HBO Sports Announcement: Hershman To Exit, End of 2015

Published

9 years ago

October 30, 2015

He was a Showtime guy who was handed the reins to the HBO boxing vessel, and for four years, most interesting and often tumultuous ones within the sweet science realm, Ken Hershman navigated the ups and downs and all arounds with competence.

Come the open of 2015, though, HBO boxing and sports will have a new top dog, with word coming on Friday, Oct. 30 that Hershman is leaving the cabler.

Exactly why hasn’t been made public; an HBO release doesn’t give much in the way of specifics, beyond pointing out some of the upsides to the Hershman tenure.

I reached out to the executive, and Hershman responded in jocular fashion.

“I thought he did a great job!” he said, tongue in cheek, in response to a Tweet I put out there, asking, “Thoughts on the stint? Who could replace him?”

In my interactions with him, he’s always been polite and typically he’s offered up some personal philosophy along with information. There will be ups and downs, he’d say, and things will play out a certain way, and I won’t get too heated, too caught up in the drama, because a clear head is a wiser state of being in the long run.

If you had to point to one signature status which will perhaps stand out when boiling down his time at the rudder, it would be the fact that Floyd Mayweather completed a six fight deal with rival Showtime after HBO had chosen not to be top bidder when their contract with “Money” ended. Thus, it was Showtime and CBS on the hook for the richest individual money deal ever afforded to an athlete, and the possible upsides, and inevitable stresses and headaches that come with doing business with the braggadocious P4P ace, now “retired.” When Hershman leaves his office for the last time, fighters associated with HBO, contracted to them, will not include Mayweather, but will include surging Eastern Euro power-hitters Gennady Golovkin, Sergey Kovalev, and Canelo Alvarez…they represent new blood, and figure to have long strings of action left within them. But none have come within sniffing distance of Mayweathers’ ability to attract money.

Also, Hershman looked to diversify, choosing to do business with an assortment of promoters: Top Rank, and Golden Boy (sans Richard Schaefer), and Main Events and K2 and now Roc Nation are seen as HBO-compatible, while Al Haymon product is not. That choice is still playing out and it’s being decided if that’s the wise play.

But of course, there will be no shortage of opinions on the job Hershman did. As a fight fan, I’m always wanting the best fighting the best, and sometimes we get that from all, really, powers that be at all the bigwig content providers, but too often we don’t. Too often, fight fans are presented “exhibitions,” matches that are basically foregone conclusions as to who will win, and this is done in order to build athletes into “name” attractions. There were times when I like to think if I were in the Hershman chair, and signing that check, I would have pressed harder to have more pick ’em fights on my air. Could he have played more harder ball with some promoters? Maybe so…

Theories will abound why now….why is he choosing to move on. Has he broken bread with Haymon and might he be joining Team Al after December ends? Doubtful, very doubtful; can’t see those two getting onto a similar let alone the same page. I think it possible Hershman exits the fight game sphere; he seems to like and respect the sport, but it’s not in his blood like other more addicted types.

You have to know that his job is pretty much a 24-7 one, and the burnout factor, especially for someone who is married, with kids they might like to interact with, is considerable. I saw Hershman Monday, at a screening for the new HBO Kareem Abdul Jabbar; he looked in fine form at Time Warner Center, no illness weighing him down or anything. Maybe he had his fill of those midnight phone calls from this manager or that promoter, needing to process some deal point or another, home/work balance be damned.

Some will assume that he’s being pushed out. This is quite often the case when people leave high profile, well paying jobs, all of us know this. We see wording oftentimes that people are leaving to “spend more time with family.” Well, they didn’t take such a coveted position because they prize quality home time over anything else; but maybe he is wanting a better balance.

Detractors will cite some stats and say that the HBO boxing franchise is on the wane. Terence Crawford fought in a main event and the numbers from the whole show were not as robust as in 2014, they’ll note; the 795,000 watchers were 24% lower than from an HBO 2014 show. Then again, in 2015, World Championship Boxing main events in prime time are up 14% in viewership vs. 2014. Also, the Canelo-James Kirkland, Wladimir Klitschko-Bryant Jennings, Miguel Cotto-Daniel Geale bouts all were watched by more people than any premium cable bout put together in 2014.

So, we look forward…who will plop their bout in the Hershman chair, and put their POV stamp on the HBO boxing brand? Could young VP Peter Nelson get a title upgrade? I messaged him and hadn’t heard back. You’ll note that Hershman is an attorney by trade, a reality he shares with the guy running Showtimes’ boxing business, Stephen Espinoza. It might be an indictment of the sport and the wider world that maybe being a lawyer is seen as an overwhelming attribute for whoever, or maybe we get a more hardcore “boxing” guy to gain steering status.

