Historic Shift in American Sports Broadcasting
In a significant shift for American sports broadcasting, boxing has officially vanished from network and cable television for the first time in over 80 years. This historic moment arose after Top Rank’s final event on ESPN, which featured a match between Xander Zayas and Jorge Garcia, marking the conclusion of the last remaining linear television agreement in the boxing world. Veteran promoter Bob Arum, who has played a crucial role in the sport’s evolution, was in attendance for this unprecedented occasion, which aired on Saturday night.
Reflections from Boxing Experts
Dan Rafael, a respected voice in boxing journalism, pointed out the gravity of the situation by stating, “The last Top Rank event of its ESPN contract airs Saturday. After that, there’ll be no regularly scheduled boxing on linear TV in the U.S., for the first time essentially since the early 1940s. Shame on the stewards of the sport who let it happen.”
Once a staple in homes across America, boxing had a strong presence on major networks such as CBS, NBC, HBO, and Showtime, along with the more recent ESPN and FOX. However, the sport has faced a dramatic decline as viewers have turned away, largely due to subpar matchups and ineffective promotional strategies.
“The powers that be didn’t provide outlets with value for their millions,”
Rafael further lamented, emphasizing the disconnect between promoters and their audience.
End of an Era
Crystina Poncher, a longstanding commentator for Top Rank, shared her heartfelt sentiments on social media, expressing gratitude for her experience over the past eight years while reflecting on the conclusion of this era.
“It’s been my absolute pleasure and a dream come true. Thank you all,”
she stated. Arum, now in his 90s, has navigated the sport through various changes, from traditional television to pay-per-view and streaming platforms.
The Future of Boxing Broadcasting
The absence of boxing on traditional TV, with Showtime, HBO, FOX, and now ESPN all stepping back, signals a shift to a purely digital landscape. Fans looking for elite U.S. boxing must now turn to subscription-based platforms such as DAZN, Netflix, BLK Prime, and PPV.com.
Critics argue this development underscores a failure to modernize and maintain audience engagement, with many warning that mismatched fights would eventually drive fans away— and that’s precisely what has transpired as networks have ceased their boxing broadcasts altogether. Meanwhile, DAZN appears to be in a favorable position amidst this upheaval, with Amazon Prime emerging as a possible frontrunner in the quest for future boxing content. Arum confirmed that Top Rank is currently negotiating partnerships with both a major streaming service and a traditional over-the-air network, promising a diverse mix of outlets moving forward.
