Got a response back from the Editor of The Ring

I want to know what is up with HBO's gag order against even mentioning The Ring?

I know a few years back you asked Jim Lampley if he was being told higher up by HBO not to mention The Ring. He said no.

But I don't believe it. Max Kellerman was one biggest advocates when he was on ESPN of Ring Rankings and Ring Champs. Since he's been on HBO, he hardly ever brings The Ring up.

The most recent proof is HBO not mentioning ONCE during the entire broadcast of the Pascal-Hopkins fight that it was for The Ring belt,

Tired of networks like HBO and Showtime complaining about ABC belts, but offer no solution when there is one.

I appreciate your support, but your question should be addressed to Ross Greenberg, HBO's boxing boss. As he is the person responsible for HBO's anti-Ring stance.
Thanks-Nigel

Nice. That last little jab told you everything.

Perhaps we (on this forum who want to add their name) should send a letter to HBO and Showtime demanding an answer to this.

Canvas wrote:Perhaps we (on this forum who want to add their name) should send a letter to HBO and Showtime demanding an answer to this.

Im down.

Yup. Pretty much The Ring saying Ross Greenberg is a fucking idiot when it comes to boxing.

But what expect when got TV programmer in charge, not boxing people.

Canvas wrote:Perhaps we (on this forum who want to add their name) should send a letter to HBO and Showtime demanding an answer to this.

I've done that. If can find a direct emial to Greenberg would be great.

GrantZilla wrote:

Canvas wrote:Perhaps we (on this forum who want to add their name) should send a letter to HBO and Showtime demanding an answer to this.

I've done that. If can find a direct emial to Greenberg would be great.

ross.greenburg@hbo.com is the only one I saw for now.

im down also..

Write up a draft on here and lets see what we can do. Will it make an immediate difference? No, but if boxing fans continue to push back against HBO and Showtime and their complicity in the mess caused by sanctioning bodies, then maybe something changes down the line.

This is what I've written up so far. Feel free to add onto it, or make changes

Many boxing fans who tune into HBO Boxing would like to know why HBO continues to acknowledge corrupt sanctioning bodies but completely ignores The Ring Rankings and The Ring belt.

The Ring has proven to represent who the top fighters are in the divisions and who the real champions are. It is no secret one of the biggest things that has turned off casual fans is not knowing who the real champions are.

HBO continuing to credit every fighter with a trinket as a champion only devalues such programs as Championship Boxing. Especially when these sanctioning bodies continue to have multi “champs” in a single division, refuse to accept unifications, and strip champions, like Sergio Martinez, of the belts they won in the ring.

By only crediting The Ring rankings and The Ring belt, people will soon know who the real champions are and in return it real championship fights will be elevated.

not bad grant..for legal purposes i would not use the word corrupt..id would say along these lines..there is not one LEGIT accepted ruling body in boxing like there are in other sports .no set fair rules.all of thses so called commisions rankings are invalid and highly suspect..wlad vitali martinez pacquio are generaly accepted as the finest fighters in there division yet are not ranked in some commisions because they hold a belt from another commision..to futher complicate matters promoters have admitted bribing commisions to get a fighter undeserving to be ranked so they can fight for a phoney title..5 comisions or more and 17 divisions make a total of 85 possible champs..to further damage the credibilty of the sport they create diamond and silver belt champs.champs in recess regular champ super champ making 5 so called champs in one division in one commision..if all commisions followed this madness then we would have over 400 fighters called champ..
striping a real champ of his title because he dont fight there manditory contender who most of the time is far from the best possible contender out there..all of this is done for one reason.sanctioning fees to enrich the commision and there top peoples pockets.
the real and true tradition that championships are won and lost in the ring and not by a commisions whims have been tossed out the window further destroying any credibilty boxing has left.
its time for leadership to say stop this nonsence..hbo and your competior showtime can lead the way..fighters need you.you dont need boxings commisions to show a desireable fight..
credibilty and integrity are important in any sport..ask the nfl or baseball..time for leadership and both you and showtime along with ring magazine are in a ideal possition to provide it..credibilty can lead to higher ratings in tv..credibilty and integrity can lead to legitamicy in the word champion...we are imploring you to use your influence and be a leader in establishing real rules real champions for a great sport..thank you..the boxing palce forum..then sign the members who want there names on this letter....send one to espn and showtime also as well as a copy to ring magazine...its time the voices of boxings fans are heared...also copys to burt sugar max kellerman dan r and al bernstein and teddy atlas...someone will speak out often in our behalf..grant thanks for taking action.

dmar5143 wrote:im down also..

