HBO putting added focus on 160 to 175 weight classes

By Mike Coppinger

HBO's first pay-per-view card of 2014 is a welterweight matchup, but the network plans to really focus on fights from 160 to 175 pounds this year, HBO's Mark Taffet told BoxingScene.com.

"In the 68 and 75 pound divisions, there are a lot of stories and a lot of stars developing," Taffet said. "There are great things to look forward to. From 160 to 175, there is a great run of fights to come in 2014."

HBO has already televised three main events this year featuring fights in that weight range (Jean Pascal-Lucian Bute, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Bryan Vera 2 and Sergey Kovalev and Cedric Agnew). They have one set for May 31 with the rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves and then a PPV in the works with the proposed fight between Chavez and Gennady Golovkin.

The network also has a compelling middleweight matchup set for May 24 between Matthew Macklin and Daniel Geale.

It appears Adonis Stevenson's departure to Showtime hasn't affected HBO's plans to focus on 160-175.

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