MATCHROOM BOXING AND EMPIRE FIGHTING CHANCE PARTNERSHIP HAS HELPED OVER 70 CLUBS GENERATE £7.2M FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Over £7.2 million has been generated and reinvested into local communities through the partnership between Matchroom Boxing and Empire Fighting Chance, reaching 50,000 young people across 73 grassroots boxing clubs in the UK, a new impact report has revealed today.

A major milestone in 2026 was the launch of the network’s first impact measurement, of which findings show that significant improvements have been made by young participants, with six in 10 reporting enhanced wellbeing and eight in 10 experiencing increased confidence.

Matchroom Boxing’s support in the community has been instrumental in expanding its network of boxing clubs alongside Empire Fighting Chance, referring more than 40 new clubs into its programme to help strengthen links between grassroots communities and the professional sport.

Hundreds of tickets to major events have also been donated, whilst a number of elite fighters, including the likes of WBC World Super Lightweight Champion Dalton Smith, British & Commonwealth Cruiserweight ruler Pat Brown and rising prospect Adam Maca, have attended community events across the country to help inspire the next generation.

The partnership’s influence is also extending beyond the UK too, with an international knowledge exchange in Abeokuta, Nigeria, and significant progress across North America.

In Canada, partner organisation REACH Edmonton secured $2.2m to expand delivery of the Empire model, while in the United States, Fighting Chance USA has been established to replicate the success of the UK network, initially focusing on Philadelphia and bringing together a high-profile advisory board ahead of its first programme launch.

At grassroots level, Empire Fighting Chance has also secured £180,000 in dedicated funding towards the network, including direct investment in nine community boxing clubs.

Matchroom Sport Founder and President Barry Hearn OBE said: “I grew up in a working-class family where opportunities didn’t always feel accessible or guaranteed.

“One of the things I’ve always believed is that talent exists everywhere, but opportunity doesn’t always. That’s a big part of why this programme matters and why we are truly proud of the results it is bringing up and down the UK.”

With over 50,000 young people reached, 69 therapists trained up and 73 clubs now supported through the network, Matchroom Boxing and Empire Fighting Chance are laying the foundations for a sustainable national movement, demonstrating that boxing’s greatest impact can be felt far beyond the ring.

Empire Fighting Chance will next year roll out a new three-year strategy with a dedicated identity for the national network.

Its forthcoming The Right Hook 2 national report, due to launch in Spring 2027, will build on the original blueprint for boxing and social change, making the case for greater recognition and investment in community boxing by providing a platform to bring together leaders from boxing and government, championing the sport’s contribution to tackling wider societal challenges.

Matchroom Boxing’s Head of Community Development, Alex Le Guével, said: “What we are building with Empire Fighting Chance is genuinely groundbreaking. Together, we’re establishing a national movement with measurable impact on thousands of young lives.

“We’re also seeing the soft power of our work in the UK begin to take shape internationally, with a proven model now establishing roots in other countries. For Matchroom, that’s a hugely exciting development, but more importantly, it’s an opportunity to harness the power of boxing to transform communities around the world.”

Martin Bisp, Empire Fighting Chance Executive Director for Global Partnerships and Impact, added: “We are hugely proud of the work we are doing with Matchroom Boixng across the UK and beyond.

“Together, we’re using boxing to change communities, transform and save lives and help clubs keep their doors open.”

Jamie Sanigar, Empire Fighting Chance Co-Founder and CEO, said: “Boxing has traditionally operated in silos, with clubs and organisations doing incredible work but often in isolation. The network is helping change that, bringing clubs together to share knowledge, support one another and achieve far more collectively.

“With Matchroom’s backing, we’re building a national movement that is transforming communities, creating opportunities for young people and changing the face of grassroots boxing in the UK.”