Groundbreaking boxing competition launched with fights in Manchester

A groundbreaking boxing competition is set to be launched that will bring even more fights to Manchester.

Regional teams from Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham will compete head-to-head as part of The Box Off which will pitch some of the country’s best up-and-coming boxing talent against each other.

The first-of-a-kind competition is backed by the British Boxing Board of Control and will be promoted by Paul Webb with big boxing names in contention to be involved.

The outcomes of the bouts will not only reward individual fighters, but also gather points towards an overall team total to declare The Box Off Team champion.

The boxing will take the starring role alongside the creation of an immersive festival experience for fans in attendance, including musical entertainment.

Each side will be captained by a big-name ambassador, with fighters from five prospective weights taking part - featherweight, lightweight, welterweight, middleweight and heavyweight.

The teams will be matched in two semi-finals, deciding which individual fighters will go through to the final. The format will see fighters from London and Birmingham face off in one half of the draw, with fighters from Leeds taking on Manchester in the other.

In a bid to capture the new generation of boxing fans, the events will be beamed live on YouTube with positive discussions underway to be aired exclusively on the BBC with more details to be revealed.

The Box Off is also committed to using boxing as a positive force to highlight challenges impacting young people in local communities, helping to raise awareness of mental health and knife crime issues.

Paul Webb, promoter of The Box Off, said: “Boxing in Britain has an amazing depth of talent, but outside of the big