Mike Costello, Laura Woods and Maya Jama join DAZN ahead of Fight Camp
- Joe Hewlett
- 28 June 2021
DAZN have announced a brand new on-air talent team ahead of Fight Camp 2.0 next month at Matchroom's HQ.
The streaming service - dubbed as the 'Netflix of Sport' - has confirmed alongside Matchroom Boxing a new pool of on screen talent, including TV and radio broadcaster duo Laura Woods and Maya Jama as well as British broadcasting legend Mike Costello.
Costello will take the reins as the lead commentator, leaving his role as the BBC's Boxing and Athletics correspondent after 15 years.
Having covered seven Olympics and countless world title fights during his glittering career at the BBC, Costello has established himself as one of the most popular commentators in sport today.
Former WBC world champion Tony Bellew also joins the team as an analyst alongside Kronk Gym's Andy Lee.
Eddie Hearn announced Matchroom Boxing would be leaving Sky Sports for DAZN this summer in a deal believed to have been a nine-figure sum.
In return, Hearn will promote 16 shows a year in the UK although it is unknown as to whether Anthony Joshua will move across from Sky.
The first Matchroom x DAZN UK show will take place on July 31 when hard-hitting welterweight Conor Benn collides with Adrian Granados.
The other two Fight Camp shows in Brentford, Essex, will take place on August 7 and August 14, and they include Kid Galahad's rematch against Jazza Dickens for the IBF featherweight title and Joshua Buatsi's return under Virgil Hunter.
What they said
Matchroom Boxing Chairman Eddie Hearn said: "I couldn't be prouder of this team of talent that we have assembled for our ground-breaking new project.
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, as a boxing fan and well-known sports presenter. We can't wait to get started with Fight Camp next month!"
Mike Costello said: "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.
"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.
"This is a great chance for the big fights to happen more regularly and I'm looking forward to being the voice at ringside for many big nights to come."
Maya Jama said: "I am thrilled to be joining DAZN and Matchroom. I've always loved boxing and this is a whole new adventure for me which I can't wait to begin.
"I'm hoping to bring a new energy, flavour and vibe to one of my favourite sports and couldn't be more excited to be working alongside such a fantastic and world class team."
