Jake Paul wasted no time making his presence felt in boxing since stepping into the ring in 2020. And ever since he took down Mike Tyson last year, he’s been hunting for his next big fight. For a moment, it looked like he had something huge lined up. He was very close to locking in a blockbuster showdown with Canelo Alvarez last month. At first, Canelo wasn’t keen on facing an influencer-turned-boxer, but money talks, and he almost agreed to the fight that was to be streamed on Netflix, in the same vein as the Tyson fight. It seems there was even an LOI in place. However, just before the big announcement, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh stepped in and flipped the script.
Instead of letting the Mexican champion jump into the Netflix fight, Alalshikh swooped in and signed him to an exclusive four-fight deal under Riyadh Season, leaving The Problem Child out in the cold. At that point, most assumed Canelo’s fights would remain on DAZN, given HE Alalshikh’s long-standing ties with the platform. But here’s the twist—Netflix isn’t backing down. Despite the Riyadh Season head pulling Canelo away from Paul, the streaming giant is still very much interested in securing a Canelo Alvarez fight, along with a few other big names.
Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford: Will it land on Netflix?
Earlier today, Boxing Worldwide 1 shared a post on Instagram. “ NETFLIX WANT CRAWFORD-CANELO & FURY-JOSHUA TO FOLLOW TAYLOR-SERRANO III. After announcing the Katie Taylor-Amanda Serrano trilogy bout for July 11th, Netflix are now reportedly pushing to land broadcast rights for Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford and a potential Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua showdown,” the post read. Sounds huge, right?
This news was first revealed by Chris Mannix on Sports Illustrated earlier this month. “Netflix is aggressively moving into boxing’s big event space. Taylor-Serrano is one. Two other fights very much on Netflix’s radar, per sources: A planned Canelo-Crawford matchup and a hoped-for showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury,” Mannix informed. But here’s the catch—just because Netflix wants to broadcast these fights doesn’t mean it’s a done deal. Why?
Canelo Alvarez is already tied to a four-fight deal under His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season. If all goes as expected and he secures the undisputed super middleweight title after facing William Scull (a fight many see as a foregone conclusion) on May 3rd, the boxing world will finally get what it’s been waiting for. Canelo vs. Crawford in September.
But here’s the thing: until and unless His Excellency Alalshikh agrees to let the fight be aired on Netflix, the streaming giant can’t just swoop in and claim it. Adding to the uncertainty? Canelo reportedly refused to have his previous (now-canceled) fight with Jake Paul aired on Netflix because of a lack of pay-per-view revenue. If he wasn’t interested then, what’s changed now?
Meanwhile, Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua is a fight boxing fans have been dreaming about for almost a decade now. With both men coming off losses last year, this could be the perfect time to finally make it happen. And given that both fighters hail from the UK, you can bet British fans would be all over this one. If Netflix manages to pull it off, the two big events would solidify its place in the boxing world for years to come. However, it all depends on the next one.
What makes Netflix’s second boxing broadcast a game-changer?
Netflix is doubling down on boxing with its second major event—and this time, it’s making history. On July 11, the streaming giant will broadcast the highly anticipated trilogy between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano on an all-female card set to take over Madison Square Garden in New York City. And guess who’s behind the promotion? Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). “It’s only fitting that during Women’s History Month that we are able to announce this must-see trilogy between two of the greatest female athletes of all time, on an all-women’s card,” Jake Paul told ESPN.
Taylor (24-1, 6 KOs) and The Real Deal have already shared 20 electrifying rounds in two unforgettable fights. Their first clash on April 30, 2022, was a groundbreaking moment—the first-ever women’s bout to headline Madison Square Garden. That night, Taylor edged out Serrano in a razor-thin split decision, igniting demand for a rematch. The rematch finally came last November as part of the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson card, where Taylor once again walked away victorious—this time by a controversial unanimous decision. Now, Serrano is getting her shot at redemption.
But that’s not all. Alicia Baumgardner, the undisputed super featherweight champion, has just signed with MVP as of March 18, making it highly likely she’ll also feature on the same card come July. That could mean not one but two undisputed title fights on the same night—something rarely seen in boxing, let alone on an all-female card.
And let’s talk money. Amanda Serrano is set to receive the highest payday ever for a female fighter according to Jake Paul. The record was previously held by Ronda Rousey who received the huge payout against Amanda Nunes in 2016. That’s a massive statement, not just for the event but for the future of women’s boxing. This is where Netflix can make a big statement. A success here will surely entice Alalshikh and Canelo Alvarez to consider Netflix as a viable alternative to DAZN.
So, what do you think? Will this event cement Netflix’s place in the boxing world? Share your thoughts with us below.
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