In a recent article I went over the latest turn of events at HBO headquarters and the logical replacement for Lennox Lewis, whose contract was failed to be renewed by the network for future Boxing After Dark shows. There seems to be a solid group of past and present fighters, trainers, and other boxing figures who would be ideal for the position and everyone seems to have varying opinions on the situation.
Harold Lederman, Nate Campbell, Mike Tyson, Freddie Roach, John Scully, Naazim Richardson, and Floyd Mayweather have either been considered by HBO, expressed interest themselves or been suggested by fans of the sport. All men bring different elements of the fight game to the table yet there has also been speculation that HBO may be more comfortable sticking with a two-man team of Bob Pappa and Max Kellerman.
Wanting to get a feel for what people in the sport think of the situation I reached out to some boxing minds to get their take on everything. In their own words, this is what people had to say about the recent situation that HBO is facing?
Joe Quiambao, matchmaker for Dibella Entertainment… ?I think these would be good choices because all of them are very knowledgeable in boxing but I think a person that would be a great fit, and some may say I’m reaching is Mike Tyson. Mike has always been a boxing historian and has a world of boxing knowledge. He has done commentating in the past and did a great job. Me as a fan and someone in the business, would like to see this happen.?
Dan Horgan, former owner of The Boxing Herald and contributor to www.TheSweetScience.com… ?I really like the idea of Nate Campbell joining HBO’s commentating crew. Campbell’s an articulate guy, a smooth talker, and someone who really knows the fight game. He also has that instant likeability factor that I think the other candidates lack.
Lederman is so great in his role as unofficial ringside scorer that putting him in the slot vacated by Lewis would throw off the whole dynamic of HBO’s broadcasts. Plus, it’s time that HBO brought in someone new, rather than hire from within, to spice things up.
Mayweather and Roach are too important in their roles within the fight game to comment on it objectively. Plus, although the two are highly intelligent, neither one seems to have the gift of gab (Brian Kenny has made Mayweather freeze up on live television on several occasions).?
Sabrina Montez, Boxing?s ?Verbal Vixen? is involved in marketing and advertising for boxing apparel companies and events. She has also contributed to www.8CountNews.com and www.FightHype.com as well as covering Floyd Mayweather?s training camps over the years? ?I believe all 5 candidates are qualified in some manner and would do an amazing job for HBO. The person that stands out to me is Naazim Richardson due to his experience and knowledge of the sport. Although he doesn’t have that flamboyance and intriguing personality such as Floyd Mayweather Jr. He can make a viewer who may not know much about the sport more interested.?
Scoop Malinowski, author of www.TheBiofile.com. Scoop?s work can also be found regularly at www.BoxingInsider.com… ?There are so many qualified contenders for that job – all the names you mention, plus John Scully, Kevin Kelley, Mike Tyson, Paulie Malignaggi, Joe Mesi, Miguel Callist, Steve Cunningham, Roy Jones, Chris Byrd, etc. I’d like to see HBO use them all for different events. As well as bring in other personalities/boxing fans like John McEnroe, Jack Nicholson, Diddy, Sylvester Stallone, Shaq, Ron Artest, Jeremy Piven, Leonardo Di Caprio. Like how it was done in the Ali era, with Pearl Bailey, Red Foxx, Jim Brown, etc. It adds an extra level of excitement when you bring in new voices, fresh perspectives to commentate on a fight. And I believe it will inspire and evoke the best out of Jim Lampley, Emanuel Steward, Max Kellerman and Larry Merchant who will enjoy to cover a fight with a new personality each time. One other thing: I still would like to hear Lennox Lewis for all heavyweight fights on HBO. His best work by far was for heavyweight bouts. And bringing back George Foreman for heavyweight fights wouldn’t be a bad idea either.?
Armando Alvarez, www.MaxBoxing.com correspondent based in Miami, Florida… ?I’d pick Harold Lederman. I’m a bit biased, as we all are, because if anyone has met Harold they have met one of the nicest, most genuine guys, not only in sports, but in the world. Harold knows boxing, and not just scoring. When I had my first ever boxing radio show, he didn’t hesitate when I asked him to be my guest. He knows the X’s and O’s of boxing. He knows about every fighter in the game, and best of all, he actually attends fights. I see him at club fights in Miami every now and then. Why HBO has kept him behind the camera, only as a judge, I don’t know, but now is as good a time as ever to bring Harold in front of the cameras and into our living rooms with some respectable commentary. To me it’s a no brainer that Harold Lederman is the right man for the job. And he knows his pop culture. One time I remember giving me the inside scoop that a certain fighter who shall remain nameless was not training properly, and was out in the clubs hanging with 50-cent. Harold did credit The Source for that information, and he was right. That fighter did lose. And how cool is it that Harold reads The Source? HBO, give us more Harold. It’s a unanimous decision. 120 to 108, JIM!?
