NEW YORK, NY — So they say boxing is dead? Perhaps a few weeks back the landscape was bleak, though fight fans were entertained with an assortment of championship fights with some of the high profiled superstars.
The skeptics point to embarrassing confrontations with fighters, and rival promoters. Then again, that’s always been boxing with controversy going back in time. Regardless and a reality, boxing gains headlines with unfortunate circumstances in and out of the ring, not fair of course because there is always a good story here and there but not enough.
Boxing will continue to gain headlines across sports for all the right and wrong reasons – Image Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank Boxing
The sport though, healthy with tradition and in an era of streaming, a fight fan has various alternatives to watch a mega-fight on pay-per-view or other ways. Forget national broadcast television with the major networks, they lost the fight and sponsors won’t buy in.
But the sport is healthy if you are in the mix. The complexion has changed for sure, controversy continues and always will. That’s how it goes. And Top Rank Boxing is back in business with their multi-year agreement of fights to be streamed live on DAZN, the world wide leader of bringing fights to the fans.
Hall of Fame 94-year-old promoter Bob Arum and Top Rank were silenced when their decade-long deal with ESPN was not renewed last year, a major loss. But Arum and Top Rank did not throw in the towel using their YouTube channel and other streaming capability to assure their roster of fighters would remain in the mix though not the reach ESPN provided.
The finale for ESPN and a Top Rank broadcast was last July at Madison Square Garden, witnessing 23-year-old Xander Zayas winning the WBO Junior Middleweight championship.
He returned to his homeland of San Juan, Puerto Rico after with a successful January 31st title defense at the Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot Stadium.
However, boxing fans had to navigate to find Zayas and a Top Rank streaming channel, a major champion that deserved better with his notoriety and ability. Zayas is one of the top young prospects and champions under the Top Rank Boxing promotional banner.
Arum, though, would not relent. Reportedly there were discussions with DAZN that were ongoing for months and a deal was finalized.
Puerto Rican Xander Zayas, currently 23, signed with Top Rank Boxing and Bob Arum at the age of 16 – Image Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank Boxing
That works well for the sport and for Top Rank because DAZN has a working relationship, agreements with other prominent promoters and extension pending with Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy.
DAZN also streams Matchroom Boxing (Eddie Hearn), MVP (Jake Paul), Queensberry, the UK promotion with a state in the heavyweight division, and some that don’t make an impact like the others. The network is global and streamed over 1,500 fights last year.
Relationships in the sport of boxing have changed the complexion of how promotions and streaming services are going about their business – Image Credit: Geoffrey Knott/Matchroom Boxing
The exception, Dana White and Zuffa Boxing who have a mission of changing the entire complexion with Paramount+ and with a hefty contract of streaming. White has made it known that he will work with others but on his terms.
Yet it’s inevitable that White and those associated with DAZN (Hearn in particular) would need to temporarily put down the gloves because that’s how boxing is structured.
Back in March of 2025, Turki Al-Sheikh and Dana White announced the creation of a new boxing league under the banner of the TKO Group, named Zuffa Boxing – Image Credit: Ring Magazine
Basically this is good, so that rally of boxing is dead? As long as DAZN has the money and capability the fight fans know where to go. The promoters have their outlet, most importantly major fights will be made easier. DAZN has the resources and Turki Al-Sheikh continues to not shy away with his finances of a King.
One network. A recurring issue has been boxing and unity, why can’t they get their act together? There are always alternatives with money involved pertaining to live streaming of events.
“The deal is going to give me a platform to shine on,” said Emiliano Vargas, the undefeated Top Rank junior welterweight contender. “I’m grateful to Top Rank and DAZN for this huge opportunity. There are no limits now. We can hop on any cards so I’m excited.”
Emiliano Vargas believes the new agreement with Top Rank Boxing and DAZN will give him and several young fighters a platform to shine on – Image Credit: Ring Magazine
And for sure the streaming networks have their plan ahead with this latest landscape:
Matchroom: Five-year extension with DAZN
Zuffa: Five-year deal with Paramount
Top Rank: Multi-year DAZN
PBC on Prime: Five or six shows a year and PPV
MVP: Women’s boxing on ESPN and agreements with Netflix
Golden Boy: In negotiation with DAZN for renewal and current fight cards pending
So who said boxing is a dead sport? Though you need to stream.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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