Anybody else remember "KO Nation"?

Mayweather vs. Augustus was on here I think. I remember not thinking it was HBO at first. Makes me want to watch it again.

ko nation I just found this thread after watching Ronald Wtight on KO Nation

Here's a little exert from an older Ring Magazine article about KO Nation: "...Because years earlier, DiBella engaged Dash and Jay-Z in a conversation about cross-marketing boxing and hip-hop when the three found themselves on a plane together. DiBella was cool to the idea then, but the timing of the discussions requires elaboration: It was December 2000, and DiBella was freshly departed from his job overseeing HBO boxing programming. One of his final projects before becoming a promoter was a conceptual blend of hip-hop and boxing called KO Nation. The show fell flat. Designed as a complement to the network's Wold Championship Boxing and Boxing After Dark series, boxing fans were understanding when KO Nation fights didn't equal those of HBO's bigger-budget series, particularly when the results often exceeded expectations. Ratings were another story. Hip-hop fans proved unresponsive to the idea of in your-face representation of their genre by past-prime deejay Ed Lover. KO Nation was abandoned in 2001, after less than two years. DiBella was not around for the funeral, but accepts responsibility for the carcass. "When we came up with the idea of KO Nation, we were primarily a bunch of middle-aged white guys, and so were the producers. The show lacked authenticity," he said. Promoter Cedric Kushner's short-lived Thunderbox series, which also incorporated hip-hop style with three-round fights, proved traditional fans wouldn't buy a series that strayed too far from boxing's center. In a different way, but with much the same result, KO Nation fell flat with the hip-hop audience that regarded the show as a caricature. "When they did hip-hop boxing with KO Nation , they kind of overdid it," Judah said. "Hip-hop plays itself. You can't play hip-hop, it plays itself. You know what I'm saying?"

the shit was terrible but ettienne-brewster was a pretty good scrap

Altugh it sucked I remmeber Jermain Taylor making his pro debut on it,Spadafora fighting Mike Griffith amongst others,Mayweather vs Augustus,Etienne vs Brester,Winky vs McKart II or Etienne vs Couser. Some terrible memories with the announcers.....Kevin Kelley.......meh.

Wasn't Floyd vs Augustus on KO nation? Lol that shit was fukked up. It was. God, that whole set-up was awful.

I'd forgotten all about that. I'd take Kevin over Kellerman or Steward any day of the week. Also ; BUMP for anybody else who remembers this disgrace of a boxing broadcast and wants to share memories. :lol1: I'm one of the few who likes Kellerman. Stewerd is annoying with the" it happened just like I thought it would".

....Neither does anybody else. Shit was retarded. HBO failed big time on that one. :lol1: Yeah I thought the cards sucked.

I could be wrong but I believe Biz Markie was the DJ, if it wasn't him it was some other washed up rapper/DJ.

Yea I remember it I can remember Spaddy fighting on it but I would be hard pressed to name any really good fights that took place on KO nation though. I do remember Ed Lover though, lol.

:lol1: It sucked bad. The only good thing might have been Kelley's commentary, he was pretty good. I'd forgotten all about that. I'd take Kevin over Kellerman or Steward any day of the week. Also ; BUMP for anybody else who remembers this disgrace of a boxing broadcast and wants to share memories. :lol1:

I was wondering what a longtime fan like yourself thought of it. :lol1: :lol1: It sucked bad. The only good thing might have been Kelley's commentary, he was pretty good.

Lamon Brewster I think fought Clifford Etienne on that show. The show sucked. I was wondering what a longtime fan like yourself thought of it. :lol1:

"A short-lived boxing television series which featured up-and-coming boxers in a hip-hop format. Shown on Saturday afternoons throughout 2000 and 2001, the show featured dancers and hip-hop performances, and was hosted by Fran Charles and Kevin Kelley. Ed Lover was the "face" of the show, and was the ring announcer. The show ultimately failed to attract its target audience and drew low ratings. The show was cancelled in 2001."

Lamon Brewster I think fought Clifford Etienne on that show. The show sucked.

I didn't become a hardcore fan until around 05...I remember hearing of KO Nation tho...

I do think Ed Love was on it. It was Ed ; I just checked on imdb. What a retarded concept for a boxing show. Hey guys, let's do a monthly boxing installment with some hip hop flavor, and have Larry Merchant do commentary while Ed Lover spins records. Sound good? That guy should be stabbed in the face with a BBQ fork.

I do think Ed Love was on it.

Part of me wants to see if I can find "episodes" of it for download now. Just for the comedic value.

That program was a joke. Wasn't "Ed Lover" or "Biz Markie" also on it? I think it was Ed, but for some reason I keep thinking it might've been the Biz. I'm going to bump this thread tomorrow when more of the regulars are on. Not many of the NSB crowd knew boxing existed before De La Hoya/Mayweather. :lol1: