By Mark Vester

According to veteran scribe Paul Upham of Seconds Out, trainer Freddie Roach is the frontrunner to replace Lennox Lewis as an HBO expert analyst for their “Boxing After Dark” series. HBO hired Lewis as an expert analyst for their televised shows four years ago. It was revealed on Friday, by Lewis, that he gave notice to the network and was leaving to concentrate on his personal ventures. Multiple sources have reported otherwise. They report Lewis was let go by the network and they refused to renew the former champion's contract. They were not pleased with his level of work during their televised broadcasts.

Roach could make his HBO debut as early as the June 5 televised event, which features Miguel Cotto vs. Yuri Foreman as the headline bout from Yankee Stadium. The June show is part of the "World Championship Boxing" series. Roach could be brought in to work the show because Emanuel Steward, the regular expert analyst for the series, will be working in Cotto's corner that night.