Netflix & Sky Business Partner for Fury vs Makhmudov UK PPV Distribution

Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will return to the ring on April 11, facing Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, in a bout that will be streamed globally on Netflix. The fight marks a significant expansion of Netflix’s foray into live sports broadcasting, and a first-time distribution partnership with Sky Business for commercial venues across the UK and Ireland.

The bout will be available to pubs and bars via a commercial pay-per-view license acquired through Sky Business, a move that Sky Business director of hospitality James Tweddle described as “exciting.” He stated, “We’re excited to partner with Netflix for the first time to bring this huge boxing event to the on-trade. Fury’s return, a strong undercard and a major British title on the line make this a standout night for all boxing fans – and a major commercial opportunity for venues to drive footfall and boost revenue.”

Fury, who has previously announced multiple retirements, is stepping back into the ring against Makhmudov, the WBA inter-continental heavyweight champion, in a non-title fight. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with a capacity of 62,850 for boxing events, previously hosted Fury’s December 2022 victory over Derek Chisora.

The April 11 card likewise features a compelling undercard including Connor Benn versus Regis Prograis, Frazer Clarke against Richard Riakhporhe, and Jeamie Tshikeva challenging Justis Huni for the British heavyweight title.

This event builds on Netflix’s recent successes in boxing, having broadcast the December bout between Anthony Joshua and Jake Paul, which drew a global audience exceeding 30 million viewers. The Joshua-Paul fight achieved an average minute audience (AMA) of 33 million live viewers globally. Prior to that, Netflix streamed Jake Paul’s victory over Mike Tyson in November 2024, attracting over 60 million households worldwide, and an all-female co-main event between Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano, watched by almost 50 million households.

Netflix is also set to stream a rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao on September 19 at the Sphere venue in Las Vegas, further solidifying its commitment to high-profile combat sports events. The partnership with Sky Business for the Fury-Makhmudov fight represents a new distribution channel for Netflix, leveraging Sky’s existing relationships with commercial venues in the UK and Ireland.

The timing of the fight coincides with the Masters golf tournament and English Premier League soccer, which Sky Business anticipates will contribute to strong viewership at commercial establishments.