In a major boxing distribution deal, OTT streaming sports service DAZN has secured rights to distribute boxing matches featuring middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez as part of a five-year deal between the two parties.
Alvarez, touted as the industry’s current pound-for-pound pay-per-view boxing champion, will now fight his next 11 fights on the DAZN streaming sports service beginning with Alvarez’s Dec. 15 fight against Rocky Fielding, according to DAZN executives.
The deal also calls for DAZN to stream up to 10 fights per year from Alvarez promoter Golden Boy Productions.
Most of Alvarez’s previous fights have been distributed by HBO, which last month announced it will stop airing live boxing matches beginning in 2019.
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Alvarez’ last two fights against Gennady Golovkin were distributed via pay-per-view, with their first bout in November 2017 -- which ended in a draw -- averaging more than 1 million PPV buys. HBO has not released PPV numbers from the fighters’ Sept. 15 PPV fight, which Alvarez won in a close decision.
“This gives us an opportunity to demonstrate our world class streaming platform to US sports fans,’ said DAZN Group chairman John Skipper. “We expect to announce additional high-quality content across a wide variety of popular sports to the US service in upcoming months and years as we lead the way in transforming global sports viewing to affordable and flexible over the top services.”
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