Max kellerman is doing a great job

[bigcursedawg]

He a better rapper than boxing commentator. Max spits that hot fire, I don't know why he just didn't stick to rapping.

[Humean]

Max is the best in the business. He's intelligent, articulate and knowledgeable. His infusion of historical references into his commentary is quite amazing. He's also very critical of judges and challenges the sport to become better. It's sad that he only is remembered for making one or two hyperboles during or after an intense moment of a fight.

I wouldn't expect high ratings from Max on these boards. The level of intelligence on this site is remarkably low.

He is reasonably intelligent but he is really poor on camera, at least on HBO. In more informal youtube situations he comes across a lot better. He is too opinionated on air, a lot of the time in a very self serving way to bolster the status of the HBO stars. It just all feels phoney and awkward. He'd do well to follow the lead of Al Bernstein who is far more measured in his approach.

[Dinamita 03]

I think Max does a great job, obviously he'll make mistakes here and there but overall he's a very smart individual who knows his boxing. I get a kick out of listening to his radio show on ESPN alongside Marcellus Wiley. Dude goes overboard at times though, the only thing bigger than his ego is that nose.

[Tay Roc]

He is reasonably intelligent but he is really poor on camera, at least on HBO. In more informal youtube situations he comes across a lot better. He is too opinionated on air, a lot of the time in a very self serving way to bolster the status of the HBO stars. It just all feels phoney and awkward. He'd do well to follow the lead of Al Bernstein who is far more measured in his approach.

I disagree. It comes down to preference. I like Bernstein a lot, but he is awkward at times. By that I mean his "keys to victory," which are general advice "avoid the hook," "pump the jab," etc. I understand it's useful to the casual fan and is condensed advice, but it's corny. Also, I don't think he gives his opinion enough during fights. Although I do like when he points out the fight is turning for one fighter or another, he has virtually become useless since Malinaggi has joined the team. Malinaggi does both Bernstein and his job much better than Bernstein.

I enjoy Max Kellerman's monologues (as well as Lampley's). Similar to how I enjoy Bob Costas' monologues. I think they're insightful and informative. His role on the team is to give his opinion and commentary. I'd much rather hear him and Lampley talk than anything Roy Jones has to say. Roy can barely speak English at this point, and he is overrated as an announcer imo. He adds very little to the broadcast.

The only legitimate criticism of Max is that he is biased at times. I don't believe he has full control of that. HBO in general is heavily-biased and it's hard to separate the goals of the network and Max's own journalistic duties.

[Humean]

I disagree. It comes down to preference. I like Bernstein a lot, but he is awkward at times. By that I mean his "keys to victory," which are general advice "avoid the hook," "pump the jab," etc. I understand it's useful to the casual fan and is condensed advice, but it's corny. Also, I don't think he gives his opinion enough during fights. Although I do like when he points out the fight is turning for one fighter or another, he has virtually become useless since Malinaggi has joined the team. Malinaggi does both Bernstein and his job much better than Bernstein.

I enjoy Max Kellerman's monologues (as well as Lampley's). Similar to how I enjoy Bob Costas' monologues. I think they're insightful and informative. His role on the team is to give his opinion and commentary. I'd much rather hear him and Lampley talk than anything Roy Jones has to say. Roy can barely speak English at this point, and he is overrated as an announcer imo. He adds very little to the broadcast.

The only legitimate criticism of Max is that he is biased at times. I don't believe he has full control of that. HBO in general is heavily-biased and it's hard to separate the goals of the network and Max's own journalistic duties.

Maybe it is a matter of taste but Bernstein is just light years better than Kellerman to me. Im not a big fan of these pre-fight scripted speeches regardless of who does them but Bernstein doesn't make me want to cringe and Kellerman very much does. On commentary has the right balance of speaking just enough but not too much and offers more general claims about the fight whereas Malignaggi offers more specific technical elements. Kellerman always just interjects with some exaggerated claim, not always directly relevant to the fight itself. Roy Jones jr at least offers some insight by seeing things that the others do not. Jones is better than Ward because at least Jones has at least some personality.

I actually think Lampley is the worst of the lot, his ego and desire to be heard at all times ahead of the actual fight is intolerable. He is the standard example of a commentator/broadcaster thinking the viewer is tuning in for him rather than the fight/game/event.

[kardsufur]

Larry Merchant was a great boxing commentator for a long time and I am
glad HBO replaced him with Max Kellerman.First off,the people that say "you
should not be commentating if you've never boxed before" don't know what
the hell they are talking about.HBO always has the "real boxer" doing
announcing as well,such as Roy Jones,Lennox Lewis,George Foreman etc.
but you need to have a PROFESSIONAL COMMENTATOR running the show.
Max Kellerman has to be an entertainer,able to articulate words
to create a story line to captivate the high demands of an HBO audience.
This is not an easy task,and just because you have boxed before that
doesn't mean you can do this.The commentating by Roy Jones,Jim Lampley,
and Max Kellerman are three different things.Max leads,Jim covers the action,
and Roy explains what a fighter is thinking.Good job Max.

I hate Max but you're right in that there's a difference between what Roy Jones, George Foreman, Andre Ward are capable of doing and what someone like Max and Lampley do which is weave a whole narrative around a boxing fight that gives it much more literary drama and excitement to the hungry and demanding fans

[HeroBando]

Kellerman is a pretentious buttwipe. He loves to speak in superlatives. If a guy is not Pernell with power (Zab), or Hearns with a chin (PWill), it's not worth his time

[pugilistprophet1994]

Kellerman>Bernstein. Al Bernstein is ****, he really is. He points out the obvious between rounds "I think fighter A needs to land the right hand to the chin". Max is much better; articulate, can make a story, and knows his history. Paulie is better than Roy Jones though. Dream Line Up would be Kellerman, Malinaggi, and Gus Johnson.


Posted from Boxingscene.com App for Android

[paulf]

Kellerman is a rich kid who got his job at HBO the same way he got a major label record deal as a kid; coming from money and a well respected family.

I can not stand the guy, and love it when guys like Rios put him on blast.

[Zeus Molecules]

No doubt. I think Paulie provides some of the best commentary. Outside of Roy Jones Jr (great fighter, ok analyst) the HBO guys are there to push the HBO fighter and tear down the opponent which usually gets sappy really quick. HBO needs to bring back the John Madden of boxing commentary aka George Foreman (great fighter, confusing analyst). It can't be worse than what they already have.