HBO analyst Max Kellerman says there is too much at stake for Pacquiao-Mayweather not to happen

From early in the decade Max Kellerman has been making an impression on fight fans around the world. Originally starting on ESPN’s Friday Night Fights series as well as hosting the show’s popular Around the Horn telecasts, Kellerman stood out because of his obvious passion for the sport as well as his opinionated nature.

Kellerman would later join HBO’s broadcast team in April of 2006, first on the Boxing After Dark telecasts and later on their World Championship Boxing episodes as well. As an analyst for the network, Kellerman is responsible for covering action from ringside, interacting with fighters to get their thoughts during post fight interviews, and most importantly for stating his heart felt opinions on everything in the sport.

It goes without saying that Kellerman’s role within the network requires that he travels frequently and this weekend the location of choice was Chicago, Illinois as the New Yorker found himself on the road covering the highly anticipated rematch between Paulie Malignaggi and Juan Diaz.

With boxing alway on his mind, Kellerman was asked his thoughts on the hottest topic within the sport today, which is the possibility of Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao linking up. While there are still whispers that the fight may not come off, Kellerman feels that at the end of the day there is too much opportunity to let this one slip away.

“It’s been very exciting,” Kellerman says of all of the pre fight developments. “It’s hard to imagine that it wouldn’t happen next year. There is too much involved and too much at stake. It’s the type of fight that will cross over to mainstream sports.”

Kellerman has shown in years past that he is definitely a fan of slick fighters with plenty of boxing ability. Floyd Mayweather Jr. fits the bill and Kellerman feels that he will bring a lot to the table for Pacquiao to watch out for.

“Mayweather is a very fast fighter with an excellent defense. He has the longer reach and he is the naturally bigger guy.”

When the tables were turned and Kellerman was pressed for his opinion on the current WBO Welterweight champion, he noted that Pacquiao’s unorthodox nature as well as his fast hands would be a danger to anyone, Mayweather included.

For the moment Kellerman is taking the possibility of the fight in with the mindset of a fan. Despite having a very set opinion on who he feels has the edge, Kellerman made a point to hold off on any predictions for the moment. The only thing he can claim is just how huge this contest is.

“I have a strong feeling of who I think is going to win but I can’t make a prediction yet. I’ll say that I believe the fight will happen and it will break every pay per view record in the book.”