Readers, feel free to offer your take on this development, what it might mean for HBO boxing, any theories on the new chief…

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Here is the release HBO sent out announcing the surprise shift:

Ken Hershman Announces Decision to Step Down as President of HBO Sports^® at the End of 2015

Oct. 30, 2015 — Ken Hershman, who has led HBO Sports since 2012, will step down from his current role as President of the division at the end of the year. The announcement was made today by HBO.

Hershman, who will remain in his role through the end of December, will work with Mike Lombardo, President, HBO Programming, on a smooth transition of the leadership role in the sports division.

“Ken’s dedication and commitment to our sports division is deeply appreciated,” said Lombardo. “His approach to rebuilding our boxing franchise was strategic and creative which led HBO Sports to great success. All of us here are grateful and proud of the success Ken and the HBO Sports team have had over the past four years in delivering unparalleled sports programming to our subscribers. We wish him all the best in his next challenge.”

With nearly a quarter-century of television experience, Hershman departs HBO with the sports division enjoying a record-setting year.

“I am particularly proud of what I accomplished and believe now is the perfect time to hand over the reins to someone new,” said Hershman. “I’ve had the distinct privilege of having been involved in many of boxing’s biggest and most thrilling moments, including the Mike Tyson era, creating the Super Six Tournament, and, staging the biggest pay-per-view event of all-time this past May in Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao. I have also had the privilege to steward over some of the best sports shows on television, including 24/7, Real Sports and Hard Knocks, and to work with some of the best talent in television, both behind and in front of the camera.”

“HBO Sports is well positioned for the future, especially in the boxing arena, with nine of the top 10 pound-for-pound fighters in the sport today, including the world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, Canelo Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin, Sergey Kovalev, Miguel Cotto, Andre Ward, Terence Crawford and many others. I cannot wait to watch these great fighters exhibit their skills, but from the vantage point of a passionate boxing fan,” said Hershman.

Hershman joined HBO from Showtime, where he had been Executive Vice President, General Manager, Showtime Sports & Event Programming since October 2003. He developed the innovative “Super Six World Boxing Classic” and spearheaded the acquisition of the NFL franchise “Inside the NFL,” which won the Sports Emmy for Outstanding Studio Show in its first year under Hershman’s administration.

Hershman joined Showtime in July 1992 as Counsel, and was elevated to a senior programming role in January 2001. Prior to Showtime, Hershman was an associate at the law firm of Shearman & Sterling in their Corporate Finance group. Hershman is a graduate of the Fordham University School of Law, where he was a member of the International Law Journal and received his B.A. degree With Distinction from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. in 1985.

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Michael Woods

Results and Recaps from Las Vegas where Richard Torrez Jr Mauled Guido Vianello

Published

15 hours ago

April 6, 2025

Arne K. Lang

Results-and-Recaps-from-Las-Vegas-where-Richard-Torrez-Jr-Mauled-Guido-Vianello

LAS VEGAS, NV – In an inelegant but wildly entertaining rumble, Richard Torrez Jr, bullied his way past Guido Vianello. The 10-round heavyweight contest, an appealing match-up between former Olympians, was the featured attraction on a Top Card at the Pearl Theater at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas.

Torrez, the pride of Tulare, California and a 5/2 favorite, promised to show more dimensions to his game, but was the same old frenetic bull-rusher. Torrez likes to dig inside and smother the punches of his opponent who is invariably taller. His chief asset is an engine that never quits.

The early rounds were marred by a lot of wrestling. Referee Tom Taylor, who had a difficult assignment, took a point away from Vianello for holding in round two, a controversial call although it proved to be a moot point.

Vianello, who was coming off an eighth-round stoppage of Russian-Canadian behemoth Arslanbek Makhmudov, wasn’t able to build on that victory and declined to 13-3-1 (11). Torrez, competing in his first scheduled 10-rounder, improved to 13-0 (11).

Co-Feature

In a tactical fight (translation: no fireworks) Lindolfo Delgado remained undefeated with a 10-round majority decision over Elvis Rodriguez. The scores were 95-95 and 96-94 twice.

Delgado, a 2016 Olympian for Mexico, won over the judges by keeping Rodriguez on his back foot for most of the fight. However, Rodriguez won the most lopsided round of the bout, the ninth, when he hurt the Mexican with a punch that sent him staggering into the ropes.

Delgado, a 3/2 favorite, improved to 23-0 (17). It was the second pro loss for Rodriguez (17-2-1), a 29-year-old Dominican who trains in Los Angeles under Freddie Roach.

Abdullah Mason

Cleveland southpaw Abdullah Mason celebrated his 21^st birthday by winning his first scheduled 10-rounder. Mason (18-0, 16 KOs) scored three knockdowns before the fight was waived off after the sixth frame.

