Mayweather-Ortiz 24/7 Debuts Aug. 27

HBO SPORTS’ 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ,

A FOUR-EPISODE, ALL-ACCESS SERIES LEADING UP TO THE

PAY-PER-VIEW SHOWDOWN AT THE MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS,

DEBUTS AUG. 27, EXCLUSIVELY ON HBO

NEW YORK, June 28, 2011 – HBO Sports’ groundbreaking “24/7” reality franchise, which has captured 14 Sports Emmy^® Awards, returns in August for its tenth boxing installment with 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ, an all-new four-episode, all-access series, it was announced today by Ross Greenburg, president, HBO Sports.  Debuting SATURDAY, AUG. 27 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), the series will follow two elite fighters in one of boxing’s most competitive divisions as they prepare for their intriguing pay-per-view showdown at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sept. 17.

“ ‘24/7’ excels when there are great characters and compelling drama, and this fight has both,” noted Greenburg.  “The return of Floyd Mayweather, with his larger-than-life personality, and the odyssey of Victor Ortiz, with his inspiring tale of perseverance and achievement, provide the perfect backdrop for this new edition of ‘24/7.’ ”

Episodes two and three of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ debut on subsequent Saturdays – Sept. 3 (10:00-10:30 p.m.) and 10 (10:00-10:30 p.m.) – while the finale debuts Friday, Sept. 16 (9:00-9:30 p.m.), the night before the high-stakes welterweight bout.  All four episodes will have multiple replay dates on HBO, and the series will also be available on HBO On Demand^® and HBO GO.

24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ will provide exclusive behind-the-scenes access, along with in-depth interviews, as the fighters prepare for their 147-pound world title fight.  A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., the talented and opinionated Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) has evolved into a celebrated superstar, and now resides in Las Vegas.  Kansas native Victor Ortiz (29-2-2, 22 KOs) survived a turbulent upbringing and currently lives in Oxnard, Cal.  He shocked the boxing world with a win over the previously undefeated Andre Berto on HBO last April, claiming a 147-pound title.

This fast-paced series will capture the interactions and rigors both men experience in preparing for their contest.  Making his fifth “24/7” appearance, Mayweather is expected to surround himself with a familiar contingent of family and friends as he trains with trusted longtime trainer and uncle Roger Mayweather.  Ortiz is making his “24/7” debut.

24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ is the latest installment of the acclaimed “24/7” franchise that began in 2007.  At the 2011 Sports Emmy^® Awards, “24/7” was recognized with two Emmys^® for production excellence and is the most honored sports series on television over the past four years, earning 14 Sports Emmys^®.

The St. Petersburg Times has noted, “The best sports reality show on television is HBO’s ‘24/7.’ ”

On Saturday, Sept. 17 at 9:00 p.m. (ET)/6:00 p.m. (PT), HBO Pay-Per-View presents “Mayweather vs. Ortiz,” live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The executive producers of 24/7 MAYWEATHER/ORTIZ are Ross Greenburg and Rick Bernstein; senior producer, Dave Harmon; coordinating producers, Scott Boggins and Bentley Weiner; producer, Abtin Motia; writer, Aaron Cohen.  Liev Schreiber narrates.