Former boxing heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis — a UFC “aficionado” — could announce UFC events on HBO alongside ESPN analyst and sweet science savant Max Kellerman, according to the NY Daily News.
Here’s a snip:
Considering its history, both HBO Sports boss Ross Greenburg and executive producer Rick Bernstein would probably seek new and independent voices with no ties to UFC.
Would they do some crossover with their boxing yackers? Word is both Lennox Lewis and MeMax Kellerman, who work on HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” series, are UFC aficionados.
Recent reports indicate that UFC 70, which will take place on April 21 in Manchester, England, will mark the premier of the UFC on the cable channel. It is also rumored that most of the UFC shows aired on HBO will take place in Europe.
Lewis, of course, hails from West Ham, London, England. In theory, it would make sense to have him be part of the show because he is someone with whom British fans can identify.
But, if this turns out to be the case, there’s no doubt that the production will suffer.
There are only a handful of personalities who can handle the blow-by-blow and color commentary responsibilities of a live MMA event. Joe Rogan and Mike Goldberg fit into that select company.
All of this is mere speculation. However, bringing on two guys — both of whom are boxing experts — doesn’t make much sense if it happens.
Keeping Larry Merchant on the HBO payroll doesn’t make much sense, either. So, we’ll have to see how this pans out.
January 30th, 2007
8 Comments »
i agree larry merchant is worthless, but it might be cool to see if kellerman knows anything about mma, he’s a great boxing guy, maybe he’ll be a good ufc guy too, i’m very interested to see this
Nobody can replace Goldburg and Rogan. As in any sport the presentation and commentation provide the much needed aire of professionalism along with helping new fans understand what they are watching. Not to mention the ability to keep it exciting in the chance the fight itself is a little flat. I have a question if someone can answer: I realize hbo willing be broadcasting new ufc events but, I noticed you said ufc 70. Does that mean hbo will be showing the events instead of pay per view? Naturally that doesn’t make sense to me. Could you help fill in the blanks for me?
I wouldnt mind either of them as pre-fight and post-fight analyst’s but i prey they dont do the actual blow by blow in fight commentary, save that for the UFC pros. Rogan as much as I hated him on fear factor has become one of my favorite UFC experts and hes done a great job along with Adam Goldberg. Wouldn’t mind Jim Lampely maybe as a play by play guy b/c hes such a professional and has done so many sports im sure he could pull it off, but otherwise leave it to the UFC experts this is not boxing and thats what makes the UFC so great.
Thats Mike Goldberg. 1 More thing. I’m also a boxing fan and from first hand experience I can only pray Lewis doesn’t do the blow by blow. He is so boring with absolutly no enthusiasm in his voice and does a piss poor job commentating boxing. Surely he couldn’t be Better in mma!
No way. This would be like kissing your sister to cross pollinate HBO Boxing announcers into the UFC. The UFC has a unique sound and energy. HBO Boxing is worn-out and boring. I fall asleep while Larry Merchant is formulating his sentences.
larry merchant is an irrelevant drunk douche bag. thats all i have for today.
I agree with most of the previous comments saying that the HBO announcers are douche bags. Boxing is a dead sport, no one wants to watch a bunch of fixed fights that all end up in a descision. And there commentators are in the same boat.
Personally I don’t know how well Kellerman would handle MMA. He is a great Boxing guy, but MMA is an entirely different animal. Lewis is the same way, while he maintains and great understanding of Boxing and excellent first hand experience, whose to say he would be able to be color on a bout between two BJJ guys? I find it interesting that anyone even likes the tandem of Goldberg and Rogan. In my opinion the UFC would be better off with just about anyone else. Joe “Oma Plata” Rogan and Mike “He just go ROCKED!!!” Goldberg make the UFC almost unwatchable sometimes.