Competition between the networks in boxing at the moment could not be any more ferocious with DAZN, ESPN, HBO and Showtime all vying for eyeballs among US boxing fans at the moment.
While competition is always good, the fear is that the fragmentation among networks could lead to a reduced quality in product but really – that shouldn’t happen.
Everyone seems to be focused on making competitive fights at the moment and there is enough talented boxers out there, worldwide, to satisfy a now growing again boxing market around the globe.
This week Showtime announced that they will be streaming the Tyson Fury vs Francesco Pianeta fight live on YouTube and Facebook on August 18th for US fight fans, who will also see the headline event between Carl Frampton and Luke Jackson on the night in Belfast.
This is a shrewd piece of business by Showtime after losing out on the Anthony Joshua vs Alexander Povetkin fight to new streaming giant DAZN next month.
What happens after that for Joshua is anyone’s guess but one should expect a significant bidding war for Joshua’s services in the US next year.
Particularly if he beats Povetkin in style and if his next fight after that is a unification against Deontay Wilder next year.
Or even better, perhaps, against the winner of a (potential) match later this year year between Wilder and Tyson Fury.
Boxing could not be on fire anymore than it is at the moment and it’s only going to grow.
The heavyweights at the top of the pile are all relatively young at the moment in heavyweight terms and are going to be around for many, many more years to come.
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