Boxing After Dark
Encyclopedia
Boxing After Dark is an HBO boxing
program, premiering in April 1996
, that usually shows fights between well-known contenders, but usually not "championship" or "title" fights. Unlike its sister program, HBO World Championship Boxing, BAD features fighters who are usually moving up from ESPN
's Friday Night Fights or another basic cable boxing program. This is where fighters are given their start to become famous depending on how well they fare on BAD they might have a title fight on World Championship Boxing or could fall back (Ex: Jason Litzau
had many entertaining fights on ESPN before moving up to BAD to face Jose Hernandez
. After Litzau lost by knockout he returned to FNF)
It usually airs at least once a month, following a World Championship Boxing
card on HBO.
Boxing After Dark debuted on HBO Canada
beginning January 17, 2009 at 9:45 p.m. ET/7:45 p.m. MT
with commentators Jim Lampley
and Larry Merchant
. The first fight shown was an exciting 12-rounder featuring a then-unknown Marco Antonio Barrera
and Kennedy McKinney
. Barrera won by KO. Since then, BAD has prided itself on promoting fights between lesser-caliber fighters with something to prove, though occasionally well-known fighters, usually those signed by HBO, may make appearances.
2006
, BAD entered its tenth season with an all-new lineup. Lampley and Merchant would now call only WCB and pay-per-view
fights. Replacing them were Fran Charles
, former ESPN
and Fox Sports Net
analyst Max Kellerman
who receives "something in the neighborhood of $10,000 for each Boxing After Dark telecast" (Thomas Hauser) and former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis
. Kellerman and Lewis had previously appeared on world championship and pay-per-view events for HBO as analysts and continue to do so. This season has featured mostly fights at lesser weights, a BAD staple, as well as new theme music and logo. On March 13, 2007, Fran Charles was replaced by Bob Papa
due to scheduling conflicts with the NFL Network
. Lampley has also on occasion stepped in for Charles.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
program, premiering in April 1996
1996 in television
The year 1996 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1996.For the American TV schedule, see: 1996-97 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
, that usually shows fights between well-known contenders, but usually not "championship" or "title" fights. Unlike its sister program, HBO World Championship Boxing, BAD features fighters who are usually moving up from ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
's Friday Night Fights or another basic cable boxing program. This is where fighters are given their start to become famous depending on how well they fare on BAD they might have a title fight on World Championship Boxing or could fall back (Ex: Jason Litzau
José Hernández (boxer)
José Andrés Hernández is a Mexican professional boxer in the Super Featherweight division.-Professional career:As of May 2007, Hernandez had a career record of 22-4 , including an impressive knockout of highly touted prospect Jason Litzau on December 16, 2006...
had many entertaining fights on ESPN before moving up to BAD to face Jose Hernandez
José Hernández (boxer)
José Andrés Hernández is a Mexican professional boxer in the Super Featherweight division.-Professional career:As of May 2007, Hernandez had a career record of 22-4 , including an impressive knockout of highly touted prospect Jason Litzau on December 16, 2006...
. After Litzau lost by knockout he returned to FNF)
It usually airs at least once a month, following a World Championship Boxing
HBO Boxing
HBO World Championship Boxing is a sports television series, premiering in January 1973 that has shown a number of significant boxing events in the last three decades....
card on HBO.
Boxing After Dark debuted on HBO Canada
HBO Canada
HBO Canada is a Canadian television channel, which airs programming sourced from the HBO subscription service in the United States. HBO Canada is not available as a standalone channel, but as one channel within the TMN and Movie Central multiplexes....
beginning January 17, 2009 at 9:45 p.m. ET/7:45 p.m. MT
History
Boxing After Dark, or BAD for short, got its start in 19961996 in television
The year 1996 in television involved some significant events.Below is a list of television-related events in 1996.For the American TV schedule, see: 1996-97 United States network television schedule.-Events:-Debuts:-1950s:...
with commentators Jim Lampley
Jim Lampley
James "Jim" Lampley is an American sportscaster, news anchor, movie producer, and restaurant owner. Lampley has anchored a record 14 Olympic Games U.S. television broadcasts, most recently the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China....
and Larry Merchant
Larry Merchant
Larry Merchant is an American former sportswriter, a longtime commentator for HBO Sports presentations of HBO World Championship Boxing, Boxing After Dark and HBO pay-per-view telecasts, and is considered "the greatest television boxing analyst of all time" by ESPN Boxing analyst Dan Rafael.-Life...
