OMG! An Ammo Company’s Logo! On A Boxer’s Ass! OMG!

July 23, 2015

The NSSF writes:

Light Heavyweight World Champion Sergey Kovalev defends his title against Nadjib Mohammedi live Saturday, July 25, on HBO. 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 . . .

Now, as he prepares for his biggest fight to-date, and first in Las Vegas, his sponsors have told NSSF that HBO is demanding Kovalev remove the logo of Tulammo USA, a Round Rock, Texas-based ammo manufacturing company, from his boxing trunks. Kovalev has not made a public response, but his relationship with the company is a close one. The fighter appeared at Tulammo’s SHOT Show booth this past January.

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.

Now, HBO seems to have decided to use the sporting arena as stage for a political debate. TV networks are certainly free to decide what they broadcast, but the typical daily HBO fare of murder, mayhem and the glorified misuse of firearms suggests a certain degree of hypocrisy in HBO’s reported decision to ban the simple logo of a company that manufactures ammunition. It is strange that a media company such as HBO has decided to infringe on the First Amendment rights of the boxer and Tulammo by censoring what can be printed on a pair of trunks. The network is known for sometimes-violent programming such as True Detective, The Wire and The Sopranos (which coincidently featured a handgun in its logo). Would HBO have the same inclination to censor any of their show writers or their famous talking head Bill Maher. Would they dare censor their content for political reasons?

In the fight of HBO vs. Tulammo we won’t know the victor until Kovalev appears Saturday night. But a decision by HBO to ban advertisements for lawful products is, in boxing terms, ‘a low blow,’ and we suggest that the network just as soon ‘throw in the towel.’

This post was originally published at nssfblog.com and is reprinted here with permission.

35 COMMENTS

Ralph July 23, 2015 At 16:03

Interesting that TulAmmo has its logo on some guy’s ass, since many of us believe that’s exactly where the ammo comes from.
- Scrubula July 23, 2015 At 16:22
  
  Hey, it’s cheap and goes bang when you pull the trigger (most of the time)
  - doesky2 July 23, 2015 At 17:22
    
    You’re still talking about the ammo right?
  - Ralph July 23, 2015 At 18:44
    
    Also, it’s dirty, Scrubula. And — no, I’m not making this up — it kinda stinks.
    
    And, yes, I’m referring to the ammo.
    - Bill Kohnke July 23, 2015 At 19:09
      
      Try shooting Aguila or Eley .22 LR. The odor is more lethal than the round.
    - Art out West July 24, 2015 At 00:22
      
      Perfectly reasonable ammo for AK’s (maybe acceptable for Mosins, Makarovs, and Glocks too). I’ve got tons of Wolf and Tula for My AK.
styrgwillidar July 23, 2015 At 16:03

If HBO didn’t put that specifically in the contract, I hope that Kovalev and whatever boxing association is involved tell HBO– no– and threaten to sue if HBO tries to back out of televising the fight…+
Shire-man July 23, 2015 At 16:13

So HBO can make millions glorifying two men beating each other bloody but a company that makes ammunition used by a wide margin for wholly non-violent games is verboten?

Kind of like demanding the teddy bear be removed the bed while a porn shoot is taking place.
- CCDWGuy July 23, 2015 At 16:29
  
  The difference is the “Teddy Bear” could possibly participate, while the advertising is just there for the “ride”. Couldn’t help it. It begged for a comment.
- doesky2 July 23, 2015 At 17:24
  
  Purchasing HBO is kinda like hooking a sewer pipe to the back of your TV.
nssfidiots July 23, 2015 At 16:19

“infringe on the First Amendment rights of the boxer”

Uh, no.
- Bryan July 23, 2015 At 18:52
  
  Glad I’m not the only one that caught that… Pvt entities have no obligation to give you 1st amendment rights.
  
  Don’t like it, don’t support HBO…paying 15-20 a month for 1-2 channels is crazy anyway.
Jonathan - Houston July 23, 2015 At 16:23

I didn’t even know TulAmmo was based in Texas. I’ve used it a little, which is to say about two pmags worth, and didn’t have any problems. It’s probably more with regular use that one would see the heavy fouling and other shortcomings that some associate with the brand.
- Dustin July 24, 2015 At 14:35
  
  I’ve put uncountable thousands of rounds of TulAmmo .223 and .308 through my Saiga .223 and Saiga .308 respectively. And yes, bump stocks on both.
  
  Never cleaned either of those guns as long as I’ve owned them.
  
  Never a jam, FTF, FTE, nothing. 100% reliable.
  
