AFTER 45 years, HBO said on Thursday last that the network will no longer feature live boxing matches starting in 2019.
“Going forward in 2019, we will be pivoting away from programming live boxing on HBO,” the network said in a programming statement. “As always, we will remain open to looking at events that fit our programming mix. This could include boxing, just not for the foreseeable future.”
The pay-cable network currently has no more fights scheduled past the Oct. 27 Madison Square Garden middleweight title fight between Danny Jacobs and Sergey Derevianchenko. An HBO rep says its unclear if the network will have any matches in November or December.
HBO Boxing production staff, which included play-by-play announcer Jim Lampley, analyst Max Kellerman, ringside scorer Harold Lederman and former boxing champions Andre Ward and Roy Jones Jr., who worked as freelance commentators, were notified Thursday morning of the decision. Of the group, only Lampley is expected to remain with HBO Sports.
“My thirty-year love affair with HBO continues, and I am motivated and prepared to support storytelling initiatives in the sports department. So I will remain in place,” Lampley said in a statement.
The decision ends what is HBO’s longest-running programming franchise, having aired its first match on Jan. 22 1973 — “The Sunshine Showdown” between Joe Frazier and George Foreman — just a few months after the channel debuted.
The network has televised more than 1,000 matches since, with Jones Jr. and Oscar de la Hoya tying for the most appearances at 32 apiece.
HBO Boxing production staff, which included play-by-play announcer Jim Lampley, analyst Max Kellerman, ringside scorer Harold Lederman and former boxing champions Andre Ward and Roy Jones Jr., who worked as freelance commentators, were notified Thursday morning of the decision. Of the group, only Lampley is expected to remain with HBO Sports.
“My thirty-year love affair with HBO continues, and I am motivated and prepared to support storytelling initiatives in the sports department. So I will remain in place,” Lampley said in a statement.
The decision ends what is HBO’s longest-running programming franchise, having aired its first match on Jan. 22 1973 — “The Sunshine Showdown” between Joe Frazier and George Foreman — just a few months after the channel debuted. The network has televised more than 1,000 matches since, with Jones Jr. and Oscar de la Hoya tying for the most appearances at 32 apiece.(Yahoo Sports)
