A big part of boxing is the fight analysis, blow-by-blow and color commentators. The experts behind the mic have the ability to sometimes make or break the quality of the show. The days of great commentators analyzing and calling a boxing match or a baseball game with great anticipation are now gone by the wayside with experts now-a-days dwelling so much on statistics and spitting out facts like a computer. With that said, it’s expected to have professional, knowledgeable and creative commentators hosting and calling the fights.

This is a review and breakdown of the four (HBO, Showtime, ESPN and PBC) main broadcasts on United States television.

PBC (Premier Boxing Champions)
Premier Boxing Champions made it’s come back in March 2015 and is broadcast on a host of of English and Spanish Networks including ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, FS1, Bounce and others. The idea of PBC is great and they have had some terrific fights on “Free TV”. The commentating team on some occasions has been terrible. I recall a few programs that the commentating was so bad it really ruined the action. I highly recommend they re-group and spend a little money getting some quality commentators. Also Sugar Ray Leonard was a legendary boxer and a great commentator but it’s time to move on and get some new blood.

HBO: Jim Lampley and the crew at HBO come in at #1. Lampley’s beautiful voice as the Blow-by-blow commentator is terrific and his love for boxing really comes through (he is getting up there in age and there should be a replacement found in the next couple of years). Color commentator Max Kellerman is a treasure, his love for boxing ever since he was a kid has really paid off for him and for us, though he is young, he is the man carrying the mythical torch of boxing history. With Larry Merchant retiring in late 2012, it’s nice to see Kellerman doing the in-ring post fight interviews and asking the tough questions. When George Foreman was replaced with Roy Jones Jr., I was disappointed because George Foreman was such a terrific commentator, he mixed his boxing experience along with a great sense of humor and made the program fun. Now I am a huge fan of Roy Jones Junior as patients has really paid off because he has really come into his own as a commentator and is great to listen to. Finally, Harold Leferman is a good judge who can be sporadic at times, I have seen fighters dominate the championship rounds (11 and 12th) and he still gives it to the favored fighter, his daughter Julie is an awful judge.

ESPN: ESPN got it right with the new signing of lead analyst Andre Ward. Signing Ward to analyze boxing is like signing Michael Jordan in his prime to play basketball. Max Kellerman is also on ESPN and does a terrific job. Kellerman and Stephen A. Smith some talk boxing and have fun with the audience. With all due respect to Smith who is very knowledgeable in many sports, he has no business talking about boxing on TV. Tim Bradley does a good job. A few times they had Bernard Hopkins on who has a wealth of knowledge, problem with Hopkins is he’s in bed with Golden Boy Promotions and 75% of what he says is advertising. Lastly, the elephant in the room Teddy Atlas.

Atlas is still under contract with ESPN but they no longer wish for him to be on live television because of his erratic commentating. His post fight interview Down Under with Jeff Horn was the final straw. Atlas sometimes crosses the line and goes on rants, but that’s who he is, he is great at what he does and deserves that freedom, he is that special he is that one person that can basically say as he pleases and should be treated with respect. He has an old-school personality, and is not afraid to mix it up and call people out in boxing which is what we need. Boxing has always been a sport that crossed the line, cheated the audience, boxing has everything from corrupt judges to drugging boxers before fights. The sport of boxing is so colorful it can’t be described so why not release Atlas of his contract and have him get a show on a premium network so he can be equally as colorful as the sport of boxing.

Showtime: Showtime Championship Boxing Brian Custer is great, always professional and a great voice. Mauro Ranallo’s colorful personality brings a spark to the blow-by-blow commentating. Al Bernstein and Paulie Malignaggi are good but need thicker skin to make the show better. Everyone there is so afraid of stepping on someone else’s toe, it’s OK to disagree and to have healthy arguments on air and still be friends off air, that’s what makes programs fun and exciting (example HBO Team). It just seems that everything has to be agreed-upon in their little world of commentating. But overall good show.