Mason’s opponent, Mexican southpaw Carlos Ornelas (28-5), fought a curious fight. He wasn’t knocked down three times, not exactly; he merely thought it prudent to take a knee and after each occasion he did his best work, if only for a few brief moments.

Ornelas, a late sub for Giovanni Cabrera who had to pull out with an eye injury, was clearly buzzed after the third “knockdown.” The doctor examined him after the sixth round and when Ornelas left his corner with an unsteady gait, referee Raul Caiz Jr had seen enough.

Other Bouts

Featherweight Albert “Chop Chop” Gonzalez, a protégé of Robert Garcia, improved to 14-0 (7) with an 8-round unanimous decision over Australia’s durable but limited Dana Coolwell. The judges had it 80-72, 78-74, and 77-75.

The granite-chinned Coolwell (13-4) was making his second start in a U.S. ring after taking Shu Shu Carrington the distance in an 8-rounder underneath the Jake Paul-Mike Tyson exhibition at the stadium of the Dallas Cowboys.

SoCal bantamweight Steven Navarro, the TSS 2024 Prospect of the Year, stepped up in class and scored a fourth-round stoppage of Mexicali’s Juan Esteban Garcia who was winning the fourth round when Navarro (6-0, 5 KOs) reversed the momentum with a flourish, forcing the stoppage at the 2:46 mark.

Junior middleweight Art Barrera Jr (8-0, 6 KOs) polished off Daijon Gonzalez in the second round. Barrera decked Gonzalez with a hard left hook and when Gonzales got to his feet, he was immediately greeted with another devastating punch which forced the referee to intervene. The official time was 2:56 of round two. A 32-year-old campaigner from Davenport, Iowa, Gonzalez brought a 12-5 record but had scored only one win vs. an opponent with a winning record.

Jahi Tucker, a 22-year-old middleweight from Deer Park, Long Island, scores his best win to date, winning a lopsided decision over former British junior middleweight champion Troy Williamson. The scores were 99-89 across the board.

Tucker (14-1-1) scored two knockdowns. The first in the second round was called a slip but overruled on replay. The second, in round eight, was the result of a left hook. Williamson stayed on his feet but the ropes held him up and it was properly scored a knockdown. The Englishman, 34, fell to 20-4-1 in what was his U.S. debut.

In a junior lightweight bour slated for eight rounds, 21-year-old Las Vegas southpaw DJ Zamora, advanced to 16-0 (11 KOs) with a fourth-round stoppage of Tex-Mex campaigner Hugo Alberto Castaneda (15-2-1). The official time was 1:24 of round four.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams / Top Rank

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Filip Hrgovic Defeats Joe Joyce in Manchester

Published

1 day ago

April 5, 2025

David A. Avila

Filip-Hrgovic-Fefeats-Joe-Joe-Joyce-in-Manchester

In a battle to retain heavyweight contender status, Filip Hrgovic out-fought Joe “The Juggernaut” Joyce to win by unanimous decision on Saturday on Queensberry Promotions’ first card on DAZN.

It was a heavyweight brawl.

Croatia’s Hrgovic (18-1, 14 KOs) was the more accurate puncher over England’s Joyce (16-4, 15 KOs) in their heavyweight title fight at Manchester, England. Both were coming off losses.

Hrgovic, 32, entered the boxing ring as a replacement for Joyce’s original foe Dillian Whyte. Though short on notice, he worked with Abel Sanchez who formerly trained Joyce. It proved to be a wise move.

From the opening round Hrgovic opened-up with a battering attack, especially with the one-two combination that rocked Joyce repeatedly in the first two rounds. The British fighter known for his rock-hard chin, withstood the challenge.

“He is a beast,” said Hrgovic. “This guy is like steel.”

For the first half of the 10-round heavyweight clash, Hrgovic was the aggressor and the much more accurate puncher. Joyce seemed unsteady on his legs but every round he seemed to gain more stability and confidence.

By midway, Joyce resorted to his juggernaut ways and began to stalk the Croatian fighter whom he defeated in the amateurs a dozen years ago.

Though Joyce had lost by knockout to Zhilei Zhang and was knocked down by Derek Chisora, he was able to remain upright throughout the match with Hrgovic despite some wicked shots.

Just when it seemed Joyce might take over the fight, Hrgovic opened-up with an eight-punch volley in the eighth round that had the British heavyweight reeling. The fight turned around.

Hrgovic seemed to get a second wind and began connecting with left hooks and pinpoint accurate combinations. Joyce tried to fight back but his accuracy was off. The Croatian fighter regained the momentum and never allowed Joyce back in the fight.