  It’s the gun, not the ammo. AR-15s are sissy guns.
pwrserge July 23, 2015 At 16:32

Hm… Me thinks there’s a sponsorship contract involved and HBO doesn’t have a legal leg to stand on. It would be like FOX demanding that Tiger put away all his Gatorade swag while on camera… Good luck with that. I hope he doesn’t budge.
- Tomyironmane July 26, 2015 At 13:02
  
  Or like the networks completely ignoring the NASCAR race sponsor when normally it’s touted from the rooftops, like what happened to the NRA sponsored race in Texas? The only screen time the NRA got was when the cameras couldn’t cut away fast enough and caught sight of the infield.
BDub July 23, 2015 At 16:40

Its perfectly consistent with the progressive principle, “if you can’t see it, it doesn’t exist”.
Gunr July 23, 2015 At 17:04

Double standard!
GRDrane July 23, 2015 At 17:11

Just cancelled my “programming package” for HBO. Love the shows, now hate the company. Hypocrites, almost every “edgey” show they have contains so form of “gun play”. “F” them.
- Dustin July 24, 2015 At 14:38
  
  DLNA. Torrents. Raspberry Pi 2 w/ Kodi. Synology NAS. OnePlus One. Chromecast. 70in LCD. Bigass leather couch. Binge watching.
Vitsaus July 23, 2015 At 17:18

Depraved sexual acts and gratuitous violence for ratings are fine… making ammunition and employing people who have familes: morally wrong. Got it.
Daily Beatings July 23, 2015 At 17:26

Boxer’s ass? You mean this.
FedUp July 23, 2015 At 17:46

Can’t wait to see the pixelated blur on his ass throughout the fight…or that would be the case if I ever watched this stuff…
JasonM July 23, 2015 At 17:49

It is strange that a media company such as HBO has decided to infringe on the First Amendment rights of the boxer and Tulammo

<Sigh>
The first amendment protects people from the government. It doesn’t restrict contract terms.

When Kovalev joined whatever boxing organization is promoting this fight, he signed a contract that likely had stipulations on what he may or may not advertise during a bout. When HBO paid to air this fight, they signed a contract with the boxing organization, that might have also had such stipulations. No one is infringing on Kolakev’s rights (and Congress is certainly not passing any laws regarding them–the act prohibited by the first amendment). HBO is simply stating they won’t give him a platform to advertise a product without their approval.

It’s no different than when the NFL (I think) prohibited players from wearing beats headphones on camera, because Bose was sponsoring the league. …except in this case it’s very hypocritical, since HBO’s schedule is covered in guns.
Tom in Oregon July 23, 2015 At 17:52

He should comply. Then at the last minute, change into shorts that say
“Shoot Tula Ammo in Guns”
With a picture of a bullet going through the “o” on non capitalized hbo…
Just my two cents
John L. July 23, 2015 At 17:58

People still watch boxing?

Huh.
gsnyder July 23, 2015 At 18:32

The hell with HBO!

Pure censorship. No one, no matter their political opinion should interfere. This is exactly the same as people who want certain books destroyed/removed from libraries. Do not remove the Logo, forfeit first!
Raul Ybarra July 23, 2015 At 18:37

This from the station the puts out Game of Thrones???
Grindstone July 23, 2015 At 19:17

Good thing I don’t pay them a cent when watching their shows.
- Dustin July 24, 2015 At 14:26
  
  mmmm .torrents….
Former Water Walker July 23, 2015 At 20:37

Meh…I am more offended watching the vile maher. 500 channels and there’s nothing on…
DV July 23, 2015 At 22:30

Just bought 80 TulAmmo .223 rds and a box of earplugs from Dicks (yeah, I know we’re supposed to ban them for pulling ARs from their shelves). Anyways, $15 total (after coupon).
Dustin July 24, 2015 At 14:24

Quit watching Football a while back. Fat sweaty guys jumping on each other while ostensibly chasing a leather egg-shaped ball as an excuse for their closeted homoretentive interests… Nah. I’ll not stand in their way, but I’m not paying for it and I don’t like to watch it any more than I like watching two guys making out in public. Anti-gun, too? Have a nice day.

Don’t subscribe to Cable or Satellite. Or watch any broadcast TV of any kind…

.torrent for Game of Thrones.

Stacks of TulAmmo in my closet… Why waste good ammo on my bumpstock Kalashnikovs?

Who gets my money? Derp.
Dustin July 24, 2015 At 14:31

This just makes me want to buy more TulAmmo. At Wal Mart. Where they sell AR-15s. To Black People and OFWGs alike!
cynical bastard July 24, 2015 At 18:59

TulAmmo? Ammo company? Since when that ammo-shaped crap they make is called ‘ammo’?

Yes, that is based on my own experience. And, yes, I am boycotting all things russian, too.