By Rick Reeno

BoxingScene.com was advised by numerous sources that HBO’s recent meetings with WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto were held without the knowledge of Berto’s promoter Lou DiBella.

BoxingScene’s TK Stewart authored a recent piece with information that Berto met with HBO on Monday and Tuesday to discuss his future with the network and potential fight options. After the piece ran, I contacted DiBella to see if there was any movement from the meetings. Judging by DiBella’s flabbergasted reaction, it was very clear that he was unaware of the meetings. DiBella refused to comment when BoxingScene contacted him on Thursday to confirm that HBO, without his knowledge, held meetings with Berto on Monday and Tuesday.

Industry sources believe the network held meetings with Berto for two reasons:

1. To prevent any chance of Berto jumping over to their cable rival, Showtime. After being unable to secure a 2009 date on HBO, DiBella was going to explore his options. Showtime was very interested in Berto and put a two-fight deal on the table.

2. To prevent the possibility of Berto fighting any opponent other than Shane Mosley.

It’s no secret that HBO wants to stage a Mosley-Berto fight in January. If Berto accepted a two-fight deal with Showtime, Mosley would be left without a January dance partner. If you’ve been following the recent headlines, Mosley/Golden Boy Promotions are not exactly happy with the network after they bumped Mosley’s return to a date of December 26 – and then refused to go forward with the date.

Regardless of the reasons, under no circumstances should HBO or any network hold meetings with a fighter without the involvement of his promoter. It’s almost becoming like the Wild West at HBO. The scenario is reminiscent of a piece I penned back in 2006 [Click Here], which detailed a situation where HBO held a backdoor meeting with Winky Wright. The meeting was held without the knowledge of Wright’s then-promoter Gary Shaw. HBO was under heavy fire for the Wright situation in 2006, and here we are again.

If what I’m hearing is true, and I’m almost positive it is, DiBella would certainly have grounds to pursue a legal action if the network placed influence on his fighter to make decisions in the best interest of HBO. Time and time again, promoters have accused HBO of acting like a promotional company and not a network. HBO’s latest maneuvering adds a lot of weight to that argument.