KO Nation, the Home Box Office boxing series that tried to bring hip-hop sizzle to the sweet science, will be hitting the showers permanently after its scheduled August 11 event.

With five episodes in 2000 and three this year, KO Nation failed to attract the young male audience that HBO had hoped for, averaging between a 3 and 4 rating for its Saturday afternoon and evening showings.

?We came to the realization that we could not reach young viewers with four or five KO Nation shows a year,? says HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg.

?By refortifying and expanding the Boxing After Dark franchise and focusing on promoting our stable of franchise fighters, we can do a better job of attracting a younger audience to the sport.?

With 18-to-34-year-old males constituting but 3 percent of boxing viewership, KO Nation's younger-skewing presentation offered fight cards featuring up-and-coming pugilists in a hip-hop and WWF-flavored setting, replete with a deejay and dancing girls. Though the attitude favored by KO Nation won't be returning, many of the fighters will appear on the more established Boxing After Dark.

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