HBO boxing analyst Max Kellerman spoke with Tha Boxing Voice's Victor Salazar about a variety of topics in a great interview. We're focusing on his thoughts on the October 13 HBO card, featuring Nonito Donaire vs Toshiaki Nishioka and Brandon Rios vs Mike Alvarado.
But there is a lot more here, with Max's thoughts on Edwin Rodriguez, Vic Darchinyan, Luis Del Valle, a Chavez Jr-Martinez rematch, Gennady Golovkin, Broner-DeMarco, American heavyweights, and fights he wants to see.
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On Donaire-Nishioka
"Nishioka's a really good fighter. He's one of my favorite YouTube fighters. Southpaw, busy, can handle himself, aggressive, hasn't lost in forever. When he did lose, it was the way Marquez loses to Pacquiao, kind of could-go-either-way fights, to another borderline great fighter. He's a tremendous fighter. But he's 36 years old, and Donaire is a special talent. I think he's a next-level talent.
"So I expect Donaire to win a good fight. Donaire's fighting guys like Mathebula, and Nishioka, and, 'Why isn't he knocking everyone out?' Because when you fight, as (Vic) Darchinyan has recently, one top fighter after another it's tough enough to win all those fights, against tough fighters who are still on top, let alone to knock them all out. But Donaire might knock Nishioka out. I think he's that good."
On Rios-Alvarado
"Rios-Alvarado is the best action fight that can be made in boxing. Alvarado, technically, is not as good as Rios. It should be the kind of fight where Rios knocks him out in a couple rounds, but Alvarado has something, some extra dimension to him, some next-level will to win. Which is why when (Breidis) Prescott looks like he's about to take his head off, Alvarado not only rallies back, but rallies back to win. He's been in a bunch of fights like that. And Rios is the same way.
"So I expect -- I just think that's the fight of the year. I'd be shocked if it wasn't. Maybe the fight of the last couple years. if I could make one action fight in boxing, that's the action fight I'd make, and they made it, and I can't wait to see it.
"And by the way, if you're a fight fan, that's a relatively cheap ticket, considering the quality of that card, especially Rios-Alvarado for the action. Disneyland is right there if you have kids. Man, you might be able to go all in, $1500 from the east coast, if you're an east coast fight fan, and get out to Carson, California, take the kids to Disneyland. This is a great event, not only to watch on HBO, but if you can be there live, I'd be there live, because I really think it's the kind of card you're gonna tell your grandkids you attended if you go."