British boxer Anthony Joshua’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk will be shown on Sky Sports Box Office, despite the former world champion signing an exclusive deal with streaming service DAZN.
Joshua announced last month that he was leaving Sky Sports having been with the broadcaster since his professional debut in 2013. However, according to multiple reports, it has emerged that the upcoming bout with Usyk was not covered by the new deal.
The Saudi Arabian government paid a reported $98m (£82m) to host the fight and the global television rights were included within that deal. As such, the country has been able to put the broadcast rights to the fight up for bidding. It is reported that Sky Sports have edged out rivals after securing an agreement for around £28m.
Joshua agreed his new broadcast deal with DAZN in June, when the streaming service revealed in a statement that the two-time world heavyweight boxing champion will become a ‘shareholder, special advisor, and brand ambassador for the business’ in a deal worth a reported £100m.
At the time of the deal Joshua commented, “I’ve been working with DAZN and following its progress for a long time. We have enjoyed a really successful partnership in the US for many years and I know the team and understand the passion and drive of the business.
“DAZN’s vision and passion to innovate is what attracted me to the partnership. They are leading the digital landscape in sport and the future of sports broadcasting. I am really looking forward to a long and successful partnership.”
Joshua will look to win back his three heavyweight world titles from Usyk in Saudi Arabia on August 20th, almost a year after he was beaten at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The rivals are expected to share a purse of at least £100m.
Image: Shutterstock
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.