By John F. McKenna (McJack): Unfortunately Saturday nights fight at Madison Square Garden featuring rising star World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire (27-1, 18 KO’s) and HBO super flyweight champion Omar Narvaez (34-1-1, 19 KO’s) did not live up to what HBO and Top Rank CEO Bob Arum had hoped for.

Of course it is not the fault of HBO and the promoters of the fight that Narvaez chose not to engage the power punching Donaire. I’m sure they were just as eager to see an exciting fight after a series of recent flops aired on HBO in recent months.

Last May boxing fans were expecting that veteran three division champion, Shane Mosley (46-7-1-1 NC, 39 KO’s) would make a fight of it when he took on Filipino icon WBO champion Manny Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KO’s). Mosley, however after tasting Manny’s explosive speed and power when he was floored in the 3rd round, chose to disengage and run away from “Pacman” for the balance of the fight. The result was that Pacquiao won a very one sided and dull fight.

On July 3 then WBA heavyweight champion David Haye (25-2, 23 KO’s) fought multiple division heavyweight champion Wladimir Kltschko (56-3, 49 KO’s) in a title unification fight held in Germany and shown on HBO. Many boxing fans expected the boastful Haye to put up a decent fight and possibly defeat “Dr. Steelhammer”. Again boxing fans were in for a major letdown as Haye repeatedly “flopped” to the canvas when it appeared that Vladimir was getting close enough to inflict damage. Klitschko won nearly every round in an uninspiring match.

More recently on September 17 new WBC champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KO’s) easily defeated then WBC champ Victor Ortiz (29-3-2, 22 KO’s). Ortiz, apparently in frustration, chose to charge into “Money” head first with an illegal head butt near the end of the 4th round. Referee Joe Cortez briefly stopped the fight to take a point away from “Vicious”. Ortiz apologized twice and hugged Mayweather, but neglected to protect himself after time was called back in. Floyd, never one to turn down a freebie proceeded to KO Ortiz as he stood with his hands at his sides. In fairness to Floyd, who took a lot of heat for his actions, he did nothing illegal. “Protect yourself at all times”, is the axiom that fighters must live and die by. In a similar situation nearly 85 years ago, Jack Dempsey KO’d Jack Sharkey with one left hook. After being criticized by some for hitting Sharkey while he turned away to complain to the referee about an alleged low blow, Dempsey came back with his immortal quote: “What did he expect for me to do, send him a telegram?” In short boxing fans who had paid to watch the Mayweather – Ortiz fight live and on Pay Per View (PPV) again felt cheated.

The fight on October 15 between WBC light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins (52-5-2-1, 32 KO’s) and challenger Chad Dawson (30-0-1, 17 KO’s) added to the long list of recent controversial endings. The venue for the PPV event aired by HBO was the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Hopkins was thrown to the canvas in the 2nd round after he missed with a right hand and wound up on top of Dawson’s back. “Bad” Chad straightened up in an effort to dislodge Hopkins and forcefully threw the “Executioner” to the mat causing him to injure his left shoulder. The referee called the fight a TKO in Dawson’s favor when Hopkins was unable to continue. The World Boxing Council overturned the referee’s decision and called the fight a “technical draw”, meaning that Hopkins will hold on to his title. The majority of those watching the fight did not agree with the referee’s decision to award the fight to Dawson via a TKO. It is not clear yet whether or not there will be a rematch between Hopkins and Dawson.

Ken Hershamn was recently spirited away from Showtime to become President, HBO Sports. He replaces Ross Greenburg who left that position several months ago. One of Hershaman’s primary responsibilities will be to be to oversee HBO’s boxing program and in particular to fix the lucrative but troubled PPV.

Hershman will take over in January 2012 and will “hit the ground running” in his effort to turn things around.