Following DAZN and Matchroom Boxing signing an exclusive worldwide deal that puts Matchroom’s UK shows on the streaming service everywhere, the companies have announced a new broadcast team for their events, which will kick off with three weeks of Matchroom “Fight Camp” shows held at company headquarters starting on July 31.
Mike Costello will be the lead commentator, leaving the BBC after 15 years for a new spot with DAZN.
“I’ve had such a great time at the BBC for so long that I’ve always said it would take something special to persuade me to leave that role and I get the impression this is that something special,” Costello said.
“I love the energy, ambition and passion around this new venture with DAZN and Matchroom. From black and white television, Boxing was one of the most popular sports where televised sports were growing. We then moved into the PPV and satellite era. Over the decades boxing has tended to move with the times in the media landscape and I think this is the next step of that journey.
“The clearest challenge is that on radio the task is to paint the pictures, on television the task is to add to what the viewers can already see. It’s a very different style of commentary but I have to bring all my experience from ringside on radio into television. This to me this is one of the attractions of the new role is taking on a new challenge at this stage of my career.”
Maya Jama, who is allegedly “the UK’s most talked-about TV and radio broadcaster,” is being promised to “bring a fresh perspective to the team.” Tony Bellew will also work the fights, as will Laura Woods, Andy Lee, Darren Barker, and Chris Lloyd.
“I couldn’t be prouder of this team of talent that we have assembled for our ground-breaking new project,” Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn said. “The launch of Matchroom Media has enabled us to form a cradle to grave mindset across inception to completion of our shows so we can deliver the live event experience to the viewer in the narrative and style in which we have built it.
“It’s a real mixture of industry legends and fresh new talent that will give us the credibility and the energy to drive this new era forward. Mike Costello has long been the fan favourite for live boxing commentary, and we are honoured to welcome him to the team. Maya Jama is now one of the leading broadcasters and personalities in British television, and brings a great new perspective to the audience to the audience, as a boxing fan and well-known sports presenter. We can’t wait to get started with Fight Camp next month!”
