With Showtime’s Exit From Boxing, Jake Paul and Al Haymon’s Plan With Netflix Can Be a Saving Grace for Boxing PPV and Here’s Why

Netflix looks set to reap benefits from the chaos in the boxing world. Ever since Showtime Sports announced its departure from the PPV business last month, the boxing world has fallen into an abyss of uncertainty. However, Netflix sees this as the perfect opportunity to diversify its services for its subscribers. And they are ready to rope in Jake Paul and Al Haymon‘s Premier Boxing Champions. Is Netflix going to tear apart the boxing world we know and construct a new one that we need?

Notably, Showtime Sports announced to cease its operation on October 17, ending its iconic 37-year run. Further, it has a landslide impact on the partner of Showtime Sports, PBC. Al Haymon’s PBC has the star-studded stable of Canelo Alvarez, Gervonta Davis, Terence Crawford, Deontay Wilder, and Errol Spence Jr. While Al Haymon is in talks with DAZN and Amazon Prime to ink a profitable deal, Netflix has emerged as another lucrative option. Can Netflix alter the dynamics of the boxing world?

Netflix is ready to test boxing waters with Jake Paul and Al Haymon’s PBC

Along with PBC’s mouth-watering stable available on the market, Netflix is eyeing one of the biggest stars in boxing, Jake Paul. ‘The Problem Child’ sold almost 500,000 PPVs domestically when he clashed with Nate Diaz in August. Netflix already holds sway over the American influencer, as they recently told his story under the ‘Untold’ series.

Therefore, adding Paul and the PBC to its ranks will also allow Netflix to foray into curated and unique boxing content. Netflix is already one of the biggest unique content providers, and adding boxing to its services will make it a first-choice platform for many fans.

Markedly, Netflix has already specified its intent to conquer the sports world with ‘The Netflix Cup’ earlier this month. A live golf event featured F1 drivers from ‘Drive to Survive’ and golfers from ‘Full Swing’. The agenda is clear: to rack up profitability, and it goes through live sports. And for the fans, they will have the thrill and exciting action of the squared circle to follow up. However, it might also spell doom for the current PPV structure, which is one reason the boxing world is held back.

The right step to fix the issues that mar boxing

Fighters demanding exorbitant money for PPV fights and continuing to dodge big fights is the biggest issue plaguing boxing. In addition, promoters trying to protect their cash cows result in thin and mismatched cards, which affect PPV sales. Showtime Sports paid heavily due to these issues. Hence, to evade a similar fate, Netflix might dump this structure. As it doesn’t offer PPV to its subscribers, it might introduce a new pricing tier for its live sports content.

Eddie Hearn reiterated this in an interview with the IFL. He said, “Fighters go stale for inactivity and having irrelevant fights. Every promoter is guilty of it. And we have to stop that… Broadcasters can’t continually pay money for shows that don’t deliver.”

Scrapping the PPV structure in favor of a subscription-based service might nudge promoters to put together big fights. Likewise, it might compel fighters not to chase the PPV money and put on a show for the fans. Something that has been demanded by the boxing community for a long time. But it might be a dream after all. As detailed by Rick Glaser, rumors that Netflix is venturing into live sports are a hoax.

Is it all noise just to scare off Amazon Prime?

Just as the news of Netflix venturing into live sports took off, Glaser was quick to dismiss those. Turning to his X-handle, he pointed out that the PBC was not in talks with Netflix. Moreover, he mentioned that the PBC operatives floated that to bag a better deal with Amazon Prime.

“The #Amazon deal is no money or guarantees, strictly PPV distribution & marketing. And that’s not a good deal. The fighters will find that out in the first quarter of 2024 that there’s no money any longer at PBC,” Glaser declared. How much truth lies in Glaser’s statements can’t be ascertained.

Read More: “Interested to See the Price”: After Showtime’s Exit, Jake Paul and Al Haymon Join Hands With Netflix to Fill the Gap of Boxing PPV and Fans Are All for It

Despite this, if the PBC deal with Amazon Prime goes through, it will still change the PPV structure. The future of the PBC is not certain as of now. But wherever it heads, it will bring structural changes, and it will only change boxing for good.

What do you make of this fresh development regarding the fate of boxing? Do you believe Netflix venturing into boxing is a good sign? Let us know in the comments below.

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