Landing Alvarez gives DAZN arguably the most popular boxer in the U.S. and Mexico DAZN
The "big unknown" of Canelo Alvarez' deal with OTT service DAZN is "whether a sufficient number of boxing fans will subscribe to warrant what equates" to a $33M license fee per fight, according to Lance Pugmire of the L.A. TIMES. The number of DAZN subscribers is "not publicly known." Landing Alvarez gives DAZN the "most popular boxer" in the U.S. and Mexico -- and one who, at 28, is "positioned for a slew of quality middleweight bouts, including a potential trilogy meeting" with Gennady Golovkin. Whether Alvarez’ move to streaming is a "harbinger for boxing as a business is debatable." Premier Boxing Champions promoter Richard Schaefer "expressed hope that Alvarez’s deal with DAZN would actually create more opportunities for his top performers." He said, “The No. 1 pay-per-view star just retired from the pay-per-view platform. And those who think pay-per-view will disappear are wrong” (L.A. TIMES, 10/18).
WORTH THE PRICE: In N.Y., Wallace Matthews writes DAZN with the addition of Alvarez "sees an opening into the sometimes lucrative world of professional boxing, an opening made wider by the recent abdication of HBO." DAZN will need "not just to attract, but retain, some 600,000 subscribers a month, every month, for five years just to cover" Alvarez' salary. It "remains to be seen if such a thing is possible." There are also "questions about whether Canelo will be worth the investment -- as charismatic as he is, other than a third fight with Golovkin there doesn’t seem to be a blockbuster fight out there for him -- or whether Golden Boy or DAZN will be motivated to match him with anyone who is a threat, needing to protect their huge cash layout" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/18).
ART OF THE DEAL: RING TV's Mike Coppinger wrote Alvarez will "lend DAZN all the credibility they need with would-be U.S. consumers" and will "surely bring a cadre of new subscribers." Sources said that the pursuit of Alvarez was "hot from competitors like ESPN, Showtime and even Turner Sports." Sources added that ESPN execs insisted Golden Boy CEO Oscar De La Hoya and President Eric Gomez "discuss any deal directly" with Top Rank Founder & CEO Bob Arum and President Todd duBoef, who already have a deal with ESPN, but De La Hoya "declined." Showtime offered Golden Boy "several dates per year in addition" to PPV offerings. But DAZN Exec Chair John Skipper "knows De La Hoya well" and the two "hammered out a deal that will afford Golden Boy up to 10 dates per year to feature" the the promotion's other fighters. A source said that Golden Boy can still "stream fights on Facebook as well as work with other promoters" (RINGTV.com, 10/17). Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, whose group is already in business with DAZN, said that Golovkin would "need to sign with DAZN to get that third crack at Alvarez." BOXING SCENE's Keith Idec notes a third Alavarez-Golovkin fight "could help DAZN attract the number of subscribers" Skipper "had in mind when he offered Alvarez" the deal (BOXINGSCENE.com, 10/18).
