DAZN Exec: De La Hoya The Most Important Figure in PPV History

Two-weight world champion Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez has agreed a record-breaking 11-fight deal with sports streaming service DAZN that is the richest contract ever signed by an athlete.

The 28-year-old Mexican, who improved his record to 50-1-2 with a majority decision victory over Gennady Golovkin in September, is stepping up to the 168-pound division to fight WBA super middleweight world champion Rocky Fielding in New York City's Madison Square Garden on December 15.

That will be the first of Alvarez's next 11 bouts that will be shown on DAZN, which has also agreed a deal with Golden Boy Promotions to stream 10 fight nights per year from the start of 2019.

Alvarez has won world titles at middleweight and light middleweight in his career and has recorded victories over the likes of Golovkin, Amir Khan, Miguel Cotto, Erislandy Lara and Shane Mosley.

“Today represents a major shift in OTT sports content. Until now, fans haven’t received the value from these platforms that they deserve. DAZN is here to completely change that.”

“Oscar de la Hoya, as a boxer and a promoter, has been the most important figure in the history of pay-per-view. Right now, Canelo Alvarez is the most important fighter in pay-per-view. His next 11 fights will be available exclusively and internationally on DAZN. During the course of this deal, five years and the next 11 Canelo fights, DAZN will return premiere boxing matches to fight fans for a reasonable, affordable subscription price, and we will build a robust subscription base off of the demonstrated existing demand for these fights. 

“Adding this exclusive arrangement with Golden Boy and its quality roster of fighters to our Matchroom UK and Matchroom US fights gives us a year-long schedule of premium events for boxing fans.  We add our Bellator, Combate MMA fights, and our World Boxing Super Series dates to provide a superior and affordable annual offering for fight fans.

“Today I am thrilled to be here as we announce the beginning of a new era in boxing and the U.S. harbinger of a global transformation to a fan-centered and fan-friendly presentation of sports in OTT subscription services.”