Law Shield has learned that fight promoter and Cable Company HBO is denying that it demanded Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey Kovalev remove the logo of Tulammo USA from his boxing trunks prior to a fight tomorrow. Tulammo, a Round Rock, Texas based ammo manufacturing company is a sponsor of Kovalev.
Kovalev will face Nadjib Mohammedi live on July 25 in an HBO-promoted match. The Russian fighter has fought his way to the top with notable victories over former light heavyweight world champions Gabriel Campillo, Nathan Cleverly, Bernard Hopkins and Jean Pascal. Kovalev’s latest fight against Pascal pulled in 1.2 million viewers on HBO.
Breitbart News reported that Tulammo USA president Ed Grasso confirmed Thursday night that HBO requested that Kovalev not wear trunks with the ammunition company’s logo on them during his July 25 bout.
HBO Sports spokesman Ray Stallone tweeted on Thursday that such reports were incorrect. “This story is false,” tweeted Stallone. “HBO Boxing has made no such request or demand. This story is untrue.”
Larry Keane, general counsel for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, said in a blog post that HBO had made the demand, and he added: “This isn’t the first time a network has taken a punch at gun companies. Last year, Daniel Defense wasn’t allowed to purchase advertisement time during the Super Bowl despite complying with NFL policies. And again in 2012 FOX Sports Media Group banned advertisements featuring firearms and ammunition from its coverage of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) events.”
The bottom line seems to be that Kovalev will wear trunks festooned with the Tulammo USA logo.
What’s your view?
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