. The first fight shown was an exciting 12-rounder featuring a then-unknown Marco Antonio Barrera
Marco Antonio Barrera
Marco Antonio Barrera Tapia is a Mexicanprofessional boxer. He has won numerous world titles in three different weight classes; he is a former two-time WBO super bantamweight , WBC, Lineal, & The Ring featherweight , and WBC & IBF super featherweight champion...
and Kennedy McKinney
Kennedy McKinney
Kennedy McKinney is a former professional boxer, who won the bantamweight gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics...
. Barrera won by KO. Since then, BAD has prided itself on promoting fights between lesser-caliber fighters with something to prove, though occasionally well-known fighters, usually those signed by HBO, may make appearances.
Tenth season revamp
In AprilApril 2006
April 2006: ← – January – February – March – April – May – June – July – August – September – October – November – December –→-1 April 2006 :...
2006
2006 in television
2006 in television may refer to:*2006 in American television*2006 in Australian television*2006 in British television*2006 in Canadian television*2006 in Japanese television...
, BAD entered its tenth season with an all-new lineup. Lampley and Merchant would now call only WCB and pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
fights. Replacing them were Fran Charles
Fran Charles
Fran Charles is an American television presenter at the NFL Network.- Career :Charles received his Master's degree from the Columbia School of Journalism after completing his Bachelor's degree in Communication at Stanford University....
, former ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
analyst Max Kellerman
Max Kellerman
Max Kellerman is an American boxing commentator and sports talk radio host based in Los Angeles. He currently appears as a color commentator on HBO World Championship Boxing and HBO Boxing After Dark and as of January 3, 2011, is hosting a midday talk show on 710 ESPN radio in Los Angeles.Prior...
who receives "something in the neighborhood of $10,000 for each Boxing After Dark telecast" (Thomas Hauser) and former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis
Lennox Lewis
Lennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...
. Kellerman and Lewis had previously appeared on world championship and pay-per-view events for HBO as analysts and continue to do so. This season has featured mostly fights at lesser weights, a BAD staple, as well as new theme music and logo. On March 13, 2007, Fran Charles was replaced by Bob Papa
Bob Papa
Bob Papa is an American sportscaster. Papa is employed by NFL Network, HBO, and the New York Giants.-Biography:Papa grew up in Dumont, New Jersey and graduated from Bergen Catholic High School in nearby Oradell...
due to scheduling conflicts with the NFL Network
NFL Network
NFL Network is an American television specialty channel owned and operated by the National Football League . It was launched November 4, 2003, only eight months after the league's 32 team owners voted unanimously to approve its formation...
. Lampley has also on occasion stepped in for Charles.
See also
- HBO World Championship Boxing (a television boxing program airing on HBO from 1973-present)
- Showtime Championship BoxingShowtime Championship BoxingShowtime Championship Boxing is a television boxing program airing on Showtime. Debuting in March 1986, it is broadcast live on the first Saturday of every month...
(a television boxing program airing on Showtime from 1986-present) - ShoBox: The New GenerationShoBox: The New GenerationShoBox: The New Generation is a boxing television program, on Showtime. Debuting in 2001, it focuses mainly on up-and-coming boxing prospects. This program, which is a spin-off of its sister boxing program, Showtime Championship Boxing, usually televises live at 11 p.m. ET/PT on selected Fridays...
(a television boxing program airing on Showtime from 2001-present)