By Mike Coppinger

Starting in January 2012, HBO plans to introduce a new proving ground for boxing prospects in the form of a new series similar to ShoBox: The New Generation.

Each month, there will be at least one tripleheader aired, with four major promoters – Top Rank, Golden Boy, DiBella Entertainment and Gary Shaw Productions – each being assigned three months with which to stage bouts on HBO 2, according to a report by Dan Rafael of ESPN.com.

BoxingScene.com caught up with Lou DiBella at his Broadway Boxing show in Brooklyn, N.Y. this past Saturday to get his thoughts on the new series.

“I think it will be a very good platform, because HBO needs a feeder system and they need to develop fighters,” said DiBella, who was the Head of Programming at HBO Sports for 10 years. “ShoBox might be the best series to my mind right now in boxing and I think it’s a good opportunity for HBO to develop some kids.”

Even with the changing of the guard at HBO Sports, DiBella is certain that the series will go on as planned, stating that HBO has “already committed that they’re doing it.”

Mike Coppinger is a regular boxing freelancer for USA TODAY and Ring Magazine. He’s a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America, the Ring Ratings Advisory Panel and the Yahoo! Sports Boxing Panel. Follow him on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger.