Max Kellerman has been replaced as host of The Ring’s flagship podcast just days after facing a double backlash over his role around Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua.
Mario Lopez will take over from Kellerman as the full-time host of Inside The Ring, which returns for its second season on October 8.
Kellerman hosted the first season but will not return alongside LeSean McCoy, with Lopez joining a rotating group of boxing analysts.
The switch comes at an interesting time for both Kellerman and The Ring.
Kellerman endured a difficult few days after hosting the Fury vs Joshua press conference in London, where his lengthy opening monologue frustrated sections of the crowd.
Eddie Hearn subsequently described the presentation as “a little bit too long-winded” and “a little bit too staged,” despite stressing that he considers Kellerman a fantastic broadcaster.
Days later, Kellerman attracted another negative reaction after immediately rejecting Matchroom presenter Jamie Ward’s request for a 30-second interview backstage.
There is no suggestion either incident played any role in The Ring’s decision to replace him.
However, the timing becomes more interesting amid reports that DAZN is moving to acquire a controlling interest in The Ring.
Changes at The Ring
Oscar De La Hoya also launched a blistering attack on The Ring and Kellerman during the same period.
“They stripped it of its credibility and made it purely bias and propaganda with Max Kellerman sucking it off every chance he gets,” De La Hoya said on his Clapback Thursday segment.
The criticism came shortly before confirmation that Kellerman would no longer host Inside The Ring, although again there is nothing connecting De La Hoya’s comments or the wider backlash to the change.
Lopez is hardly an outsider being parachuted into boxing.
The actor and broadcaster has worked extensively around the sport and has done a commendable job alongside respected boxing writer Steve Kim on The 3 Knockdown Rule podcast.
Bringing both Lopez and Kim into The Ring’s setup would make sense at some point, but for now, Lopez gets the lead role as another change takes place behind the scenes.
Whether DAZN has already completed its reported move for control of The Ring remains unclear publicly. What is clear is that the magazine’s flagship podcast will have a different face when it returns on October 8.
Kellerman and Zuffa Boxing
Kellerman, meanwhile, appears to be moving further into the Zuffa Boxing side of the sport.
His other broadcasting work is reportedly unaffected by the Inside The Ring change, leaving his prominent position alongside Dana White’s new boxing operation intact.
That role has brought its own criticism.
Kellerman has repeatedly backed aspects of the Zuffa Boxing project since returning to prominence in the sport, bringing criticism over whether his support for White’s operation has come at the expense of a more balanced approach.
WBN has previously covered criticism surrounding Kellerman’s defense of Edgar Berlanga, his presentation of Jai Opetaia’s championship status and comparisons between emerging Zuffa fighters and established boxing greats.
None of that establishes why The Ring decided to make a change.
After a turbulent week for Kellerman, one thing is certain: when Inside The Ring returns on October 8, Max Kellerman will no longer be sitting in the host’s chair.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.
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