Do you listen to the Fight Disciples podcast? If so do you agree with them that DAZN UK is in a little bit of trouble at the moment? Quite interesting to listen to Adam Catterall talk about the business and how he sees things.
I think DAZN will struggle in the UK. There is enough subscription services without another. I reckon Eddie will regret leaving Sky and all the publicity it brings. Aren't quite a few guys leaving or talking about leaving DAZN because they want more publicity? Take for example the Chisora fight at the weekend. The 02 looked empty and it's hardly had any press coverage. If the same fight had taken place on Sky it would have done much better. He's signed up AJ yet can't show his next fight. So by the time he can try and make back some of the outlay of signing Joshua his big draw might be at the lowest point of his career still without the titles and outside of future title pictures, having to build himself back up against guys like Joyce just like Wilder will have to do.
Its interesting for sure. Dazn is letting the tail wag the dog with some of the shows. The only big fight they have it seems is Benn vs Eubank at the moment. Okolie wants out and Sky are going in big for him. Where are they going to do AJ vs Fury if it happens? Because if it happens in the same part of the world then you'd imagine it would be the same type of deal. So it would be a bidding war and sky will always win that.
When you say Sky are going in big for him do you mean Boxxer? My understanding is that sky have deals with promoters not fighters directly? However I agree that the future UK talent pool seems to be shifting to Boxxer and Hearn seems to be focussing on the US and trying to make the mega deals for DAZN. I think it’s a risk and I said so at the time. However how much Hearn talked up the UK venues, it’s money that does the talking. I think the opportunity is there in the UK and Europe now for Shalom, Warren, etc to capitalise
its different icer from what been said. Matchroom are the promoters (AJ got a life-long contract with them, so unless purse bid he won't be promoted away from them). 258 (Freddie Cunningham heads that) and Matchroom have done a deal with Saudi and sold everything to them. Sky has paid 28 Million for it. Maybe Dazn will get it in the USA but the talks are this isn't about money for the Saudis.
Going off topic a little but why would benn and eubank fight at this stage in benns career? Eubank has a massive weight advantage so would have to meet at a catch weight but apart from the fact there old men used to be rivals and it will make a few quid benn should be looking at fights in his natural weight division and aiming for a world title fight.
Im not as clued up on boxing as some on here or I am on Football or Cricket. I always enjoy when Loko or whoever talks boxing. But from listening to Adam Catterall on FD and Talksport where he's also got a show. It would be at 155 and they are both struggling to get the big fight. Matchroom and PBC don't get along and Eubank wants GGG.
This is the biggest fight available for either fighter right now. The build up alone hitting that casual boxing fan audience will not only make them both millions but also give them more publicity than they could ever dream of over the next 12-18 months - especially in Benn's case. Boxing has ruined the World Title picture in some cases with all the organisations, that the most exciting fights often pass us by. Starting to change slightly, but not quickly enough. People are now just demanding entertaining fights with less regard for a title being on the line.
My view on DAZN, and UK Boxing in general at the moment, is that we don't have enough fighters in this country to have three separate broadcasters (DAZN, BT and Sky). The depth to some of the boxing cards at the moment just isn't there because the pool of talent available to each promoter only goes so deep. You only have to look at the heavyweights in isolation to realise any decent fight outside of AJ/Fury needs a cross channel promotion e.g. Joyce/Parker or Joyce/White or Parker/Whyte or Joyce/Chisora. Add in Dubois who's on BT and with a 'world title' around his waist and you get the idea. The other challenge with DAZN in the UK is that boxing is all their involved with at the moment. Not the case in the US where they have a lot more within the subscription, and in a market where multiple subscriptions are kind of the norm. It means fighters on DAZN simply don't crossover to the casual audience as well. Opponents also price themselves out because they know that Eddie/DAZN need them more than they need Eddie or DAZN.
I get that but he has really kicked on he could go fight ugas, spence, crawford or one of the others in his own weight division theres some good fights to be made and come back to the eubank fight in a few years. After every fight he has called out diffrent fighters and said this and that but i suppose it all comes down to money.
He’s kicked on but he’s MILES off a Spence or Crawford. Multiple fights away. He hasn’t even had his big first win yet to get him in to genuine title contention - hence all the desperate offers to Hooker, Broner, etc.
The thing with boxing at the moment as Loko as said particularly with is that cards are so diluted particularly with matchroom. Matchroom have fallen into the trap of signing too many fighters over the years especially now with matchroom USA along with their European partners and recent launch with matchroom Australia. Simply put matchroom have taken too much on and it's disgruntling some members of their stable. Lads have left due to lack of commitment of a solid deal from hearn. I'm not being funny but Liam Smith shouldn't be on a fight by fight deal and looks like Callum Smith is going to on his way also. Similar problem with probelum who are pretty much MTK in disguise but their issues are a different scale with scandal and suspicion over the Kinahan affair. Boxing in this country is going to have to get it's act together and get it's house in order but that's wishful thinking, been in the sport long enough to know that ain't happening.
Benn? He’s looked good but he’s fighting light punching opponents who were fringe world level over half a decade ago. In reality he’s not even proven he’s British level. He talks a good game but his trainer & promoter wouldn’t put him anywhere near anybody who’s world class currently. I’ve no doubt the plan is to carry on fighting past it names whilst the big boys duke it out & hope whoever wins in Spence & Crawford end up vacating all four world titles to move up in weight & at some stage down the line he can get a world title shot against someone who isn’t really world class.
The truth is Sky Sports promotion is what makes fighters in this country. BT promotion is still decent but let’s be right every pub you go in has sky sports news on it. I think Hearn not only followed the money with Dazn but also fell into the trap of believing his profile was big enough to keep people tuning in. Just as an example none of my mates even knew Chisora was fighting at the weekend but when he was on Sky it’d get spoke about in the group chat. Outside of Joshua, Katie Taylor & Benn he hasn’t got any real draws in the UK. Plenty of talented fighters but someone like Joshua Buatsi is barely known to the casual fan because he’s tucked away fighting on an app yet he was the most exciting British fighter at the 2016 Olympics & should be a big name. Dalton Smith from Sheffield is a talented fighter but he’s not a name & they’ve got him headlining Sheffield arena in September. Unless they can get some local ticket sellers on the bill there will be no one there. Loko’s right about their been too many promoters. Sky will be fine in the long term once all the Olympians start fighting for titles & they poach other fighters but for now it’s hard to build a deep stable with deep cards when you’re starting from scratch.
Id just rather see him challenging himself against opponents in his own weight class than trying to make a fight with his dads ex rivals son. Theres plenty of decent fights to be made at his own division and he can possibly move up and challenge for titles one day. Taking the eubank fight now would be abit of a joke fight imo.
Completely agree. It’s a fun fight in terms of hype but it means nothing. If Benn wins Eubank will be drained. If Eubank wins Benn will be too small
