After being crowned the undisputed 168-pound champion after defeating William Scull in Saudi Arabia, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez is already thinking about his next big move. Not only will he face Terence Crawford on September 12 in Las Vegas, but he is also very close to becoming the protagonist of a new era in the broadcast of professional boxing: to reach Netflix.
Various reports claim that the streaming platform could keep the rights to this fight, marking a milestone for boxing in digital media. Although it is not yet official, the announcement is expected to be made in the coming days, with the event as part of an alliance between Netflix and TKO Boxing, in coordination with Sheikh Turki Alalshikh, a key figure in Canelo’s recent internationalization.
A fight on streaming?
The fight between Alvarez and Crawford is not only noteworthy from a sporting point of view. It will be the Mexican’s first defense as undisputed super middleweight champion against an undefeated opponent like Crawford, but it could also mark a key moment for professional boxing broadcasting. Although Netflix has already ventured into the ring with the exhibition fight between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, Canelo’s fight would be the first official title fight in which the platform participates as a broadcaster of a world championship fight.
Sources close to the situation say that the Mexican’s team is in advanced talks for the September 12 fight to be streamed. If it goes ahead, the platform would not only achieve a commercial success, but would also open the door to future collaborations with the Mexican boxer.
Canelo vs Crawford
The duel scheduled for September 12 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas promises to be one of the most watched events of the year. Terence Crawford, unbeaten in 41 fights, will seek to snatch Alvarez’s WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF belts. The expectation is high: more than 60,000 people are expected to attend the venue and millions more would follow the broadcast if the agreement with Netflix is finalized.
If confirmed, the partnership between Alvarez and the platform would be an important precedent in the boxing business. It would also serve as a global showcase for both figures: the Mexican as an international sports icon, and Netflix as a new player in the distribution of live events.
Read the full article here
