Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has delivered the biggest name in British boxing to the DAZN streaming service for its upcoming U.S. release: Anthony Joshua.
In a press conference in New York, Hearn announced that Joshua's upcoming WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO heavyweight title defense against Alexander Povetkin will be streamed in the United States on DAZN. The fight, scheduled to headline a Matchroom card at Wembley Stadium on September 22, will be Matchroom Boxing's first boxing show to be streamed on DAZN, which will launch in the United States on September 10.
When Hearn first announced an eight-year, $1 billion partnership with Perform Group to have boxing matches be streamed in the United States, Hearn said he wanted to bring top boxers and fights to the streaming service. There's no bigger name on Hearn's roster than Joshua, who made an appearance at the press conference in New York as a formal press conference on the fight will also take place in New York.
The announcement essentially ends Joshua's current relationship with Showtime. The network has televised Joshua's last few fights in the United States, including his fights against Wladimir Klitschko, Carlos Takam and Joseph Parker. The fight against Klitschko, which also took place at Wembley Stadium, was televised live on Showtime, but also televised on HBO on a tape delay.
Joshua vs. Povetkin will be the first of two consecutive fights at Wembley Stadium for Joshua, who will fight next April at the venue. Povetkin is currently the mandatory challenger for Joshua's WBA title after winning a title eliminator last year.
