Celebrated boxing commentator Jim Lampley is poised to take his place at the microphone for Saturday's high-stakes boxing event in New York. The Louis Armstrong tennis stadium, nestled in the Flushing Meadow area of Queens, will host an exciting lineup, featuring Hamzah Sheeraz's ascent to super middleweight to challenge Edgar Berlanga, alongside WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson's showdown with William Zepeda. Lampley's return ensures that fans will experience these pivotal matches with his signature analytical prowess and engaging delivery.
A respected figure in the boxing world and an inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2014, Lampley recently made his comeback as a blow-by-blow announcer for the Ring's prior event in Times Square this past May. That card featured a series of notable contests, including Ryan Garcia's defeat by Rolly Romero, Devin Haney's uneventful victory against Jose Ramirez, and Teofimo Lopez's triumph over Arnold Barboza. His involvement in these events underscores his continued influence and demand within the sport.
Earlier in the week, Lampley was a featured guest on The Joe Rogan Podcast, where he delved into his distinguished career in boxing. During the conversation, he conveyed his aspiration to be part of the commentary team for the much-anticipated September Netflix event in Las Vegas. This card is set to feature the blockbuster fight between Saul \"Canelo\" Alvarez and Terence Crawford, and also marks the return of Max Kellerman, Lampley's former HBO broadcast colleague, to the boxing scene. The prospect of Lampley and Kellerman reuniting at the broadcast table has generated considerable excitement among boxing enthusiasts.
Lampley further disclosed details of a recent discussion with Larry Merchant, his 94-year-old former colleague from HBO, during the podcast. Their conversation revolved around the upcoming Canelo-Crawford bout, drawing parallels to the iconic Marvin Hagler-Sugar Ray Leonard fight. Merchant expressed his belief that Crawford possesses the ability to secure a victory, echoing a strategy of constant movement: \"Same equation; get in, get out, get in, get out. Over and over and over,\" Lampley quoted Merchant as saying. This strategic insight adds another layer of intrigue to the highly anticipated super fight.