Two weeks ago after discussing the downfall of HBO’s leadership in boxing, HBO announces they are discontinuing Boxing by years end.

HBO has been airing boxing for 45 years starting on January 22, 1973 with Smokin Joe Frazier fighting Big George Foreman. After Broadcasting over 1100 fights including 32 appearances by Oscar De La Hoya, 32 appearances by Roy Jones Jr., 27 appearances by Floyd Mayweather Jr., 24 appearances by Manny Pacquiao, 23 appearances by Bernard Hopkins and a very exciting 17 appearances by Iron Mike Tyson. Many of the most exciting toe to toe boxing bouts in history took place live on HBO. Larry Merchant covered HBO’s boxing cards for 35 years and said this about HBO bowing out of boxing, “Once upon a time, we were a promising kid. Then a challenger. Then a champion, a great champion, a long time champion. And then a has been who finally retired. So long champ.”