Cable television channel HBO decided to stop broadcasting boxing fights on its programming after 45 years, the network announced.
“Starting in 2019, we will stop broadcasting boxing programming live on HBO,” HBO Sports said in a statement.
“As always, we will remain open to events that fit in with our mixed programming. This could include boxing, just not in the near future, “he added.
The union between HBO and the sport began in 1973 when George Foreman ended Joe Frazier’s reign in heavyweights.
The channel was a pioneer in its pay-per-view coverage of boxing. Throughout these decades it has issued more than 1,000 fights, starring several of the greatest in the history of this sport.
His most recent fight was the long-awaited rematch between Mexican Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez and Kazakh Gennady Golovkin for the middleweight title, with a majority decision victory for the Latin American.
HBO will say goodbye to its boxing coverage with the fight between Daniel Jacobs and Sergiy Derevyanchenko, on October 27 at Madison Square Garden in New York, for the middleweight belt by the International Boxing Federation. AFP