Queensberry Signs A Deal With DAZN; Is It Over For PBC?

November 5, 2024
4 months
Queensberry Signs A Deal With DAZN; Is It Over For PBC?

Queensberry Promotions has signed a deal with DAZN to broadcast its fights starting in April 2025, a major shift for the boxing landscape. 

Frank Warren’s Queensberry is currently working with TNT Sports. But the new deal marks a shift in their outlook. It coincides with the recent introduction of the Saudis into the sport of boxing. The Saudis have developed very close ties with Matchroom Boxing, Queensberry Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions. All three of those promotional outfits have now got deals with DAZN. DAZN has become a major broadcaster for the biggest fights by the Saudis across the globe.

They aired Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk as the latter defeated the Gypsy King to become the first Undisputed Heavyweight Champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999. They also put on the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dimitri Bivol for the Undisputed Light Heavyweight Championship fight. Beterbiev defeated Bivol in a controversial majority decision to come out on top. DAZN will also broadcast the Fury and Usyk rematch on December 21. There are also suggestions that there will be a Beterbiev and Bivol rematch. This naturally raises the questions of what are the consequences moving forward?

Implications

It places more pressure on PBC and its current deal with Amazon Prime Video. PBC has come under fire for not putting on the biggest fights. PBC’s biggest fights this year have been Sebastian Fundora vs. Tim Tszyu and Gervonta Davis vs. Frank Martin in headline events. That has been in comparison to DAZN’s fights featuring Fury-Usyk and Beterbiev-Bivol. DAZN also has the backing of the Saudis, who have a big budget to work with. That would cause pressure on PBC and Amazon Prime Video to see if they can compete moving forward.

Top Rank also recently confirmed that they may be looking to move elsewhere once their ESPN+ deal expires. Reports indicate the deal runs out this year, with Bob Arum looking towards the future. There are suggestions that Top Rank could follow a multi-platform deal to share their fights with various broadcasters. But there is also the opportunity to pursue things with DAZN, given that the Saudis have backed the platform.

Reaction

Matchroom, Queensbury, and Golden Boy are on the platform, allowing Top Rank to make a smooth transition. This plays in line with a potential Saudi Boxing League, with suggestions that they want to create a centralized body to replace the four governing bodies. This would be done to remove the politics within boxing and make sure that the biggest fights are made, much like the UFC. Based on the reaction from Warren and DAZN, the future looks bright.

“I could not be more pleased that Queensberry is joining DAZN. This is a brilliant move for our fighters and, most importantly, for the fans. Their ambition and passion for the sport of boxing aligns perfectly with that of our own and we now look forward to putting on the biggest nights possible together,” Warren said

“We are thrilled to welcome Queensberry Promotions to DAZN as we continue our mission to bring the best sports entertainment to fans worldwide. Queensberry’s reputation for delivering elite fighters and thrilling events aligns perfectly with DAZN’s commitment to innovation and growth in the sports media space. Together, we’re setting a new standard for boxing entertainment, and we couldn’t be more excited for what the future holds,” Shay Segav (DAZN Group CEO)

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