Global sports streaming platform, DAZN capitalised on an Saturday night brimming with combat sports, to become the leading iOS and Android free app for the first time in the U.S.
The app saw a spike in traffic with Mexican boxing superstar, Saul Canelo Alvarez further cementing his place in the boxing record books, as he became three-weight world champion with a dominant victory over Liverpool’s Rocky Fielding.
DAZN also took advantage of its partnership with Mixed Martial Arts company Bellator, broadcasting the widely successful Bellator 213 event, saw Ilima-Lei Macfarlane defeat Valerie Letourneau, live from Honolulu.
In 2019, DAZN plans to deliver more than 100 fight nights from Golden Boy Promotions, Matchroom Boxing, Bellator MMA, Combate Americas and the World Boxing Super Series, for $9.99 per month following a 30-day free trial.
Securing Canelo’s contests on the channel was always seen as a major coup for DAZN, reacting to his immediate success, Joseph Markowski, DAZN EVP, North America emphasised: “Canelo proved to be the attraction we anticipated and, in fact, went beyond our expectations. We’re encouraged by Saturday’s warm reception from fight fans and look forward to building on this momentum in 2019.”
The fight marked the first of Canelo’s 11 on the platform, with the Mexican megastar becoming a becoming a three-division world champion in front of a sold out Madison Square Garden.
Canelo’s next move is being widely speculated, with it seemingly most likely that he will take on fellow DAZN fighter and IBF middleweight champion, Danny Jacobs a contest that will once again elevate the popularity of the DAZN.
