It wasn’t a mere rumor, it seems. Before it reached an agreement with DAZN, Bob Arum‘s Top Rank had entered talks with its former broadcasting partner, ESPN, to renegotiate a fresh deal. So what happened? Adding a fresh layer of intrigue, Top Rank president and Arum’s stepson, Todd duBoef, revealed why discussions with ESPN failed to take off.

Last July, with Xander Zayas’ title fight at Madison Square Garden, the eight-year partnership between Top Rank and ESPN came to an end. While it continued to stage events, Arum’s promotion entered a phase of broadcasting uncertainty. That changed when reports of Top Rank speaking with DAZN surfaced early this week. Speaking with Ariel Helwani, duBoef shared details of when Top Rank explored a deal with its former broadcasting partners before finalizing terms with DAZN.

“Oh, absolutely. I mean we have a great relationship with them (ESPN),” duBoef told Ariel Helwani. “We’re talking to them all the time, okay. You know, I would say that one thing that we did do was, I think, we did remain very civil.

“And there was no bitterness, and there was no, you know, resentment. And they’re a wonderful platform. They’re a great partner. We loved everything about it. Their needs were different than our needs, right? And their needs weren’t necessarily exactly what, you know, could take our whole vertical like we did before. So we had to be inventive.”

It was late in February when rumors began to swirl that Top Rank and ESPN were holding new discussions.

But doubts quickly followed. Calling ESPN’s relationship with boxing “schizophrenic,” Hall of Fame announcer Al Bernstein said the network goes through cycles of being very enthusiastic about boxing, then losing interest or even treating it dismissively.

The report about the renewed ESPN-Top Rank partnership did not surprise them because they’ve seen this pattern before.

Bob Arum and ESPN circle back, but in separate corners

And Bernstein’s concerns proved at least partly justified. Before Bob Arum and his team finalized the deal with DAZN, reports emerged about ESPN securing a contract with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP). The first event under that partnership is already scheduled. Headlined by champion Alycia Baumgardner’s title defense, the show is set for Madison Square Garden on April 17.

In a volatile environment that saw Netflix hosting marquee boxing events, Dana White’s new Zuffa Boxing aligning with Paramount+, and Jake Paul’s MVP securing agreements with Sky Sports and ESPN, DAZN continues to draw interest from established promoters.

While questions surrounding Golden Boy Promotions’ contract remain, Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing extended its deal with DAZN for another 5 years. This past April, Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions also signed a multi-year agreement with the streaming platform.

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“Since the day I started Top Rank 60 years ago, our focus has been simple,” Bob Arum said about DAZN. “Sign the best fighters, develop them into champions, and make the best fights possible. DAZN’s position as the global home of boxing makes this a natural partnership, and I’m confident it will be tremendously beneficial for fighters, fans, and the future of the sport.”

Ultimately, ESPN’s return to boxing and Top Rank’s move to DAZN should quiet speculation, and fans can now look ahead to a slate of high-stakes events.