Netflix hopes for live sports knockout with Paul-Tyson fight

Available to all of Netflix’s more than 280 million subscribers for no additional fee, it could be a welcome change for American boxing.

A showdown between former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and social media influencer-turned-fighter Jake Paul on Friday is the latest one-two punch from Netflix, as the media giant hopes to cash in on sports' sprint to streaming.

The intergenerational showdown has all the makings of a crossover hit, with 58-year-old Tyson bringing in the old guard and 27-year-old Paul, who achieved early fame on YouTube, appealing to the younger, screen-toting social media junkies.

Available to all of Netflix's more than 280 million subscribers for no additional fee, it could be a welcome change for American boxing fans accustomed to shelling out extra to watch marquee matches on long-time broadcaster HBO.

"The trend in all sports right now is moving some of their properties to streaming," said Bob Dorfman, a veteran San Francisco-based sports marketing analyst.

"This is two huge personalities - it does have the potential to be the biggest streaming sports event."

The American subscription television network HBO announced in 2018 it was dropping live boxing from its programming, ending a 45-year relationship with the sport and leaving a broadcasting vacuum in its wake.

Netflix has dabbled in sports content before, with exhibition golf and tennis events and the wildly popular docuseries "Formula 1: Drive to Survive," which is credited with boosting the auto racing circuit's popularity in the U.S.