What does The Impact Network’s 2020 arrival mean to the landscape of boxing

2019 was another big year for boxing.  There is more boxing than ever on network television, cable and streaming apps.  Boxing can be found on the FOX family of networks, the Disney family of networks, Showtime and upstart streaming service DAZN.

These networks are controlled by a select few.  Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions has exclusive output deals with FOX and Showtime while Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. is aligned with Disney and Golden Boy and Matchroom Boxing are partnered with DAZN.

One thing is for certain, the reason why there is so much more boxing available is simple.  That reason is because there is so much money to be made by the networks, fighters, managers and promoters.

Fighters like Canelo Alvarez and Anthony Joshua have taken the baton from retired pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather and are making hefty 8 figure purses for their fights while other lesser known champions are making big 7 and 8 figure sums of money.

On February 1st former super welterweight champion Austin Trout headlines the first card on The Impact Network.  This faith based channel soon become the latest entity to enter the boxing world and is armed with at least 24 dates in their first year.

The Impact Network is available in over 86 million homes in the United States and is positioning itself to become a major player in the boxing industry. Impact Media Group has entered into an agreement with SHM media and productions which is lead by the executive producer of the hit reality boxing show Knockout that ran in the mid 2010’s.

Marcano stated that there will be 12 dates in New Mexico in 2020 with the state’s leading promoter Teresa Tapaia promoting all 12 of those dates.  The promoters for the other dates are still being determined by Deshawn Waynes, the lead advisor for this venture.

These are the plans for 2020 and if all goes well there is a plan in place to expand the product to a whopping 52 weeks of boxing and not just on the traditional Friday or Saturday night. If 52 weeks of quality boxing can be ascertained, then Impact Media Group would become among the largest, if not the biggest, distributor of boxing in the country.

Ryan Burton served as the Casting Director and Head of PR for Knockout and serves in an operational capacity in this new venture