In a move that may drastically affect both network’s boxing divisions, Showtime has verified their executive VP Ken Hershman has left the company to become president of HBO Sports.
Hershman had been with Showtime since 1992. He was an instrumental figure in creating Showtime’s Super Six round robin tournament for boxing’s super-middleweight division, and securing Manny Pacquiao’s first ever Showtime bout in May against Shane Mosley.
HBO had seen their boxing numbers ratings drop over the past year as amidst media criticism of perceived mismatches for their in-house stars. Hershman will replace Ross Greenburg, who last summer failed to mediate the contract disputes between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
“Richard [Plepler, HBO co-president] and I believe that Ken is a perfect fit for HBO Sports,” said HBO Programming president Michael Lombardo to broadcastingcable.com. “He has a deep and thorough understanding of the sport of boxing and that background will be invaluable as he transitions to his role at HBO. Ken has demonstrated a capacity to think outside the box, and the combination of his experience and reputation make him the ideal executive addition to HBO’s already stellar sports department.”
Ken Hershman will begin his duties as HBO Sports president in January 2012.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 
That’s interesting. As a boxing fan, I rarely think about the network politics – funny that execs take as much heat as the fighters sometimes.
So if the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight finally happens I guess Hershman will be a hero, huh?