Ben Thompson, editor of www.FightHype.com… ?Out of those 5 choices, I’d have to say that Harold Lederman is the most qualified person for the job. I mean, he’s pretty much doing it already…they just never let him talk too much. Call me crazy, but I don’t think an “unofficial judge” has to sit there and keep his mouth shut in order to properly judge a round. HBO should kill two birds with one stone and just let Lederman do more talking while he’s scoring the rounds. They already get a trainer’s point of view with Emanuel Steward, so there really wouldn’t be too much more value bringing in another trainer like Roach and Naazim (although Naazim’s one-liners are always classic). And while Mayweather and Campbell would add some much needed youth to a group of grumpy old men, I’m not so sure either one of them can control some of the words that fly out of their mouth at times. Besides, if HBO really wants another fighter’s point of view, they should just bring Roy back since he already has the experience and was always spot on when it came to breaking down the action inside of the ring. But like I said, if I had to pick one of those 5, it would be Harold Lederman for the simple fact that he’s already doing it.?
Tim Starks, owner of the very successful blog The Queensberry Rules. To check out Tim?s blog please click HERE… ?I would only support Harold Lederman to replace Lennox Lewis if HBO also stole Gus Johnson from Showtime, because that would add up to a lot of quality yelling. No, seriously: I like Nate Campbell for the job. He did well on ESPN2 during a test run, and I do think there’s value in having a a former pro boxer offer his perspective. The problem is so few of them are any good at verbally translating their experiences in the ring; Campbell has shown he can overcome that. Naazim Richardson and Freddie Roach surely would do a good job, too — I especially love to listen to Richardson talk about boxing — but HBO already has Emmanuel Steward bringing the trainer’s viewpoint.?
Johnny Bos, New York matchmaker. To read Johnny?s story please click HERE… ?I think without a doubt – Mike Tyson. He is a boxing historian, he can speak as well as he wants to and he has the name to attract more people to tune in.?
Jake Donovan, feature writer for www.BoxingScene.com. To read Jake’s latest piece on Wilfredo Vazquez Jr. please click HERE ?I have to admit, I like the way Bob and Max called the fights for the 5/15 card. I’ve never understood the obsession with a three-man booth; it’s almost always one voice too many.
That said, of the list of candidates HBO is floating around, I’d love to see Brother Naazim get the job. He has for years been the most underrated trainer in the sport and in my opinion is the best in the game today. He’s a straight shooter and is superb at picking up on every aspect of the game. He speaks intelligently but without feeling the need to use a bunch of $5 words in dropping knowledge to the audience.
A name I haven’t seen mentioned but would like to see at least be considered is Steve “USS” Cunningham. He’s been shunned from television for virtually his entire career, but has a lot to offer to the game inside and out the ring. He’s a family man, lives a clean life, is always in phenomenal shape (I know, nothing to do with broadcasting), and – most important for this job – always has something to say without saying a lot.
Of the remaining men on the list:
I’d like to see Floyd Mayweather Jr one day go on to be an in-studio host. I can see him having fun with that, but am not terribly convinced that he’s suited for ringside commentary.
I have little to no interest in hearing Freddie Roach behind the mic. Terrific trainer, one of the very best in the game, and also a great boxing personality. But training is his thing. He has the knowledge, but I just can’t picture myself listening to him every round over the course of a 2-2 1/2 hr broadcast.
Nate Campbell would be a good fit on most broadcasts. He’s done well when filling in on ESPN2, perhaps more subdued than he usually is outside the ring, but that energy will resurface as he gets more time behind the mic.
Since Nate is creeping towards the end of his career, I’d love to see him get the job. I still think Naazim would be the best candidate but as long as he’s active, why not give it to someone who would seem to have the time on his hands once his fighting days are done. For what it’s worth, I also think Nate would make a terrific trainer.
Harold Lederman is perhaps the classiest gentleman in the entire sport. I love him right where he is. Not saying he couldn’t do the job – but I like the role he plays on the broadcast now. Sure he can do that in addition to announcing, and it would probably save HBO some coin to just promote him and have him do both. But Bob, Max and Harold – I don’t know, it just seems excessive without a tremendous variance in perspective.?
Steve Forbes, former IBF Jr. Lightweight champion of the world? ?I think whoever gets the job should’ve been or should be a fighter. I think it will go over much better with the viewing audience. I like both Floyd and Nate for the job.?
Mia St. John, former female IBA Lightweight champion of the world? ?Harold Lederman. He is well spoken, objective, classy, charismatic, educated… What more could you ask for??
For a closer look at Harold Lederman, Nate Campbell, Mike Tyson and others please click on the ?Boxing in pictures? image directory below?
