ESPN is stepping away from boxing. According to Ryan Glasspiegel of Front Office Sports, the network is anticipated not to renew its current agreement with Top Rank boxing when it expires in August. Since 2017, ESPN has been broadcasting Top Rank boxing across its linear platforms and ESPN+.
The current deal allows ESPN to air 54 events annually for the promotion; however, given the sport’s uncertain future, it appears the network has decided to withdraw entirely. Per Glasspiegel, Top Rank has approached several other media partners for a rights deal, including Netflix and Warner Bros. Discovery, but neither has shown any interest. Based on a statement from Top Rank, it seems the promotion would have preferred to stay with ESPN. “We are in dialogue with ESPN and many other parties regarding our media rights,” said Top Rank’s director of communications, Evan Korn. “While we never comment on the specifics of those discussions, we place tremendous value in our existing relationship with ESPN and the industry-defining experience we have together delivered to combat sports fans globally for the past eight years.”
In 2023, Top Rank COO Brad Jacobs stated to Awful Announcing, “We want to be able to deliver the biggest fights to the widest audience. And that is certainly on ESPN’s linear channel.” Additionally, Top Rank has reportedly had discussions with ProBox TV, a digital platform dedicated to the sport, to air its fights there.
