DAZN & Top Rank Announce Partnership Deal

Photo - Top Rank

DAZN, the world’s leading sports entertainment platform, and Top Rank, a legacy brand in boxing, today announced a landmark multi-year partnership that will usher in a defining era for one of sport’s most iconic entities. The agreement brings Top Rank’s unrivaled fight nights and historic fight library to the global home of boxing, DAZN, worldwide. The two companies cemented their partnership with a press conference earlier today at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Hosted by DAZN Announcer, Chris Mannix, the press conference featured leadership from both DAZN and Top Rank, headlined by DAZN CEO of Growth Markets, Pete Oliver, and President of Top Rank, Todd duBoef. Additionally, a collection of world champions, including WBC Featherweight World Champion Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington, Former Champion & Olympic Silver Medalist, Keyshawn Davis, Undefeated WBO Lightweight World Champion Abdullah Mason, and undefeated junior welterweight contender Emiliano Fernando Vargas also spoke on the news and the platform DAZN provides. This is what the boxers and executives in attendance had to say:

Bruce “Shu Shu” Carrington 

On what it means to get a platform like this and stay active  

“I got a little taste of fighting on DAZN in my last fight, as you mentioned, and the amount of recognition that just boosted ever since that fight has been incredible. Obviously, I was fighting for a world title, but the fact that it was on DAZN, I think that played a major part, and it’s something that I’m really looking forward to in the next steps of my career. I really do believe that we are going to bring nothing but excitement, and I feel like it’s the perfect puzzle piece in order to continue making boxing great.” 

Keyshawn Davis  

On his reaction to the announcement…

“I was definitely surprised hearing this announcement. DAZN’s been carrying the torch for a while now. They’ve been putting on major events, and now I feel that the whole world is starting to realize that.”

Abdullah Mason 

On what fight he’s looking for…

“The strides we've been making since I turned pro, being the brightest young star in boxing, I feel like we can do the same thing with DAZN. Teamwork makes the dream work. I'm bringing the smoke to DAZN and we’re going to have a lot of fun.”On fighting in Cleveland… 

“Cleveland has been supporting me since day one…me and my brothers. They just announced ‘Mason Brothers Boxing Day’ in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 28, so we'll be doing big things. I just can't wait to go there and have my first main event. With DAZN, I feel like it's going to be an amazing show.”

Emiliano Fernando Vargas 

On what this deal means for him…“This deal is going to give me a platform to shine on. I’m grateful to Top Rank and DAZN for this huge opportunity. There are no limits now; we can hop on any cards so I’m excited.”

Pete Oliver

On why Top Rank is the right fit for DAZN…

“We are building the global home of sports. Our app is available in over 200 countries worldwide, and we have some really important global partnerships with people like the NFL, the NHL, college sports, and a lot of local leads in Europe, Japan and Australia. But within that, the sport that is really growing exponentially for us has been boxing, and we've been the home of boxing now for a number of years.” “We really wanted to bring Top Rank’s stable expertise into the mix of DAZN boxing so we can make the best fights. We also really wanted to strengthen our position here in the USA as we had a great year last year. We had the FIFA Club World Cup, but we also saw our boxing business grow rapidly. We know Top Rank has an amazing history here, so we really wanted them to join the party.”On how this partnership enhances DAZN’s value for fans…

“For us, it's about making the best fights. We know that fans have been frustrated over the years because different promoters have been with different broadcasters. There's often been politics that have stopped the best fights from being made, and by having Top Rank join DAZN, we know we can make the best fights going forward. We want to bring our fans amazing fights, the best matchups, and the best of boxing over the next few years.”On how many shows DAZN wants to do in the US…

“We’d like to get to the point where we’re having a fight here in the US every Saturday night so fight fans know they can turn on the DAZN app and see a fight right here in a US time zone. We have so many great promoters already, and with Top Rank joining, it enables us to make even more events.”

Todd duBoef

On why this deal was the right deal for Top Rank…

“At first I didn’t know if DAZN was a friend or foe. So often we were across the table from each other, but what we really saw was DAZN’s commitment to the sport on a global basis. When we got into the room, we realized we were like-minded. We’re like-minded on how we want to present and grow the sport, and everything just came together.”On commitment between Top Rank and DAZN…

“It's a multi-year, multi-event commitment, and I really believe this is just step one. We are really in a position where we can think of endless opportunities for all these fighters up on stage and endless opportunities for the fans around the world getting a top-quality event every Saturday night.”On what makes Top Rank good at what it does… 

“I always say this about us, but we're not one person, and that is the beauty of it. We are really a wonderful team. I really believe there's a matchmaking piece to our equation. We are giving these kids, giving Shu Shu and Keyshawn and Emiliano, the opportunity to show their abilities and then elevate their marketability. I think there's that perfect combination.”

Top Rank’s world-class roster of over three dozen fighters will be showcased prominently on DAZN, featuring former champion and Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis, WBO and WBA junior middleweight world champion and boxing’s youngest unified world champion Xander Zayas, undefeated WBO lightweight world champion and boxing’s youngest world champion Abdullah Mason, three-division world champion Emanuel Navarrete, undefeated IBF lightweight world champion Raymond Muratalla, two-time junior lightweight world champion O’Shaquie Foster, and WBC featherweight world champion Bruce Carrington, among many more of the sport’s leading contenders and rising stars. From emerging prospects to established global stars, Top Rank fighters will now compete as part of DAZN’s world-leading boxing stable, expanding its reach and depth across more than 200 markets.

Bob Arum, Top Rank Chairman, said: “Since the day I started Top Rank 60 years ago, our focus has been simple: sign the best fighters, develop them into champions and make the best fights possible. DAZN’s position as the global home of boxing makes this a natural partnership, and I’m confident it will be tremendously beneficial for fighters, fans and the future of the sport.” 

Shay Segev, DAZN Group CEO, said: “Boxing belongs on the global stage, and this landmark partnership with Top Rank brings one of the sport’s most iconic promoters and legacies to DAZN - the global home of boxing. DAZN already delivers more premium fight nights than any entertainment platform in the world and the addition of Top Rank’s elite events and historic archive further strengthens our position. For fans, fighters and the sport, this partnership is about scale and setting a new standard for how world-class boxing is experienced.”