HBO Sports has entered into new multi-year agreements with Jim Lampley and Max Kellerman, who are the primary voices for its HBO Boxing franchises. Both announcers will continue to serve on multiple HBO Boxing platforms, including “World Championship Boxing,” “HBO Boxing After Dark” and HBO Pay-Per-View. The agreements were announced today by Rick Bernstein, senior vice president and executive producer, HBO Sports.
“For more than two decades, Jim has been the signature voice of HBO Boxing,” said Bernstein. “Jim’s incomparable knowledge of the sport of boxing and his work on our many boxing programming initiatives, along with his own boxing studio program (‘The Fight Game with Jim Lampley’), have made him universally recognized as the best in the sport and the captain of our boxing coverage. We’re thrilled Jim will continue to bring his high journalistic standards and talents to the HBO audience for many years to come.”
A four-time Sports Emmy Award winner, Lampley will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, NY on June 14.
Starting with his first HBO presentation, the “World Championship Boxing” fight between Mike Tyson and Tony Tubbs from Tokyo on March 20, 1988, Lampley has been at the helm for some of the most dramatic moments in HBO Boxing history.
“I am delighted and grateful for the chance to continue my richly rewarding relationship with the number-one network in television,” said Lampley. “In sports as in entertainment, HBO presents the greatest of all opportunities to report complex truth, and there are no sports truths more profound and complex than those illuminated by boxing.”
Max Kellerman joined HBO Sports in 2005 as a co-host on pay-per-view telecasts and quickly developed a smooth and unique repertoire and interview style. Kellerman began working as a ringside commentator and interviewer on HBO’s “Boxing After Dark” series in 2006 and eventually assumed a leading role for “World Championship Boxing,” “HBO Boxing After Dark” and HBO Pay-Per-View events. In addition, Kellerman became the host of the acclaimed “Face-Off” feature series in 2010.
“Max has been an invaluable asset to the HBO Boxing franchise since joining us ten years ago,” said Bernstein. “His passion, instincts and historical knowledge all play a key role in making our broadcasts impactful.”
“The privilege of calling the best fights in the sport is second only to working alongside all of the extraordinary people in the HBO family,” said Kellerman.
Lampley and Kellerman return to HBO on Saturday, March 14 when they call the “World Championship Boxing” tripleheader from Montreal’s Bell Centre, headlined by the 2015 debut of undefeated light heavyweight champ Sergey Kovalev as he meets the formidable Jean Pascal (9:45 p.m. ET/PT).
Lampley and Kellerman are represented by Nick Khan of CAA and Michael Price of Price Management.
