Frank Warren: The promoter looks at what will change for boxing after 45 years as a promoter

The television situation for boxing is complicated.

There are many athletes who fear that holding more big fights on streaming platforms will not be good for the long-term future, while others argue that they need to move with changing viewing habits.

Warren is one of them after Queensberry moved to DAZN in 2025 after being with TNT Sports and previously at BoxNation and Sky Sports.

“EastEnders at one point had 15 million or 20 million people watching,” he recalls.

“They are lucky to have three now. What the fans watch and how they watch it is different now.

“I talk to my grandchildren all the time and they rarely watch TV. They get most of their entertainment through YouTube.”

The BBC recently returned to boxing alongside Boxxer, while Sky Sports has teamed up with Jake Paul’s Most Valuable Presents (MVP).

Netflix has shown Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul and will stream Tyson Fury vs. Arslanbek Mahmudov in April, suggesting they are becoming a serious player.

While TV and pay-per-view remain a big source of income, Warren believes the direct portal will remain key in the coming decades, but says there will have to be innovation for the viewing audience.

“It’s all about how the audience changes,” he says. “The living portal will always be there.

“I’ve seen what they do at some football matches now on the big screens, which is kind of like 3D. It’s very interesting.”

“The name of the game for any sport, or any promoter, is to take advantage of how technology is changing, and generate income that makes the show a bigger show, and makes it successful.

“The bottom line is: [to make sure] The fighters are doing really well.”