English Born Nigerian Boxer Anthony Joshua Signs £100M Partnership Deal With DAZN

• Former unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has inked a mega long-term contract with streaming company DAZN
• The move has ended Joshua's deal with Sky Sports which has been in place throughout his professional career
• Joshua will become a shareholder, special advisor, and brand ambassador for the streaming service

Heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has secured a lucrative deal with streaming service DAZN, as he prepares for his crucial rematch against Oleksandr Usyk this summer.

The England boxer of Nigerian descent has fought on Sky Sports for the entirety of his career, with his promoter Eddie Hearn previously having an exclusive deal with the broadcaster to stage his fights.

But in a post on social media, spotted by Sports Brief, Joshua has confirmed his fights will now air pay-per-view in the UK via the streaming company.

Joshua posted on Twitter on Monday afternoon, with the caption:

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Football

New phase in my career, new training team and new broadcaster @DAZNBoxing

According to Daily Mail, Joshua's global rights agreement with DAZN is worth £100million-per-year.

The new agreement means all of Joshua’s future bouts will now be broadcast in the UK on DAZN, likely via the pay-per-view (PPV) platform the media company launched last year.

Joshua’s DAZN agreement reportedly includes a minimum requirement of two fights annually over a term that could reach five years.

In addition, Joshua will become a shareholder in DAZN, as well as a brand ambassador and special advisor with a seat on the media company’s strategic board.

Speaking about the partnership, Joshua said, quoted by Daily Mail:

'I am entering a new phase in my career with a new training environment, new coaches and now a new broadcaster. Negotiations at this level take time so I am pleased to have it all wrapped up and now I can fully focus on giving the fans and DAZN what they want, knockouts in the glamour division.

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UFC

'I've been working with DAZN and following its progress for a long time. We have enjoyed a really successful partnership in the US for many years and I know the team and understand the passion and drive of the business.

'DAZN's vision and passion to innovate is what attracted me to the partnership. They are leading the digital landscape in sport and the future of sports broadcasting. I am really looking forward to a long and successful partnership.'

Anthony Joshua Offers Boxing Lessons to Will Smith After Oscars Drama

Sports Brief earlier reported that two-time heavyweight World Champion, Anthony Joshua has taken time off from training to crack a joke with Will Smith after the Hollywood actor caused a scene at the Oscars award.

Will Smith had walked up the Oscars stage to slap host, Chris Rock after the comedian had made a joke about his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head.

According to a report via the Mirror, Anthony Joshua has now joked about the incident by posting an old picture of himself with Will Smith and suggesting the actor should have closed his fists while taking a punch.