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SPORTS Friday 23 November 2018

Boxing gets big new platforms even as HBO exits sport

By TIM DAHLBERG AT&T Stadium in Texas.
AP Boxing Writer DAZN: The streaming ser-
Dmitry Bivol knew where he vice, which launched in the
wanted to go in his boxing U.S. in September, inked its
career — straight to the top first deal with Matchroom
of one of the HBO cards he Sport, which promotes
used to watch replays of Joshua and other top Brit-
while growing up in Russia. ish fighters. It upped the
Now Bivol is a light heavy- ante with the Alvarez sign-
weight champion — and ing, with his first fight Dec.
on Saturday night he'll fi- 15 against Rocky Fielding.
nally be an HBO headliner. DAZN will also be televising
He meets former champion a weeknight baseball cut-
Jean Pascal in Atlantic City in show under a recently
as the featured bout of announced $100 million
HBO's World Championship a year deal with Major
Boxing series. League Baseball.
The fight is big for Bivol, NBC: The network is expect-
but the occasion for box- ed to announce a deal
ing fans is bittersweet. After with promoter Main Events
45 years, HBO is pulling the to broadcast fights both on
plug on its premium box- In this Saturday, March 3, 2018 file photo, Dmitry Bivol, of Russia, looks on against Sullivan Barrera, the main network and the
ing coverage with its last of Cuba, during their WBA light heavyweight title boxing match in New York. NBC sports network.
prime-time boxing card. Associated Press The explosion of new deals
First, though, Bivol gets his means boxing will be avail-
shot to shine. za, president of Showtime service has also locked up returns in January to fight able in more places and
"It was my dream to do Sports. "We have a long Anthony Joshua, the big Adrien Broner. Both will be more ways than ever be-
this," Bivol said. "We had history in the sport and be- British heavyweight cham- pay-per-view events. fore. Some of it will be on
a couple of offers to fight lieve in the sport. If anything pion, along with a number ESPN: The biggest sports free TV, though the new
on another channel, an- we're becoming more ac- of other fighters from Gold- network is so bullish on box- streaming models will cost
other platform. But I took tive and looking for more en Boy Promotions and ing it tore up a four-year monthly fees and some of
this chance to realize my fights." Joshua's British promoter, deal with Top Rank signed the biggest fights will still be
dream."HBO — which be- Indeed, the demand for live Matchroom Sport. last year and replaced on pay-per-view.
gan in the boxing business programming is prompt- "This is huge for boxing, it with a new seven-year Boxing fans can look for-
with George Foreman's ing a lot of broadcasters to huge for Canelo and huge pact. ESPN agreed to tele- ward to many more hours
knockout of Joe Frazier in take a look at boxing once for Golden Boy," Golden vise 54 live boxing events of their favorite sport on TV,
1973 — says it is leaving again. And they're making Boy promoter Oscar De a year in addition to other though some of the bigger
boxing because research plans to show fights on ev- La Hoya said when the boxing-related program- fights may be more difficult
shows the sport doesn't erything from free over-the- deal was announced last ming. Some of the fights to make because fighters
increase subscriptions to air television to subscription month. "Golden Boy is at will be on ESPN, building are tied to different net-
the premium network. Box- streaming apps. the forefront of something on the success of its Satur- works or platforms. There's
ing fans need not worry, Superstar middleweight very monumental for the day night fight series, while also the risk that there will
though, because plenty of Canelo Alvarez, who had sport of boxing." others will be on the ESPN+ be so much televised box-
others are entering the mix. been a big attraction for Here's a look at some of the streaming app that costs ing that the fights will look
There's a seismic shift in HBO, signed a deal last ways boxing will be pre- $4.99 a month. like filler material, though
boxing, which for years re- month to fight exclusively sented — and sold — in the FOX: Fox agreed last month Espinoza believes there is
lied on HBO and Showtime on the streaming service upcoming months: to a four-year multi-plat- room for everyone at the
for top fights, and pay-per- DAZN through 2023. Though SHOWTIME: The premium form deal with Premier Box- table.
view for the biggest fights. all details weren't revealed, cable network was Floyd ing Champions that will "I think it's good for the
HBO may be leaving, but the contract is believed to Mayweather Jr.'s televi- feature 10 "marquee fight health of the sport to have
other networks and plat- be an 11-fight deal worth sion partner for the biggest nights" annually in prime multiple different networks
forms are rushing to fill the a minimum of $365 million grossing fights of his career time on the Fox network, and platforms to be on," Es-
gap — and then some. for Alvarez, whose last fight and, unlike HBO, is aggres- with 12 more cards to air pinoza said.
That includes longtime rival with Gennady Golovkin sively pursuing top fights. on Fox Sports 1 and Fox De- So far the fighters them-
Showtime, which is looking was televised on HBO pay- One of those takes place portes each year. The net- selves seem to agree with
for ways to expand its box- per-view. Dec. 1 when heavyweight work recently announced it that. Bivol certainly does,
ing offerings. Instead of paying $84.95 titlist Deontay Wilder de- will also hold its first boxing as he looks forward to the
"We know it drives business, for one pay-per-view fight, fends his crown against for- pay-per-view, with Mikey bidding for his talents after
we know it attracts rat- fans can buy DAZN for a mer champion Tyson Fury, Garcia meeting Errol Spen- he headlines the final HBO
ings," said Stephen Espino- monthly fee of $9.99. The while Manny Pacquiao ce Jr. next March 16 from card.q