Media Relations Executive (Combat Sports)

The Press Box PR team has grown from 0 to more than 50 people in the space of five years and combines extensive journalistic experience with top PR professionals to offer a unique proposition in the market.

Formed in 2020, Press Box PR has grown quickly to become a thriving agency working for a range of sport, consumer, B2B, retail, and hospitality clients on digital and creative PR projects.

Press Box PR is based in Barbican, central London and operates an office-first hybrid model, requiring employees to spend a minimum of three days a week in the London office.

Press Box PR, a fast-growing PR agency, is hiring a Media Relations Executive (Combat Sports) to join its central London sports team.

Please note: This is a UK-based role. The successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK and will be required to work from our central London office in Barbican a minimum of three days per week.

Reporting to the department leadership team, you’ll be pitching content to journalists and editors at a range of UK and international publications that cover combat sports, major fight cards, and trending sports stories.

From professional boxing’s major and marquee title fights to the UFC, MMA promotions, and emerging crossover fighting events, we are looking for someone with deep expertise and authentic passion for combat sports. You will be completely up with the play on fight culture both inside and outside the ring/cage, with an eye for trending press conferences, weigh-ins, contract drama, and fight-week fallout, knowing how to utilise them to create high-impact campaigns and reactive PR.

You will have a keen eye for detail, with your finger on the pulse for relevant combat sports content that UK, US, and international fight-focused and mainstream publications will want to receive.

You will have an extensive media contacts book across boxing, MMA, sports desks, digital newsrooms, and specialist combat outlets that you will be confident pitching content to, as well as liaising with them to generate feedback to enhance Press Box PR’s media relations.

From a media-first perspective, you will also have creative input on content—including quotes from fighters and pundits, expert reaction, and organic PR stories—identifying where combat sports crossover with mainstream entertainment, lifestyle, and our consumer department.

Due to the nature of the combat sports calendar (including fight weekends, international time zones, and late-night cards), this role will require frequent midweek evening and weekend work. There will also be the occasional demand for work during irregular hours where required.

PBPR is a market leader in the betting and gaming industry and works predominantly with brands in the space. However, the successful candidate will also have the opportunity to work with other sporting clients and on our brand, creative, and sponsorship activations.

• Location & Eligibility: Must be based in the UK with existing right to work, and able to work in our Barbican (central London) office at least three days per week.
• At least one year’s experience as a sports journalist at a mainstream online news publication or in-agency with experience of working in sports digital PR.
• Demonstrable expertise in and deep understanding of combat sports (specifically Boxing and MMA / UFC) and how they are covered in digital media across the UK and internationally.
• An extensive network of relevant journalist, fight writer, podcaster, and editor contacts across mainstream sports desks and specialist combat media.
• A thorough understanding of the combat sports landscape—promoters, broadcast deals, sanctioning bodies, and major fight cycles—to spot prime coverage opportunities.
• Ability and creative flair to respond to trending fight-week moments to help our content team produce stories, expert analysis, and research that land media coverage.
• Ability to react creatively and efficiently to real-time, fast-breaking news, late-night fight results, and press conference fallout.
• Strong editorial judgement in sport, SEO hooks, and trending topics.
• Ability to create, where required, strong editorial copy, quotes, and releases to outreach to journalists.
• A willingness to proactively pitch to media publications and build media lists across combat beats and broader mainstream sports.
• Excellent written communication in English—other languages would be a plus.

• An understanding of SEO and link-building.
• Experience covering fight weeks in person or working directly with fighters/promotions.
• Experience working in sports PR agency-side or with sports betting/gaming clients.
• Qualifications relevant to journalism or PR (i.e., NCTJ qualifications).

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• £26,000-28,000 DOE
• Annual bonus scheme paying up to 15%
• Enhanced private pension
• BUPA cash plan, enhanced sick pay and death in service cover
• 30 days annual leave (including bank holidays)
• Annual leave increases by one full day each year worked for up to five years
• Bonus birthday day off
• Cycle to work scheme
• Juno credits - choose your own benefit to spend on wellness perks of your choice rewards
• Annual training budget