Top Rank’s eight-year partnership with ESPN appears to be nearing its end, with the sports broadcasting giant opting not to renew the deal set to expire this summer.
Front Office Sports first reported ESPN’s intention to withdraw from the agreement, and while Top Rank officials decline to label the move as a permanent breakup, they acknowledge that talks with alternative broadcast or streaming partners are well underway.
The likeliest new home for Top Rank appears to be Warner Bros. Discovery. Turner Sports and HBO Max could potentially provide both a television and a streaming outlet, an arrangement reminiscent of boxing’s past presence on premium cable platforms. In the meantime, ESPN has pledged to honor the remaining fights on its calendar, including a Friday show headlined by Davis against newly crowned WBO champion Denys Berinchyk and spring cards featuring Mikaela Mayer’s rematch with Sandy Ryan, as well as Raymond Muratalla vs. Zaur Abdullaev.
The possible departure of ESPN from boxing underscores the sport’s shifting broadcast landscape, particularly following HBO’s and Showtime’s exits. DAZN continues to strengthen its position, buoyed by Saudi Arabia’s ambitious promoter Turki Alalshikh, who is hosting major events and forging deals for star fighters like Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez. In fact, Top Rank’s own Beterbiev headlines the February 22 show in Riyadh, suggesting a future where Top Rank’s biggest bouts might end up on DAZN or another streaming platform if the ESPN split becomes official.
Top Rank’s spokesman praised their “industry defining experience” with ESPN, but losing the network’s global reach still represents a significant setback.