The very first fight that HBO broadcast was the heavyweight championship bout between Joe Frazier and George Foreman on January 22, 1973. The belt changed hands that night in Kingston, Jamaica when the young challenger knocked down Frazier 6 times enroute to a second round stoppage,
Their next show was on June 18, 1973 at Madison Square Garden, and saw hard punching Earnie Shavers knock out ex champ Jimmy Ellis in the first round.
HBO finished off their first year of shows with another heavyweight show on December 14, 1973. The same Earnie Shavers was himself knocked out in the first round by veteran Jerry Quarry.
It was the beginning of what would be a 45 year run covering boxing, and Home Box Office television would become the very best at what they did.
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