Renewal secures 30-plus annual fight nights in the US and UK, with additional Australian distribution through Foxtel’s Kayo Sports.
DAZN and Matchroom Boxing have signed a new five-year agreement covering the US and UK, extending one of the most prominent promotional and broadcast relationships in the sport.
The deal, announced 18 February, guarantees more than 30 Matchroom events per year on DAZN globally, combining live fight nights with shoulder programming and original content.
It reinforces DAZN’s strategy of positioning itself as boxing’s primary global streaming home at a time when rights fragmentation and shifting distribution models continue to reshape combat sports.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
Consolidating boxing’s streaming model
The renewed agreement formalises a partnership which has defined much of boxing’s streaming era. Since launching its initial US push into boxing in 2018, DAZN has relied heavily on Matchroom’s stable to build subscriber momentum, including headline fights involving Anthony Joshua and Canelo Álvarez in earlier phases of its expansion.
For Matchroom, led by Eddie Hearn, the deal secures distribution certainty in two of boxing’s most commercially important territories. The UK remains one of the sport’s strongest pay-TV and live gate markets, while the US continues to drive global sponsorship and broadcast economics.
Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, said the extension “reaffirms DAZN as the global home of boxing”, adding that the two companies would “continue to raise the bar”.
Hearn described DAZN as “the only partner that matches our ambitions for boxing”, pointing to its global platform and long-term commitment.
The schedule for 2026 begins with a super featherweight unification bout between IBF titlist Eduardo ‘Sugar’ Nunez and WBO champion Emanuel Navarrete, signalling DAZN’s continued emphasis on championship-level matchups.
Australia added to the footprint
Alongside the US and UK renewal, Matchroom has also struck a new Australian distribution agreement via DAZN’s Foxtel Group. Seven major Matchroom events will be shown in 2026 on Kayo Sports and Foxtel.
DAZN completed its acquisition of Foxtel Group last year, giving it a foothold in Australia’s subscription TV and streaming market. Integrating Matchroom events into Kayo’s portfolio strengthens DAZN’s ability to leverage owned distribution infrastructure rather than relying solely on third-party carriage.
The move also underlines a broader strategy: combining global streaming rights with localised media assets to deepen market penetration.
A roster built for year-round programming
Matchroom’s roster remains one of the deepest in the sport. Established names including Anthony Joshua and Katie Taylor continue to anchor major fight nights, while fighters such as Dmitry Bivol and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez add championship credibility across weight divisions.
Emerging and newly crowned champions, including Dalton Smith and Jaron “Boots” Ennis, provide depth that supports the 30-plus event commitment.
The inclusion of prominent female fighters such as Sandy Ryan and Skye Nicolson reflects the continued commercial rise of women’s boxing, a segment that streaming platforms have actively supported in recent years.
The renewal comes amid intensifying competition in combat sports broadcasting. Traditional pay-TV operators remain active, while streaming rivals have expanded into boxing and MMA in pursuit of differentiated live content.
DAZN’s strategy has been to double down on exclusivity and promoter alignment. In addition to Matchroom, it holds agreements with other major boxing promoters, giving it one of the sport’s broadest portfolios. The company claims to stream more than 110,000 live events annually across sports and operates in over 200 markets.
By locking in a five-year term, both parties gain medium-term stability in a rights market that has grown increasingly volatile. Multi-year security allows promoters to plan fighter development and event staging with greater confidence, while platforms can invest in production and marketing with clearer visibility on inventory.
