Organised by Vali, in conjunction with promoter Dennis Hobson, the ‘Zak Vali Annual Evening of Professional Boxing’ is set to feature exciting Northwest talent including Bolton prospect Osman Aslam; Matthew Mainwaring and Adam Hague, who are both trained by Matthew Hatton, as well as heavyweight Con Sheehan who is guided by Tyson Fury’s trainer, Peter Fury.
Now, with just days away from the first bell, the show has been picked up by former promoter Marcus Anderson Hitchen’s new boxing PR channel ‘It’s A-Bout Boxing’.
“Asif’s show will be going out on our channel which can be viewed on Sky Channel 468 and Freeview Channel 90,” explained Anderson Hitchen. “So far we’ve done a show with Carl Greaves and have some lined up with MGM Promotions, but this will be our first event going out as a live recording and I’m really excited. The channel is really picking up and from mid-October we’re aiming to broadcast a pre-recorded and a live show every Friday and Saturday.
“I used to work with Frank Maloney and the Hattons on their marketing and advertising, and I’ve done some promoting myself. So this new initiative is really just a natural progression. We’re looking to take small hall boxing to the next level. We don’t see ourselves a competition for the likes of BoxNation or Eddie Hearn, because we’re not focusing on those types of shows. We’re more about the grit and grime of boxing, getting upcoming fighters more exposure and helping promoters to generate more revenue and put on bigger and better shows.
“Working with the likes of Asif and Dennis Hobson is fantastic. Dennis has been around for years and worked all over the world, and Asif is businessman with a boxing heart and is a really genuine person. The best thing about this show too is that it’s about the ‘Zak Vali Foundation’, which is all about helping bereaved parents who are struggling, which is a cause close to my heart. The ‘Zak Vali Foundation’ helps parents emotionally as well as financially, and that’s so important. It’s a great cause.
“In the long term, the channel will feature other sports as well as boxing, although boxing will always be a major part. In the future, we’re looking to replicate what we’re doing here in America and the Middle East but obviously this first year is all about building in the UK. We’ll have the likes of former world title challenger Micky Cantwell and ‘Big’ Joe Egan on the mic, as well as other guest pundits, and I also want to say ‘thank you’ to the British Boxing Board of Control who have been very helpful.
“There’s some really great, young talent on this upcoming October 1st show and I hope we get as many fight fans as possible tuning in and supporting the event.”
“I’m delighted to be working with Marcus,” said Asif. “Small-hall boxing is the lifeblood of the sport, and often where the most entertaining fights take place. This is going to be a great show, we’ve got fighters who are undoubtedly future stars on the card, and for boxing fans to be able to watch them for free on the TV is just fantastic. I hope fans will get behind this new channel, and I really look forward to working with Marcus more in the future. It’s exciting times.”
Asif Vali, in partnership with Dennis Hobson Promotions present the ‘Zak Vali Annual Evening of Professional Boxing’ on October 1 at The Point, Emirates Old Trafford (Lancashire County Cricket Club). Appearing on the show will be Bolton’s Osman Aslam; Manchester’s Adam Hague, Darryl Sharp and Matthew Mainwaring; Ireland’s Con Sheehan, and Leeds’ Nasser Baz.
The show will be aired live on boxing PR channel ‘It’s A-Bout Boxing’ (Sky Channel 468 and Freeview Channel 90).
For ticket information call 01204 528898 (07855 497 187) or email asif@platinum-c.com
The ‘Zak Vali Foundation’, set up in memory of Zak Vali, aims to help pay for funeral costs when a child passes after cancer treatment. For more information please visit
