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Matchroom Boxing and DAZN, which have partnered since the sports streaming service launched in late 2018, announced on Wednesday that they have extended their contract in the United States and United Kingdom for five years.
Also announced was that Matchroom Boxing signed a new partnership with Australia’s Foxtel, which DAZN acquired last year, to bring at least seven “major events” to Australian audiences on Foxtel and Kayo Sports this year.
“The renewed deal guarantees a strengthened, year‑round schedule of world‑class boxing of more than 30 shows globally per year,” according to the announcement.
Matchroom Boxing and DAZN have been negotiating a renewal for months and now that it is done it keeps one of boxing’s premier promoters on DAZN, which has established itself as the leader in top professional boxing content.
DAZN is close to one year into a multi-year agreement that began last April with Queensberry Promotions, the U.K.’s other powerhouse promoter. It also has content deals with Most Valuable Promotions and Salita Promotions and although its contract with Golden Boy Promotions expired on Dec. 31 they are negotiating a new agreement, although that is not going smoothly.
“Our new five-year deal with Matchroom Boxing builds on the success of our longstanding partnership and reaffirms DAZN as the global home of boxing,” Shay Segev, the DAZN Group CEO, said in a statement. “Matchroom Boxing trusts DAZN to deliver the best experiences for the biggest fights for boxing fans everywhere. Together, we’ll continue to raise the bar.”
The original Matchroom Boxing deal with DAZN in 2018 was for five years. A three-year extension followed in 2023, which was set to expire later this year.
“DAZN is the only partner that matches our ambitions for boxing,” Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said. “Their global platform, investment, passion and commitment to boxing make them the perfect partner for Matchroom Boxing’s fighters and events. This new five-year deal in two of the world’s most important boxing markets reinforces our belief and trust in DAZN, and the scale of what we can achieve together.”
The Matchroom Boxing roster has many of boxing’s best fighters, including heavyweight superstar Anthony Joshua, although his last fight against Jake Paul in December was on Netflix with DAZN’s permission — for compensation — female legend Katie Taylor, lineal/unified light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, lineal/unified junior bantamweight champion Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, former unified welterweight champion and unbeaten junior middleweight Jaron “Boots” Ennis and British star welterweight Conor Benn.
Also on the Matchroom Boxing roster and exclusive to DAZN are three newly crowned world titleholders — WBC welterweight titlist Dalton Smith, IBF welterweight titlist Lewis Crocker and IBF junior middleweight titleholder Josh Kelly — as well as IBF junior lightweight titlist Eduardo “Sugar” Nunez, super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco and several top prospects, including light heavyweight Ben Whittaker, cruiserweight Pat Brown, heavyweights Leo Atang and Teremoana Teremoana, and junior middleweight Omari Jones.
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Hearn photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing