The world of sports is a lucrative sphere of business in sports developed world. Sports athletes has garnered and amass wealth through deals and sponsorships.
Ahead of Usyk rematch, Nigeria born former heavy weight champion Anthony Joshua has left English media giant Sky Sports to sign her rivals DAZN, according to SunSport. It is now officially made known about the mega-£100 million deal ahead of Joshua's rematch with the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk.
According to Joshua🗣️“I am entering a new phase in my career with a new training environment, new coaches and now a new broadcaster.
"Negotiations at this level take time so I am pleased to have it all wrapped up and now I can fully focus on giving the fans and DAZN what they want, knockouts in the glamour division.
"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."
Not only will Joshua's fights be aired on DAZN in the US and UK, he is also taking up a global brand ambassador role.
In another major announcement, Anthony Joshua is set to become a special advisor to DAZN and also a shareholder in the company. The Naija born boxer has fought on Sky Box Office since 2015 but in 2018 promoter Eddie Hearn signed a billion dollar deal with DAZN.
Sky Sports Threat came to Reality
And when they officially entered the UK market in late 2020, the media giant became a top competitor with Sky Sports and by extension the AJ's broadcast ties with Sky came under threat. Pressure increased last summer when Hearn packed up his stable to leave sky for DAZN permanently.But the move did not involve Joshua, 32, who was still tied down contractually to Sky.
Joshua last fight with the TV powerhouse came in September in defeat to Usyk, 35, leading to a bidding war ever since.And ahead of AJ's expected August 20 rematch with Usyk in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, he has committed his long-term future to DAZN. According to Hearn: “We have been successfully working in partnership with DAZN for many years now and this new announcement with Anthony Joshua emphasises why they continue to set the standard for the future of sports broadcasting.
"Now with Anthony joining the team the stage is set to do even more together and we are looking forward to getting started.” DAZN had initially built their brand around exiting the pay-per-view market.
But they eventually launched a PPV service in May when Canelo Alvarez, 31, lost to Dmirty Bivol, also 31.a
DANZ are expected to introduce PPV in the UK in time for Joshua's rematch with Usyk. A site fee to host their rematch is due to cost £100m alone, without factoring in PPV and ticket sales as well as sponsorships.
Credit: 234footballng