MANILA, Philippines – Cable network HBO will “move on” after losing undefeated boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather Jr. to rivals Showtime Network and its parent company, CBS Corporation.

Most of Mayweather’s fights have been broadcast on HBO, including his 2007 clash with Oscar De La Hoya that set pay-per-view records.

But the American superstar dropped a bombshell when he announced that he has signed a six-fight, 30-month deal with Showtime and CBS, starting with his return to the ring on May 4 against Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero.

“We made an aggressive and responsible pay-per-view offer. Now we move on,” HBO said in a statement released to Boxing Scene. [http://www.boxingscene.com/hbo-statement-on-mayweather-going-showtime—62541]

“We are focused on the best boxing franchise in the television business. We are proud of the roster of superstar fighters and emerging stars who are scheduled to appear on multiple HBO television platforms this year,” the HBO statement continued.

Mayweather’s adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, told ESPN.com that the boxer was also moving on from his relationship with HBO. [http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/8962874/floyd-mayweather-signs-pay-per-view-deal-showtime-cbs-fight-robert-guerrero-4]

“Floyd has had a fantastic relationship over the last 16 years with HBO, but he’s moving on. He made the decision based on what was best for him and his family,” Ellerbe told Dan Rafael.

“Showtime/CBS really stepped up and made it crystal clear that they wanted Floyd Mayweather. This is a tremendous platform, and Floyd’s looking forward to putting his talents in front of a much larger worldwide audience,” he added.

In a statement, Mayweather Promotions said the boxer’s deal with Showtime/CBS is "by far the biggest in the sport of boxing.”

According to the statement, Mayweather averages more than 1 million pay-per-view buys per event -- the highest of any boxer -- and if all six fights take place it could result in the richest individual athlete deal in all of sports. – With a report from Reuters