Wilder Shopping The Market For Distribution; DAZN Enters The Mix

Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images

WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder is in the market for a new distribution platform. DAZN (pronounced “Da Zone”) has officially put their bid in. And as the man himself would say, they have continued to sign top talent “Til This Day!” Launched in the U.S. on May 8, 2018, DAZN has continued to stockpile top boxing talent including three of the very best middleweights in the world, namely Canelo Alvarez, Danny Jacobs, and Gennady Golovkin. DAZN also Anthony Joshua, a piece that you can bet is at the centerpiece of negotiations.

After unsuccessful negotiations with Tyson Fury to run back the rematch, Wilder has set his sights on something more permanent. Fury would go on to sign a deal with ESPN.

Per Dan Rafael, ESPN:

"Fury will have his future bouts co-promoted by Top Rank and Warren's Queensberry Promotions, with the deal calling for a minimum of two bouts per year in the United States, according to their agreement. That means Fury's bouts will appear on ESPN platforms. The network and Top Rank have a multiyear deal."

With Wilder no longer bound to his contract with Showtime, he has received offers from some of the top powers in the game, including Matchroom, and more recently Top Rank/ESPN. DAZN is expected to officially enter the mix next week, per Mike Coppinger, via the Ring:

"Deontay Wilder will meet with DAZN Executive Chairman John Skipper next week, industry sources told The Ring, after Lou DiBella orchestrated the sit-down. Wilder and Skipper spoke over the phone earlier this week, before the heavyweight titleholder informed his advisors, Al Haymon and Shelly Finkel, about the opportunity to meet with Skipper.

Skipper is expected to lay out a multi-fight offer to Wilder that would pay him at least $20 million per fight on DAZN; the second bout of the deal would pit Wilder against Anthony Joshua in a fight for the undisputed heavyweight championship."

Wilder is scheduled to face Dominic Breazeale on May 18. More news to come.

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