After 10 rounds all three judges scored for Hrgovic 97-93, 96-95, 98-92.

“I came to fight on short notice. Thanks to God he gave me strength,” said Hrgovic. “Thanks to Joe for the opportunity.”

The Croatian fighter said he seeks a fight with IBF heavyweight titlist Daniel Dubois.

“This guy beat Dubois and I beat him,” said Hrgovic who lost to Dubois a year ago but defeated Joyce who knocked out Dubois when they fought.

Other Bouts

Heavyweight David Adeleye (14-1, 13 KOs) knocked out Jeamie Tshikeva (8-2, 5 KOs) during a clinch and interference by the referee. It remained a knockout win for Adeleye at 55 seconds of the sixth round. Adeleye becomes the British heavyweight champion.

Super lightweight Jack Rafferty (26-0, 17 KOs) knocked out Cory O’Regan (14-1, 3 KOs) in a punch seemingly delivered during a clinch in the fifth round. The match was stopped at 2:26 of the sixth round.

British Olympian Delicious Orie (1-0) made his pro debut and won by decision over Milos Veletic (3-8) in a heavyweight contest.

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Avila Perspective, Chap. 320: Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame, Heavyweights and More

Published

2 days ago

April 4, 2025

David A. Avila

Avila Perspective, Chap. 320: Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame, Heavyweights and More

Many of the best female fighters of all time including Christy Martin, Laila Ali and others are gathering in the glitzy lights of Las Vegas this week.

Several hundred fans including current and former world champions are attending the International Women’s Boxing Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday, April 4 and 5^th at the Orleans Casino in Las Vegas.

It’s one of my favorite events.

Where else can you talk to the female pioneers and stars of the 1980s and 1990s?

The last time I attended two years ago, Germany’s super star Regina Halmich spoke to the packed house about her career in boxing. She and Daisy Lang were two female world champions who sold out arenas wherever they fought. The pair of blonde fighters proved that female prizefighting could succeed.

Many times, I debated with promoters who believed women’s boxing could not succeed in the USA. Though it was popular in Germany and Mexico, various organizers felt female boxing was not appealing to the American masses.

Now promoters and media networks know women’s boxing and women’s sports have crowd appeal.

Expected to attend the IWBHOF event at Orleans will be Mexico’s Jessica Chavez and Jackie Nava who will be inducted into the women’s hall of fame along with Vaia Zaganas of Canada among many others.

It’s also a gathering place for many of the top proponents of women’s boxing including the organizers of this event such as Sue Fox whose idea spawned the IWBHOF.

Each event is unique and special.

Many of my favorite people in boxing attend this celebration of women’s boxing. Stop by the Orleans Casino on the second floor. You won’t be disappointed.

Heavyweight prospects

Heavyweights take the forefront this weekend in two pivotal battles in different continents.

In England, a pair of contenders looking to maintain their footing in the heavyweight mountain will clash as Joe Joyce (16-3, 15 KOs) meets Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic (17-1, 14 KOs) at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester. DAZN will stream the event.

Both lost their last match and need a win to remain relevant. Joyce has lost his three of his last four, most recently coming up short in a riveting slugfest with Derek Chisora.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, Nevada, two young heavyweights looking to crack contender status clash as undefeated Richard Torrez (12-0,11 KOs) fights Italy’s Guido Vianello (13-2-1,11 KOs) at the Palms Casino.

Both are Olympians who can crack and each can take a blow.

The winner moves up into contention and the other will need to scrape and claw back into relevance.

Coming up

April 12 in Atlantic City: Jarron Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) vs Eimantis Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs) IBF welterweight title.

April 12 Albuquerque: Fernando Vargas Jr. (16-0) vs Gonzalo Gaston (23-7); Shane Mosley Jr. (22-4) vs DeAundre Pettus (12-4).

April 19 Oceanside, Calif: Gabriela Fundora (15-0, 7 KOs) vs Marilyn Badillo (19-0-1, 3 KOs). Also, Charles Conwell (21-0, 16 KOs) vs Jorge Garcia (32-4, 26 KOs).

April 26 Tottenham Stadium, London, England; Conor Benn (23-0) vs Chris Eubank Jr. (34-3); Aaron McKenna (19-0, 10 KOs) vs Liam Smith (33-4, 20 Kos).

Fights to Watch

Sat. DAZN 11 a.m. Joe Joyce (16-3) vs Filip Hrgovic (17-1).

Sat. ESPN+ 2:30 p.m. Richard Torrez (12-0) vs Guido Vianello (13-2-1).

Sat. AMAZON PRIME VIDEO 8:00 8 p.m. Tim Tszyu (24-2) vs. Joey Spencer (19-1)

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