Please include me in this. I've been hoping for Greenburg's departure for years.

Forgive me, Grant. You don't need my input. Great letter. I didn't read the whole thread before I made my post. I'd be grateful if you allowed all of us to sign our names on that letter. No more need be said.

Frank wrote:Forgive me, Grant. You don't need my input. Great letter. I didn't read the whole thread before I made my post. I'd be grateful if you allowed all of us to sign our names on that letter. No more need be said.

+1

yeh sign me up. fuck just sending it to Greenburg though, send it to Kerry Davis as well and absolutely every single member of staff they have working on their Boxing Broadcasting teams. and keep sending 'em, just like Andy in the Shawshank Redemption!!!

Send one to Kellerman too. Ask him why he bitched out and is now letting someone tell him what he should say. Ask him where his journalistic integrity has gone.

Soonermark890 wrote:Send one to Kellerman too. Ask him why he bitched out and is now letting someone tell him what he should say. Ask him where his journalistic integrity has gone.

yeh call him out

dbudge wrote:

Soonermark890 wrote:Send one to Kellerman too. Ask him why he bitched out and is now letting someone tell him what he should say. Ask him where his journalistic integrity has gone.

yeh call him out

To me the guy is a traitor.

Soonermark890 wrote:

dbudge wrote:

Soonermark890 wrote:Send one to Kellerman too. Ask him why he bitched out and is now letting someone tell him what he should say. Ask him where his journalistic integrity has gone.

yeh call him out

To me the guy is a traitor.

well to be fair i can see where he is coming from. He is employed by HBO and no doubt paid well by them. he also is living his dream job, well as close be anyway! why would he put that all in jeopardy. that's like your boss specifically telling you not to do something and then you go do it. what do you think the consequences of your actions would be then??? everybody sells out to look after number 1 at some point in their life

Nice Grant

dbudge wrote:

Soonermark890 wrote:

dbudge wrote:

Soonermark890 wrote:Send one to Kellerman too. Ask him why he bitched out and is now letting someone tell him what he should say. Ask him where his journalistic integrity has gone.

yeh call him out

To me the guy is a traitor.

well to be fair i can see where he is coming from. He is employed by HBO and no doubt paid well by them. he also is living his dream job, well as close be anyway! why would he put that all in jeopardy. that's like your boss specifically telling you not to do something and then you go do it. what do you think the consequences of your actions would be then??? everybody sells out to look after number 1 at some point in their life

I agree but it doenst change the fact that he used to be one of us and now he is one of them. That is the exact definition of a traitor.

yeh bu i'm not mad at him for it. that's part of life my friend, everybody has flexible morals under different circumstances. if it is Greenburg that has made up this pathetic ruling for his employees then it is him that should be accountable and not Kellerman. i wouldn't do anything to jeopardise my career regardless of my moral standpoint of the subject, i sympathise with Kellerman's situation

Nice one Grant, good to see Nigel keeps in touch with the fans.

The only reason I can think of as to why HBO refuse to acknowledge the Ring belt and rankings is they're being pad too by the sanctioning bodies.

Ali wrote:Nice one Grant, good to see Nigel keeps in touch with the fans.

The only reason I can think of as to why HBO refuse to acknowledge the Ring belt and rankings is they're being pad too by the sanctioning bodies.

yeh i agree mate, there has to be some kind of reasoning behind it. Sky Sports also fail to acknowledge the Ring title but acknowledge the IBO title instead. do you think it has something to do with The Ring Magazine actually not being a legal sanctioning body and therefore they don't recognise it. i mean how often do Ring Title fights come around? when Pascal fought Hopkins there was not one word mentioned by Sky Sports about that, all they were interested in was the WBC title. there must be a reason behind it

Same here Ali, HBO likes things the way they are

More $$$$ for them (or Haymon lol)