Matchroom Boxing Launch in Japan - Big Move!

Hearn is promising 3 world class events a year but also promised 16 world class shows on DAZN and a few fights a year in Abu Dhabi so I’ll not get too excited.

 

I’m still waiting for those promised big events to land in Abu Dhabi..it’s been about a year since the Bivol - Ramirez fight.

Any best of luck to MR on this latest project.

 

Happy news for me, as I live out here in Japan.

Basically, the landscape of how we view boxing is a bit of a strange one.

• We still sometimes get some big fights on the national broadcaster NHK (basically the Japanese version of the BBC).
• There is WOWOW, a satellite/cable/streaming channel. This tends to have some Japanese fight cards, and also will show a PBC or Top Rank card on a Saturday or Sunday night. Unfortunately, we don't get any of the British cards put out by Queensberry, unless it is big enough to draw the attention of WOWOW, I think the last one we got was Fury v Whyte.
• There is DAZN Japan, which shows all the Matchroom and Golden Boy cards. In fact, it's pretty big out here as a sports streaming platform, and there is a discounted version just to watch combat sports - which is nice.
• Amazon Prime has been getting in on the action, and purchasing the rights to some of the bigger Japanese names and fights like Inoue v Donaire 2, Inoue's brother, Teraji, and Tenshin (who fought Mayweather in an exhibition) foray into pro boxing, and Golovkin v Murata.
• Then there was also Inoue v Fulton, which was free to view on a new app called Lemino (owned by the mobile network Docomo)

There are probably other channels and streaming services that I don't know about. So, if this partnership results in more content in one place, it is a welcome change for me.

 

Off topic but what’s the deal with that Tenshin fella? I remember him getting bounced around the ring by Floyd and he could barely stand up but I saw that he’s gone into pro boxing a few years later. Any good or nah?

Bet Japan is an amazing place to live.

 

To be honest I haven't got much interest in watching him fight. But he definitely has some money and publicity behind him. He was very popular up to and after he fought Floyd (though the manner of defeat in an exhibition damaged his image for a bit). I looked it up, he went 44-0 in kickboxing (K1). Amazon Prime Sports have done 5 pro-boxing cards so far and he has been the face on the poster on the last two, which were basically his first two fights as a pro-boxer. Which is kind of crazy when you consider his position on the card: https://boxrec.com/en/event/877345

Yeah, it's nice out here. I really can't complain too much. Definitely more good than bad, and a very easy place to live once you settle in.

 

I'm not really the person to ask. I guess it is possible these cards would be separate. I really wouldn't know.

I would have to wait and see. Though unless they were on freeview over here, I imagine DAZN subscribers might be a bit miffed. Matchroom are advertised on the subscription plan page:
https://www.dazn.com/en-JP/account/tier

Though I seem to recall the big New Year fights tend to be broadcast on NHK, which I don't think there would be any complaints about if that was the case for Estrada v Ioka.

 

Matchroom UK/USA shows etc will be shown in Japan. The Japan shows will be shown in UK/US on DAZN all on case by case basis but thats the plan

 

Hearns junior has done a deal with Premier Inn Japan for exclusivity on their biggest breakfast halls/conference rooms

 

Tell us your link to Matchroom mate love to know.

Not having a pop as it’s great to have inside info on here, just curious that’s all.

 

3 events is a start. Not sure where it leads as Japan is a very hard market to crack with combat sports.

First and foremost you need Japanese stars. It's a must!!!!

 

Great to see you back and with a bang.

 

First Conor steps back in the ring and now this in the same week, how are the uk fans meant to contain their excitement?!