I'd Like To Take A Second To Give Props To Ken Hershman And HBO

[paulf]

As fans, we naturally see the bad at HBO and Showtime and all they could be doing to provide more entertaining and better fights, but I just want to take a second to give some love to HBO since Hershman took over.

He's just one guy, and it's clear that Al Haymon's fighters are going to get the red carpet treatment regardless of who is in charge, but I am seeing a lot of good at HBO as well.

When Greenberg was in charge, HBO made it abundantly clear they gave zero ****s about fighters that were not of their target demographic. Time and time again we'd see a fighter get upset by someone, and then we'd see the loser back in a showcase bout and nothing of the winner; Pirog and Adamek come to mind. Those days appear to be over for now.

Look at Gennady Golovkin; not only is HBO getting Golovkin on the air, but they're actually building him into a star; a-side showcases, a two days feature, ect. The fans said they wanted Golovkin, and Hershman listened and gave us Golovkin.

And it looks like we're getting more to come. We're getting Geale vs Barker. Martinez is finally getting the star treatment. Froch-Kessler II was on HBO. Cleverly-Kovalev, if it happens, is going to be picked up by HBO.

A lot of these guys like Golovkin and Kovalev are from obscure places and won't ever have the ethnic fanbase in America that a of other guys do, so it's awesome to see HBO finally stop ignoring them. If a fighter is talented and exciting on a world-class level, I want to ****ing see him regardless of his nationality. This was always the approach Showtime took, showcasing guys like Donaire and Darchinyan, and they had the best boxing programming around.

So thanks Ken Hershman for doing right by us fans. That is a ****ing rarity in boxing these days and it isn't going unnoticed.

[SkillspayBills]

I just want to see good fighters and good fights. If you are bringing them then credit is given to you.

[thuggery]

Yup, I'm glad they're getting exposure on American TV. For some reason a lot of Americans hate guys like GGG, Kovalev, Wlad etc and they believe boring American fighters should get HBO dates over them, just because they're foreign. Foreign boxers are coming to the US and making bank somehow upsets them for some odd reason.

[Porter's Dad]

But in a way, don't you think they have been forced to, with GBP shacking up with Showtime?

If HBO still had the GBP roster to choose from, would they still give a **** about Kovalev?

Possibly not. But even if they are being forced to be creative, I do think Hershman is a massive step up from the awful Greenberg.

[Public_Enemy]

Good post. If you're one of the best, you should be on TV no matter where you're from. The real boxing fans will appreciate it. If you're dedicated to building foreign fighters, the casual fans will come around too.

[paulf]

Yup, I'm glad they're getting exposure on American TV. For some reason a lot of Americans hate guys like GGG, Kovalev, Wlad etc and they believe boring American fighters should get HBO dates over them, just because they're foreign. It's too bad for them though, they're just gonna have to suck it up.

HBO tried to hype fans on Wladimir for years, but it just didn't stick. American fans want an American heavyweight champ, I guess.

Golovkin and Kovalev are a different story however; if the people actually get to see them shine, there is a lot of potential there.

Look at what Pacquiao did with an exciting style and a willingness to fight anyone.

[Infamous]

As fans, we naturally see the bad at HBO and Showtime and all they could be doing to provide more entertaining and better fights, but I just want to take a second to give some love to HBO since Hershman took over.

He's just one guy, and it's clear that Al Haymon's fighters are going to get the red carpet treatment regardless of who is in charge, but I am seeing a lot of good at HBO as well.

When Greenberg was in charge, HBO made it abundantly clear they gave zero ****s about fighters that were not of their target demographic. Time and time again we'd see a fighter get upset by someone, and then we'd see the loser back in a showcase bout and nothing of the winner; Pirog and Adamek come to mind. Those days appear to be over for now.

Look at Gennady Golovkin; not only is HBO getting Golovkin on the air, but they're actually building him into a star; a-side showcases, a two days feature, ect. The fans said they wanted Golovkin, and Hershman listened and gave us Golovkin.

And it looks like we're getting more to come. We're getting Geale vs Barker. Martinez is finally getting the star treatment. Froch-Kessler II was on HBO. Cleverly-Kovalev, if it happens, is going to be picked up by HBO.

A lot of these guys like Golovkin and Kovalev are from obscure places and won't ever have the ethnic fanbase in America that a of other guys do, so it's awesome to see HBO finally stop ignoring them. If a fighter is talented and exciting on a world-class level, I want to ****ing see him regardless of his nationality. This was always the approach Showtime took, showcasing guys like Donaire and Darchinyan, and they had the best boxing programming around.

So thanks Ken Hershman for doing right by us fans. That is a ****ing rarity in boxing these days and it isn't going unnoticed.

I 2nd this... I keep hearing how GBP is taking over, but we're getting good fights on both channels, not just Showtime, except Showtime is showing cherry picks (Broner vs Pauli) while HBO is showing in house that could have been called cherry picks, if the feud wasn't happening (Garcia vs Juanma).

[ИATAS]

Yeah I've always liked that about Hershman and his willingness to showcase foreign fighter. I was pissed off at Greenberg for completely shunning Pirog after his awesome KO of Jacobs. To not even bring him back for at least another undercard fight was shameful.

Hershman understands boxing fans want to see exciting fights and good fights. Golovkin has a big buzz around him. American boxing fans don't care if he's from Kazakhstan, all we care about is that he brings the pain. Greenberg never understood that.

[paulf]

Yeah I've always liked that about Hershman and his willingness to showcase foreign fighter. I was pissed off at Greenberg for completely shunning Pirog after his awesome KO of Jacobs. To not even bring him back for at least another undercard fight was shameful.

Hershman understands boxing fans want to see exciting fights and good fights. Golovkin has a big buzz around him. American boxing fans don't care if he's from Kazakhstan, all we care about is that he brings the pain. Greenberg never understood that.

You put is beautifully. I never got how HBO could shun foreign fighters when Manny Pacquiao was the hottest thing in boxing.