In a stunning move that is reshaping the boxing landscape, streaming service DAZN is set to receive a windfall of more than £10million after agreeing to release Anthony Joshua from his exclusive contract for a blockbuster fight against Jake Paul.
The Groundbreaking Deal
The shock announcement came on Monday afternoon, confirming that former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will face YouTube sensation turned professional boxer Jake Paul on December 19 at Miami's Kaseya Center. The high-profile bout will be shown exclusively on Netflix, potentially reaching millions of viewers worldwide in what represents a significant shift in boxing broadcasting.
This arrangement marks a dramatic departure from Joshua's previous commitments. In June 2022, Joshua signed a lucrative £100million deal with DAZN spread over five years, negotiated by promoter Eddie Hearn. Beyond the substantial financial package, Joshua had also become a shareholder, special advisor and brand ambassador for the streaming platform upon joining.
The Financial Mechanics
Despite the exclusivity of their original agreement, DAZN has agreed to temporarily release Joshua from his contract for this sole bout against Paul before he resumes his obligations with them. While DAZN has not confirmed the exact figure, Daily Mail Sport understands the streaming service will be paid in excess of £10million for this arrangement.
This substantial fee puts the deal into perspective - it exceeds what most world champions receive for a career-high payday and surpasses the total career earnings of some professional boxers before retirement.
Precedent and Future Implications
This isn't the first collaboration between the competing streaming platforms. A similar arrangement occurred for Katie Taylor's trilogy fight with Amanda Serrano, which was broadcast on Netflix on July 11. According to Daily Mail Sport sources, DAZN will not stand in the way of their fighters when the best opportunity suits all parties involved.
The streaming service anticipates that Joshua's involvement with Netflix will ultimately benefit them in the long-term by significantly enhancing his global appeal before he returns to fight on their platform next year. Joshua acknowledged DAZN's cooperative stance on Monday evening with a social media post on X, writing: "Shoutout @DAZNboxing for letting me take this opportunity. I'll be back on their platform in 2026," followed by a salute emoji.
As detailed by Daily Mail Sport earlier on Monday, Joshua and Paul are set to split a massive £140million prize pot evenly from next month's highly anticipated bout. The eight-round contest will be fought in three-minute rounds with 10oz gloves, marking Joshua's first fight since his defeat by Daniel Dubois 14 months ago.
The match will require significant weight adjustments from both fighters, with the limit set at 245lbs. Joshua has weighed more than 250lbs in each of his last five fights, while Paul weighed approximately 200lbs for his most recent bout in June, setting the stage for a dramatic physical confrontation between the established champion and social media superstar.
