity boxing

net1

The BBC is working on reviving celebrity boxing after holding talks with the British Boxing Board of Control about licensing and safety.

The show was postponed earlier this year after boxing authorities threatened to take action against trainers who took part.

But now the BBBC has agreed for the BBC to look into further fights.

Reborn in the USA winner Tony Hadley and political correspondent John Pienaar were in training for the third edition of The Fight, when the BBC put the show on hold.

Comics Les Dennis and Bob Mortimer took part in the first fight last year, while Grant Bovey and Ricky Gervais slugged it out for the second.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "The British Boxing Board of Control has now given the BBC its support to look into ways of making The Fight, but we have a lot more talking to do with them before any final decisions are made.

"We chose to put plans for The Fight on hold until we had secured the backing of the UK's boxing licensing body.

"With this now in place, we are looking forward to working with the BBBC to bring The Fight back on air but are not setting ourselves any time limit to do so."

It is not yet known who will take part in any forthcoming editions of the BBC2 show.