The Rise of DAZN: What It Means for British Boxing Fans

Boxing ring under bright lights with DAZN and Queensberry Promotions logos, symbolising the future of British boxing broadcasts

A few years ago, DAZN made a big splash in the boxing world by teaming up with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing. For British fans, this was a pretty big deal. Matchroom had been the home of huge domestic fights for years, with the majority of events happening on Sky Sports. But when they jumped ship to DAZN in 2021, things started to change—particularly for us UK fans.

Now, DAZN has struck another massive deal, this time with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, set to kick off in 2025. This has people asking: what does this mean for the future of British boxing? Are we seeing a shift away from local events, and could this actually hurt the sport in the UK? Let’s break it down.

What Happened When Matchroom Moved to DAZN?

Before Matchroom went to DAZN, most of their shows were right here in the UK. Whether it was Anthony Joshua, Dillian Whyte, or Katie Taylor, British fans were spoiled with huge fights happening on home turf. Sure, DAZN brought global access and a flashy streaming service, but something changed.

Since moving to DAZN, the bulk of Matchroom’s big shows have taken place in the US. Yes, we’ve still had some fantastic UK cards, but it’s no secret that the focus shifted across the pond. Eddie Hearn’s focus became more about cracking the American market, leaving some UK fans feeling a bit left out.

Eddie himself has addressed this, saying, “We’re a global business now. It’s about bringing the best fights to the fans, wherever they are.” But the reality is, many British boxing fans feel like they’ve lost something, with fewer major events happening on UK soil.

Will Queensberry Follow the Same Path?

Now that DAZN has signed Queensberry Promotions, we have to wonder if we’ll see the same shift. Frank Warren’s shows, much like Matchroom’s in the past, have been heavily UK-focused. Fans have enjoyed a steady stream of domestic bouts, featuring British stars like Tyson Fury, Daniel Dubois, and Joe Joyce. But will this deal with DAZN lead to Queensberry prioritising international markets?

It’s hard to say right now, but there’s definitely a concern that more of the big fights could start happening overseas. We’ve seen Saudi Arabia and the US become major players in hosting high-profile boxing events, and the more DAZN pushes for global appeal, the less local fans might feel connected to their favourite fighters.

Frank Warren himself seems keen to reassure fans, stating, “This deal is about giving British fighters the platform they deserve, both here and internationally.” Still, there’s no denying that the game is changing, and British fans might have to get used to more early morning starts if the big fights start happening abroad.

The Cost of Watching Boxing Today

One of the biggest gripes for fans right now is the cost of keeping up with boxing. With two of the UK’s biggest promotional companies—Matchroom and Queensberry—both moving to DAZN, it’s hard not to feel the pinch. On top of paying for your traditional TV subscription, which includes channels like Sky Sports or BT Sport, you now have to fork out for a DAZN subscription as well if you want to see all the big fights.

As someone who currently subscribes to both, I’ll be cancelling my DAZN subscription when it ends. Don’t get me wrong—I love the fights. But I hate having to catch them on reruns because many of the big events happen in the middle of the night due to the time difference. It’s hard to justify paying for a service when you’re not able to watch the action live, especially in the current climate where every penny counts.

At the end of the day, it’s becoming more expensive to be a boxing fan. DAZN’s subscription model isn’t too bad in isolation, but when you add it on top of your traditional broadcaster costs, it all starts to feel a bit much. If more UK-based events were happening, it might be easier to justify, but with many of the big fights happening abroad, it’s a tough sell for a lot of fans.

Is This the End of British Boxing on TV?

With DAZN gobbling up the biggest British promoters, what does this mean for the old-school TV broadcasts? For years, boxing fans have been tuning in to Sky Sports and BT Sport to catch the fights, but now that DAZN is taking over, traditional TV is starting to feel like a thing of the past.

BOXXER, run by Ben Shalom, is now the only major British promoter still broadcasting on traditional TV, mainly with Sky Sports. Shalom has been vocal about keeping the sport on free-to-air and subscription channels, saying, “Not everyone wants to stream their fights, especially the older generation of fans. There’s still a place for boxing on TV.”

But with DAZN pushing forward and bringing more content to streaming, the question is whether old-school TV can keep up. Younger fans are happy to stream everything, but it could mean older viewers, or those who prefer the simplicity of TV, might feel left behind.

Is DAZN Killing British Boxing?

Now, this is the big question, isn’t it? Some people are saying that DAZN’s dominance is damaging British boxing. With more emphasis on global reach, will we lose the grassroots feel of domestic events? Will fewer British cards mean the next generation of UK fighters struggle to break through?

While it’s easy to be pessimistic, it’s not all doom and gloom. DAZN is putting a huge amount of money into boxing, which can only be good for the sport in the long run. And sure, while we might see fewer big events in the UK, British fighters are still being showcased on a world stage.

Ultimately, the future of British boxing depends on how well DAZN balances its global ambitions with the needs of local fans. If they can deliver a solid schedule of UK fights, while still giving our fighters the chance to shine internationally, there’s no reason why the sport can’t thrive.

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