Groupe Yvon Michel has followed in the footsteps of many boxing promoters around the world: it has set up a streaming platform.
Boxing fans can already go to gymboxe.tv, where they currently only have access to Thursday’s gala which will pit Kim Clavel against Jessica Nery Plata for the WBC and WBA flyweight titles. Eventually, GYM wishes to deposit its archives there, such as the clash between Jean Pascal and Lucian Bute, or all of the 54 world championship fights that it has set up.
“It took a very long time to set up and this is not the final product, explained Yvon Michel to The Canadian Press, adding that the French version will also be online shortly. It’s a new tool that will allow us to reach a larger audience.
“We will use it to promote our various fights. There are several applications that we want to give to this site. It will be an interesting addition, but we do not pretend to replace ESPN + or DAZN one day: we do not have this number of boxers or the required notoriety. On the other hand, we will be able to expand our market. »
This is particularly the case during events like Thursday’s, when GYM partners such as Indigo, Bell TV or Shaw are not available in the Mexican market.
“Often, boxers from abroad asked us how they could have access to galas. It is now possible with this site”, underlined Michel.
They will have to pay the same price as customers who order the gala on pay-per-view ($60), and will be able to choose between the description in French or in English.
GYM’s initiative is reminiscent of PunchingGrace.com, launched a few years ago by Eye of the Tiger Management. Gymboxe.tv is currently not as developed as that of promoter Camille Estephan, which offers a monthly subscription ($11 per month) or the possibility of ordering galas by the piece, around $60.
But for Estephan, who embarked on this adventure just over six years ago, Punching Grace has done even more than that.
“This is what allowed us to find ourselves in the advantageous position in which we are presently, with several boxers in the world top 10, noted the president of EOTTM. It is also this platform that has allowed us to keep several of our boxers active during the pandemic. »
In partnership with a Mexican promoter, EOTTM presented several galas in a hotel in Cancun.
“Not all of these cards would appeal to Indigo or $60 boxing fans. But at $11, in addition to having access to all the material on the site, many have embarked,” mentioned Estephan.
He was also able to sign a partnership agreement with ESPN thanks to Punching Grace, which allows him to produce certain events of the American giant.
“It’s an excellent idea for Groupe Yvon Michel to turn to this type of product,” concluded Estephan.
“We have no limit with that, continued Michel. We will be able to grow this tool with our athletes. If we had had a platform like that in Bute-Pascal’s time, I assure you it would have been extremely popular.
“We are rebuilding our team, our market,” he said. We know that there is enormous potential in Canada, especially in Quebec. We had the golden period that culminated with the Pascal-Bute fight. We hope to rekindle people’s passion for our boxers, and we will be ready to invade the market. »