Long-term viewers often criticized the broadcast for "mid-round" replays and commercials that cut over corner instructions between rounds.
ESPN utilized its standard sports broadcast polish, including the "State of Boxing" studio shows and expert commentary from figures like Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas . Cons (Broadcast Quality Issues):
While Top Rank is no longer the primary boxing partner, ESPN continues to air select events from other promotions. For instance, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), led by Jake Paul, signed a multi-year deal in March 2026 to air women's boxing (MVPW) on the network. ESPN Top Rank Boxing
For a deeper look into the shift in the boxing broadcast landscape and the conclusion of the Top Rank/ESPN deal, watch this analysis: What Happened to Top Rank? YouTube• Mar 10, 2026
As of April 2026, the era of has largely concluded. After an eight-year partnership that began in 2017, the exclusive deal between Top Rank and ESPN officially expired in July 2025. The Current Landscape (April 2026) For instance, Most Valuable Promotions (MVP), led by
Reviews of recent Top Rank shows on their new platforms have been mixed. While the promotion continues to develop elite talent like Keyshawn Davis and Xander Zayas , the lack of a major linear TV reach has led some critics to call it a "ghost promotion" compared to its peak. Review of the "ESPN Era" Legacy
Some fans found the commentary heavily biased toward Top Rank’s promoted "house" fighters, which occasionally felt like a marketing exercise rather than objective sports coverage. After an eight-year partnership that began in 2017,
It brought world-class fighters like Naoya Inoue , Tyson Fury , and Terence Crawford into millions of homes without a pay-per-view cost.