Since the mid 17th century, major fights have attracted huge crowds and high-paying fans from different corners of the world. Modern boxing matches are equally popular from Mohammed Ali to Anthony Joshua. Even if fans can’t get a ticket to their favorite matches, they can easily watch their champion boxers knocking the air out of their opponents on TV. In case you wish to stream your favorite matches online, the good news is that it’s possible to do so without breaking a sweat.
With the world suffering from the COVID-19, both boxing stars and their fans were robbed of countless opportunities to witness anticipated matches. The effects of the pandemic are harsh for the boxers, as their training routines are constantly disrupted by gym closures. While major events can still go on, smaller ones need to be postponed. However, people are continually trying to escape the harsh reality with their favorite activities. Watching sports events held without spectators is one way of surviving this pandemic.
Many boxing matches lost
According to statistics, the number of held boxing matches significantly dropped in 2020. When compared with 2019, the number is terrifying: approximately 68% drop. Instead of nearly 16 thousand events, only 5,150 matches took place worldwide. In the US, the numbers are grim as well. While 2019 presented over 3 thousand matches, 2020 saw only 1,508 matches. Many events in 2020 were held in Texas by following the pay-per-view policy.
How boxing survives
Boxing promotion companies, in collaboration with the online video streaming services, cover many fights. Some of the popular boxing promotion companies of 2020 include DiBella Entertainment, Golden Boy Promotions, Matchroom Boxing, Mayweather Promotions, Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), Sauerland Events, and Top Rank Boxing.
These companies’ famous players include Gervonta Davies, Regis Prograis, Tevin Farmer, Ivan Baranchyk, Amanda Serrano, Alicia Napoleon, Canelo Alvarez, Anthony Crolla, Dillian Whyte, Katie Taylor, Joseph Parker, Hughie Fury, and Anthony Joshua.
Live TV streaming for boxing fans
Options galore for the boxing fans when it comes to live streaming services of their favorite boxing matches, and several of them even offer access to the TV channels that are broadcasting the matches. Additionally, there’re some specialist providers that stream only specific matches.
The popular options for live streaming small and big boxing matches include:
AT&T TV NOW. The package offered by AT&T TV NOW includes ESPN, which ensures that you get the opportunity to watch the Top Rank Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions fights live. Subscribers can also access the PBC events as both NBC and FOX are included in the package. You need to pay only $65 every month once the 7-day free trial ends. You can view on at least 2 devices and also get 500 hours of cloud storage.
DAZN. This live streaming service is popular for online streaming of some of the biggest fights from all over the world. The channel mentions agreements with multiple professional boxing promoters, including Matchroom USA, Combate Americas, Golden Boy Promotions, World Boxing Super Series, and Bellator. These collaborations guarantee that subscribers get to watch at least 80 fights every year. The live streaming service of DAZN is available for only $19.99 per month or $99.99 per year once the one-month trial ends.
ESPN+: It offers a mobile app of ESPN that live streams all the events promoted by Top Rank Boxing, including UFC bouts. You can get the ESPN+ for just $4.99 per month, and you can stream the matches on any device of your choice, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and PCs. However, you can’t expect a free trial or cloud DVR storage from ESPN.
Hulu + Live TV. Popular channels like ESPN, FOX, and NBC are all included in the live TV package of Hulu TV, and subscribers get to watch live events promoted by Top Rank Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions. You have to pay only $49.99 per month after the completion of the 7-day free trial. You can simultaneously stream the matches on two devices and also avail of 50 hours of cloud DVR storage.
Live Sports Broadcast at Pubs and Restaurants. In addition to online streaming, pubs and restaurants are now offering live sports broadcasts, creating a vibrant social setting for boxing fans to enjoy matches together. This communal experience adds a layer of excitement and connection that can't be replicated when watching alone. If you want to know more about boxing schedules and where you can watch them, you can check Joe Hand Promotions.
Sadly, a range of streaming platforms could impose strict geo-restrictions. Without meeting location requirements, you might not be able to stream the content you want. Fortunately, a Virtual Private Network or VPN for streaming is a workaround. It allows you to spoof your IP address and virtually travel to almost anywhere on the map. As a result, you can bypass geo-blocks and access streams regardless of your actual location. Plus, you get high-end protection from snoopers and malware, which can be an issue if you decide to visit shady streaming domains. The best routine is to use a VPN and access only reliable media content providers.