HBO 'Getting out of Live Boxing'

**Spicoli** · 09-28-2018 02:51 PM

Shame really but their heart and investment hasn't been in it for awhile. I love the irony after years of listening to many fans run on about "they're just ESPN types" and holding HBO up as some holy grail of being a star. Sure it was always a nice stage and great presentation with some awesome fights but it's espn expanding and it has always been the work horse bringing future..now current..major players into the home. Being honest I won't miss Lampley yelling for network fighters but do in a way will miss Kellerman who is sure to be scooped up by another platform-network. He can be annoying but of the guys on the mic he actually came in as a fan first all the way back to doing local public access shows and a great run on ESPN. The arguments debates with Teddy were superb

.

El Kabong · 09-28-2018 03:14 PM

As a fan, after watching and listening to GGG-Canelo II I say GOOD FUCKING RIDDANCE!

Max Kellerman is a disgrace to the sports world.....not just to boxing but to the whole of the sports world. He got ESPN-ed. He has been in Connecticut too long and it's no longer about the actual game or match anymore as made clear in the GGG-Canelo II fight "The story of the fight"......The what of the what? This was boxing, not pro wrestling, it's not a fucking story going on that has to be narrated by that herpes infested jackass. He's gone full SJW and it's no longer about sports for him, quite clear....there's 0 need for NON sports bullshit to be ham handedly forced into sports. I'm fucking tired of it, I don't watch the NFL anymore, I don't watch college football anymore, I used to live for that sport and now it's dead to me. Boxing has enough troubles it doesn't need this bullshit.

Larry Merchant was an old hack, Jim Lampley is a drama queen, Roy Jones Jr is all too eager to see favorites fall.

I don't want announcers or color guys rooting for a fighter, just call the fucking fight talk strategy and let the fans do the cheering.

Boxing needs to get back to its roots. I wish someone like Dana White would make that happen, I loathe Dana White but you cannot second guess what he's done for UFC. We need widely available fights on the cheap for the fans and we need announcers who are about the sport and not what fucking narratives they can push.

**Alpha** · 09-28-2018 04:06 PM

Sad, but we all saw this coming.

**powerpuncher** · 09-28-2018 04:35 PM

I’m actually glad this is happening. TV is heading towards things like ESPN + and DAZN. The sooner it all switches over the better.

**Ron Swanson** · 09-28-2018 04:36 PM

Good riddance, get all blatant racism out of the sport and let success be on merit.

**walrus** · 09-28-2018 05:10 PM

I always enjoyed hbo boxing.

**TitoFan** · 09-28-2018 05:29 PM

"Storytelling". Ahhh yes..... I much prefer to watch documentaries on Andre the Giant and Training Camp with the (cough) Cleveland Browns than boxing on HBO.

As Master said, a long-winded way of saying they're throwing in the towel on boxing.

Well the hell with them. I enjoyed watching HBO Boxing over the years, but like many above, found it hard to stomach the groveling of Lampley and Max for certain fighters.

I hope another network picks up the slack, because like some others have said, the enjoyment of watching a championship fight on the big screen with a bunch of buddies is unparalleled.

**Alpha** · 09-28-2018 05:35 PM

HBOs production was always top notch, I hope many of the guys behind the scenes get picked up by other networks.

**mikeeod** · 09-28-2018 06:30 PM

Hope this isn’t the beginning of the end for boxing. Showtime is going strong, so it likely isn’t the case, but I hate how the media have made boxing out as a barbaric sport. American football is headed in the same direction.

I was thinking about it the other day and there just isn’t the depth of fighters any more. Guys fight bums for their first 35 fights or so, and then take on a bump in competition and look like world beaters. I get hyped for a guy like Crawford and believe he is elite and then I look at the names he has beaten and realize- it’s a joke. Oscar, Shane Mosley, Sweet Pea, James Toney...etc., these guys fought way better competition before they were considered a top guy.

Hoping I’m just in a sour mood, but I just see the sport going down fast. Sorry for making this thread a downer. News caught me off guard and hit me hard.