British boxing promotion GBM Sports has signalled its international ambitions with the announcement of a major global partnership that will see its one-night tournament concept, The Heist, staged across four continents in 2026.
The Sheffield-based company has joined forces with Rygg, an Australian sports medicine brand founded by orthopaedic surgeon Dr Steve Andrews, in a collaboration that underlines both organisations’ intent to operate on a world stage. Together, they plan to export a format that has already proven its commercial and sporting appeal in the UK, blending high-risk competition with a sharp focus on elite athlete performance and recovery.
Launched in November 2025, The Heist marked a departure from traditional boxing event structures. Instead of drawn-out fight cards and incremental title pathways, the concept offers a single-night, single-elimination tournament in which fighters must win multiple bouts in one evening to claim victory — and a substantial cash prize.
The inaugural event, staged at Connexin Live in Hull and streamed live on DAZN, delivered a rare sense of jeopardy and urgency, drawing praise for both its intensity and its clarity.
Now, GBM intends to take that formula global.
Beginning in Dubai in April, the 2026 series will travel to Majorca, the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, with each stop adapted to local audiences while retaining the tournament’s defining structure. The rollout places GBM among a small group of UK-based promoters attempting to establish a consistent international footprint beyond one-off overseas shows.
At the centre of the expansion is Rygg, whose involvement extends beyond branding. The company’s science-led performance and recovery products will support fighters throughout the series, reflecting a growing emphasis on athlete welfare within high-intensity formats. Rygg’s range includes both pre-activity muscle performance solutions and post-fight recovery applications, all developed to meet elite sport certification standards.
For GBM chief executive Izzy Asif, the partnership represents both validation and escalation. “The Heist proved in its debut that one-night tournaments are the future of boxing,” he said, adding that the collaboration with Rygg would allow the promotion to scale responsibly while maintaining competitive credibility. “This is the next level for GBM Sports and for boxing worldwide.”
Asif has been clear about the philosophy behind The Heist. Rather than incremental matchmaking, the format embraces risk — for fighters and promoters alike — in pursuit of immediacy and spectacle. “One-night tournaments are the future of boxing,” he said, describing a product designed to strip away filler and place consequences front and centre.
From Rygg’s perspective, the partnership offers exposure within a fast-growing, performance-driven environment. Dr Andrews described the alignment as a natural one, positioning the brand alongside athletes operating at the limits of endurance and recovery, while tapping into GBM’s expanding international platform.
Broadcast arrangements for the 2026 series have yet to be confirmed, though global partnerships are expected to be announced in the coming months. Fighter line-ups and venue details will follow, with organisers promising elite match-ups and increased prize incentives as the concept scales.
