Matchroom signs massive deal with DAZN, will split from Sky Sports

After a lengthy partnership with Sky Sports to air fights in the UK, Eddie Hearn and Matchroom are reportedly going all-in with DAZN. The Athletic claims that they’ve “struck a record-breaking deal...that is worth well into nine figures.” The partnership goes into effect on July 1st; the May 15th Terri Harper vs. Hyun Mi Choi show and an unannounced June event will both air on Sky in the UK.

There is, however, a catch: neither Anthony Joshua nor Dillian Whyte are included in the deal, meaning any of their fights “will be need to be separately negotiated a la carte” for British viewers to enjoy them on DAZN. As the article mentions, both Sky Sports Box Office and BT Sport Box Office will carry Joshua’s upcoming clash with Tyson Fury.

Despite a rough patch in 2020, DAZN has been aggressively expanding into new markets recently, beginning with its “global platform” launch last December. It will definitely be interesting to see whether the entrenched British boxing public will be keen on this changing of the status quo.