Netflix targeting Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury and Canelo Alvarez super fight in ‘aggressive boxing push’ after Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson success
Netflix are hoping to build on the momentum of Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson with an ‘aggressive push’ into the boxing sphere.
The streaming platform dipped their toes into boxing for the first time in November when they landed the broadcasting rights for the controversial crossover clash.
Despite the action in the ring being massively underwhelming, the event itself was a wild commercial success.
A remarkable 60 million households tuned in to watch Paul beat Tyson via unanimous decision on Netflix, while 50 million viewed the co-main event between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano.
The event, which was staged at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, also shattered the record for the biggest US boxing gate outside of Las Vegas.
Paul vs Tyson’s gate grossed over $18m, double Canelo Alvarez’s $9m receipts for his grudge match with Billy Joe Saunders in 2021 at the same venue.
Netflix are now hoping to make another massive play in the sport.
They recently landed the rights for Taylor and Serrano’s trilogy on July 11.
And, according to Sports Illustrated, they are also targeting Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury and Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford.
While Canelo and Crawford have reportedly signed an agreement for a blockbuster showdown in September, providing the unified super middleweight champion beats William Scull on May 3, Fury vs Joshua is currently off the table.
Fury announced his retirement from professional boxing in January after losing to Oleksandr Usyk for a second time.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh was said to be preparing a mammoth two-fight deal for a clash with AJ.
However, those plans have now been put on hold.
Fury has retired before swiftly reversing his decision three times and Alalshikh seemingly hasn’t given up hope that the same will happen again.
“I want Tyson [next for Joshua],” Alalshikh told The Stomping Ground.
“I spoke with him, but I don’t talk about boxing. I just checked about his health and his family.
“I think maybe he’ll return. Yes, [I think he will return], I hope so.”
Fury vs Joshua is no longer the fight it once was when both men held all four-belts in the heavyweight division, but it is still undoubtedly one of the biggest boxing attractions.
It has the potential to draw in even more views than Paul vs Tyson, but organisers will have to get a move on if they hope to get the domestic dust-up over the line.
Joshua is set to return this summer, with his promoter Eddie Hearn recently telling talkSPORT.com that Martin Bakole, Deontay Wilder, Daniel Dubois and Joseph Parker are all potential options.
