As HBO prepares to shut the lights off ( this year) on their boxing division after a great 45 years, they will sadly be missed. HBO has broadcasted some of the biggest and best fights in all of boxing history. Just as importantly their broadcast teams have been second to none and have really bought boxing up to the next level of professionalism. Looking back at the history of boxing, HBO will go down as the true innovators of boxing. HBO’s boxing Library is the best collection in the world, not only is it the biggest collection in the world but it is by far the most comprehensive and high-quality library (I would not be to quick to sell the extense library because it has much greater value than the executives think).

On Saturday October 27th in New York City, HBO has a great card lined-up, including a Super Middleweight fight in the Main Event. Miracle Man Daniel Jacobs who not only has big power but is a great boxer, takes on undefeated and #1 ranked -The Technician, Sergiy Derevyanchenko. Ukrainian Derevianchenko also has great power and is considered by many as a future of the middleweight division. This will all be presented by the greatest broadcast boxing team on the planet.

Hopefully ESPN can take a page from HBO’s boxing presentation. Kellerman is on both shows and can help, it seems that every time ESPN SportsCenter covers boxing they have a smirk on their face like it’s not a real sport and everything is just a joke. And instead of just giving Teddy Atlas two minutes of post fight air time and constantly interrupting him the folks at ESPN should give him a lot more respect because he knows more about boxing then the rest of the ESPN family combined. And sure he can be wrong sometimes when he makes predictions, but I would rather listen to him give real insight about the fighters then some guy who covers baseball or football and knows nothing about boxing. Teddy’s Enthusiasm and love for boxing is second to none and it makes people watching on TV so happy to listen and watch him.

Before the great middleweight super-fight,
Junior lightweight champion Alberto Machado will defend the title against Yuandale Evans who is on a four fight winning streak. Also not televised but should be is a great woman’s boxing rematch, Heather Hardy will fight Shelly Vincent. Their first match was terrific and probably the best women’s boxing contest I have seen, Vincent gave superstar Hardy all she could handle and this rematch will be very exciting and anticipated.

As HBO shuts the lights off on their boxing division this later this year, they have much to be proud of. I can’t wait to watch Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman, Roy Jones Junior and the entire HBO team from The cameramen and set up ring- personal to the guys in the truck do there thing, because they are the best. Rumor has it they will have a bunch of special guests throughout the rest of there programs and the broadcasts should not be missed.

Even though this is the last official boxing year for HBO, they will continue to keep their hat in the boxing forum for future blockbuster boxing fights. There were many reasons for HBO bowing out of boxing, but the main reason, the single main reason was all the layers in the boxing industry, there is middleman after middleman after middleman and sometimes is just simply too difficult or not worth peeling 20 different layers till you get to the results, especially when there is some nice ready to eat fruit always being presented to you without any hassle.

Thank you HBO for making boxing prominent, for keeping it alive and for 45 years of excellence.