Max Kellerman on the Move Again
HBO Boxing Announcer Leaving ESPN Radio
He was the original host of the ESPN show Around the Horn. After which, Kellerman left that behind to go to Fox Sports and host another show, I Max. When that show met its quick demise, Kellerman moved to ESPN Radio.
On HBO Boxing, Kellerman is being groomed to take over for the polarizing Larry Merchant. Of course, Kellerman, too, is polarizing as viewers and listeners alike either hate him or take strongly to him.
Especially when it comes to boxing, there can be no doubt that Max Kellerman is one of the most well-versed and intelligent analysts around. His passion for the sport shines through and his detailed memory of fighters and fights from past generations, honed through a lifetime of study, is near flawless. The problem for some is that the passion shines too bright, blinding them with what comes off as pompous, grandiose proclamations.
Kellerman can be prone to hyperbole, excitedly and readily comparing contemporary events or athletes to legends from the past. But the comparisons aren't made for the sake of being outlandish, they are made because they are coming from a true fan of the sport.
Too often today, it's hard to tell when announcers even enjoy the sport they cover. When it's obvious they do, it's also painfully clear that their passion has overridden any impartial or factual information that they would have been able to impart. Kellerman on the other hand wears his passion for boxing on his sleeve and backs that up with a database of boxing facts, records, timelines and stories that is unmatched.
Whether or not Kellerman will be focusing exclusively on his role with HBO Boxing or will be joining another radio or television platform is still unclear. Max Kellerman may not ever be a sports personality that everyone loves, but his knowledge and passion for the sports he covers, mainly boxing, is something that everyone should be able to appreciate.
Sources: Bob Raissman, Max Kellerman Leaving ESPN-1050. New York Daily News
Published by Jake Emen
Based out of Washington D.C., Jake is a full-time freelance writer, and is the Editor of ProBoxing-Fans.com. He has been published on a variety of outlets, has served as both a Featured Contributor and Categ... View profile
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8 Comments
Post a CommentAbsolutely agree with you, Kellerman is one of the most intelligent commentators around. But, I like Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley better.
Al Bernstein is another great boxing announcer, and definitely very knowledgeable. I wouldn't say he is more or less well versed than Max.
Max is cool with me.
Max Kellerman ought to purchase a forklift, and see if as an announcer he can carry Al Bernstein's jockstrap. Al takes a dump in the morning and wipes away more boxing knowledge than Kellerman has ever known.
Yea, the Ring is flawed of course. But what it does provide at least are consistent rules and lineage for championships.
max should stop kissing the backside of ring magazine on every broadcast. ring is as flawed as all the rest but to hear max you would think the heavens have opened their doors for ring only.
I think he's probably tried to tone it down in response to people not being so enthralled with him. But, I'll take him over a drunk Larry Merchant every day of the week.
I "claimed" one of the Max Kellerman C4C's and didn't see the 5:00 p.m. deadline and didnt get back in time. You did a nice job....picking out some of the reasons I like the guy. I think that the institutional madness of broadcasting takes its toll, though. I thought Kellerman's enthusiasm was flagging lately--as if he were p o'd...