Hearn on DAZN: We're Going To Be Biggest Force in The Sport!

By Victor Salazar

Promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport is confident that his recent streaming venture, with Perform Group's DAZN, will be a smashing hit in the United States.

Hearn has signed up a stable of boxers to his new venture - like IBF light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev, WBA champion Danny Roman, WBO junior welterweight champion Maurice Hooker, junior middleweight champion Demetrius Andrade.

The streaming service will go live in the United States very shortly. Their first event will drop on September 22nd, when Anthony Joshua defends his WBO, WBA, IBF, IBO world titles against mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin at Wembley in London.

Hearn already has a major competitor in United States - in the form of ESPN+, which the streaming service launched in June by ESPN.

Top Rank is the exclusive boxing content provider for ESPN's streaming service.

Last month, Hearn and Top Rank locked horns during the WBO's pursue bid for the mandatory fight between Hooker and Alex Saucedo, who is promoted by Top Rank.

Top Rank bid $1.625 million while Matchroom Boxing bid $1.55 million - and the contest is heading to ESPN.

Even though he lost the bid, Hooker is set to receive 75 percent of the winning offer which is still good business to Hearn - and certainly will put a big smile on the face of Hooker.

“Top Rank beat us by $70,000,” stated Hearn.

"Fair play to them, they paid a lot of money for the fight and that's great for Maurice Hooker. This a good time for the fighters, really deep pockets in the sport.”

Hearn is very optimistic about the streaming venture and says he will be one of the major forces in boxing in the United States.

“This isn’t a 3 month plan, 6 month plan. It’s an 8 year plan. We’re going to be biggest force in the sport," Hearn said.