HBO head of sports Ken Hershman made some news earlier this week when he announced that HBO would not be doing business with Goldenboy in the foreseeable future.
It was a surprise to boxing fans as many expected that HBO would replace the loss of Floyd Mayweather with self described “Mr. HBO” Adrien Broner as their marquee fighter. However HBO has decided to go in a new direction and that does not involve Goldenboy fighters.
While Goldenboy is not the only promotional company out there, HBO since the change in leadership has went through some what of a slip in power. Before HBO lost Mayweather, Top Rank moved Manny Pacquiao over to Showtime in May of 2011.
Coincidentally HBO president Ken Hershman was actually president at Showtime when Pacquiao and Top Rank moved over to Showtime and it should be no surprise that Manny Pacquiao and Top Rank were once again back at HBO when Hershman went over to HBO.
While Showtime hired Goldenboy’s attorney Stephen Espinoza as their new president of sports and Ken Hershman moved from Showtime to HBO; the writing was on the wall that two of the biggest cable companies and the two major boxing promoters would align with one or the other. 2012 was a great year of boxing for both companies.
HBO showcased, Alvarado-Rios, Marquez-Pacquiao 4, Chavez-Martinez to name a few, Showtime was not to be outdone with Trout-Cotto, Mares-Moreno and the final fight for Ricky Hatton.
HBO and Showtime feels similar to the Yankees and Red Sox.
There was a time when the Yankees were the best year in and year out and the Red Sox were 
not quite on the same level then the tables finally turned in 2004 and the Red Sox have gained significant ground on the Yankees. Showtime is on a similar path in that over the past year, they have been slowly been gaining ground on their network rival. From continuing to Showcase Shobox: Next generation to undercard fights on Showtime Extreme to their signing of Floyd Mayweather and now most if not all of the Goldenboy stable, including Broner, Matthysse, Khan, Garcia, Ortiz and who many believe is the next big superstar Canelo Alvarez. Showtime is looking to become the #1 boxing network this year and for many years to come.
HBO is rounding the wagons.
Richard Schaffer stated that he has not spoken to HBO president Ken Hershman since last November or December and so while it is surprising that HBO is cutting all ties at the moment with Goldenboy, nothing lasts forever. The real question should be, if HBO views Goldenboy as not fitting their “business philosophies”, then what exactly is their business philosophies?
Brandon Rios would be the first name HBO may be looking at as their marquee fighter.
Manny Pacquiao may be the biggest name HBO has now, however with the way his career is ending, his best days may be behind him. Rios is a young and exciting fighter, add that he is Mexican-American and HBO may be on to something. There is also a fighter by the name of Gennady Golovkin. However, if the first 2 and a half months are any indication of where HBO is headed, then it is anyone’s guess.
Swing and a miss.
HBO created 24/7 and face-off- Those two shows are great reality T.V., Cotto-Margarito was classic. However, the current “Road to” featuring Brandon Rios and Mike Alvarado was meh. It lacked actual suspense and and excitement for the upcoming rematch and the fight is already being hyped as another possible fight of the year candidate. So, why didn’t HBO make the show worth watching? Perhaps other boxing fans found it exciting but it felt forced and nothing made me as a casual fan want to watch the rematch, perhaps it’s a sign of what to come from HBO?
“If it works, don’t fix it”
The new HBO World Championship Boxing intro is just awful. While I can also admit that the old one wasn’t the best either, the semi-truck and the new theme music is not an upgrade- Add the new HBO Boxing logo and that thing looks like a Florida sign. I suppose Hershman is trying to put his own stamp on HBO Boxing.
Out of left field
Maybe HBO is looking to get back into the MMA business. There was a time when HBO was looking at getting involved with UFC. While UFC has a contract with FOX at one time under Hersman at Showtime there was a little company called Strikeforce that had fights on Showtime… Just a thought.