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 will debut on HBO Canada beginning January 17, 2009 at 9:45 p.m. ET/7:45 p.m. MT
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HBO BOXING AFTER DARK TICKETS
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History
Boxing After Dark
, or
BAD
for short, got its start in
1996 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.
Tenth season revamp
In
April 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.
See also
- HBO World Championship Boxing
(a television boxing program airing on HBO from 1973-present)
- Showtime Championship Boxing
(a television boxing program airing on Showtime from 1986-present)
- ShoBox: The New Generation
(a television boxing program airing on Showtime from 2001-present)