Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford are getting ready for a massive boxing match. The two champions will fight for the undisputed super middleweight crown in ten days at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. It's set to be the biggest boxing event of 2025.
But there's more to this fight than just the action in the ring. Netflix has made a game-changing move by securing the broadcast rights. For the first time, a major boxing event won't be on traditional pay-per-view. Instead, it'll be available globally on Netflix at no extra cost to subscribers.
In the US, fans can watch the entire fight card for just $7.99 a month, the standard Netflix subscription fee. This new approach could lead to a record-breaking audience, given Netflix's worldwide reach. It's a big step towards changing how people watch big fights.
However, not everyone's happy about this setup. In Mexico, where Canelo is a national hero, there's some controversy. For the past 16 years, Canelo's fights have been broadcast for free in Mexico, first on Televisa and then on TV Azteca. Now, Mexican fans will need to subscribe to Netflix to watch their champion.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has criticized this change. He said:
"The Mexican people will be deprived of shouting with joy in this traditional festivity"
Sulaiman suggested showing the fight live on Netflix and later on free-to-air TV in Mexico. But Netflix reportedly doesn't want to budge on this.
As for the fight itself, Crawford's trainer, Brian "BoMac" McIntyre, isn't worried about Canelo's size advantage. He said:
"He's not the biggest"
McIntyre's focus is on Crawford's timing rather than raw punching power.
This fight promises to be a turning point for boxing. Usually, fans would have to pay almost $100 for a pay-per-view event like this. Netflix's approach makes the full fight lineup much more accessible to a wider audience.
The WBC has even designed a new belt for this fight, honoring the Mexican state of Tlaxcala.
As the countdown to fight night continues, fans around the world are gearing up for what could be a historic moment in boxing. Whether you're watching in Las Vegas or on your couch at home, this is one fight you won't want to miss.
