Max Kellerman is an American media personality popularly known as a commentator for boxing and sports television. He is also an actor and has featured in movies such as Rocky Balboa (2006), Creed (2015), and Playmakers (2003).
Kellerman started working as a co-host on ESPN’s First Take on July 25, 2016 and had worked as a studio commentator on two shows including Friday Night Fights and Around the Horn.
Max Kellerman was born on August 6, 1973, in the Bronx, New York City to Henry Kellerman and Linda Kellerman. He is an alumnus of Public School 41 in Greenwich Village where he grew up; finished Hunter College High School in 1991 and, later moved on to Columbia University where he finished with a degree in history in 1998.
Sports Broadcasting Career
Kellerman’s career started while he was a teenager with a TV cable program, on professional boxing in New York City called Max on Boxing.
Despite its simplicity, the show caught the attention of the boxing community and champs such as the now-retired Mike Tyson. Shortly after he graduated from the University, Kellerman got a job with ESPN as an analyst on the boxing series Friday Night Fights. A few years later, precisely in November 2002, he earned his very own show with the channel and later became the architect and the original host of Around the Horn.
Two years later, Kellerman became famous with the show, but on failure to reach an agreement with ESPN, he moved on to Fox Sports Net where he started a new show, I, Max – which was later canceled by Fox on February 18, 2005.
From 2005 to 2009, Max Kellerman worked with a number of television shows and radio programs including:
- MSNBC show Tucker
- Spike TV’s 2006 series, King of Vegas.
- WEPN 1050 ESPN Radio
- XM Radio on ESPN Xtra.
On March 9, 2009, Kellerman mutually ended his work with ESPN radio and moved on to continues his boxing broadcast work at Home Box Office, HBO. The network originally hired him to telecast its Boxing After Dark but he moved up to the HBO World Championship Boxing main team in 2007.
Kellerman reportedly weighed in on sports and pop culture issues on CNN American Morning and other programs, as announced by the TV network on May 12, 2010. The same year, he worked as the new midday host at ESPNLA 710.
He also notably covered the Floyd Mayweather, Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao boxing match for HBO in May 2015 – one for which he was criticized for his alleged ‘patronage’ of the Philipino boxing legend. Then on July 25, 2016, Kellerman was selected to co-analyze ESPN’s First Take, permanently replacing Skip Bayless.
He currently combines the job with being a color- commentator on HBO World Championship Boxing and HBO Boxing After Dark.
His acting skills as Airman Joseph in Sharknado 3: Oh Hell No! have been described as not so bad for a TV host. He appeared as ‘himself’ playing the boxing analyst role in the last two Rocky films; was credited as himself in Creed as well as in Real Husbands of Hollywood.
Salary
The renowned boxing pundit and presenter made it on the list of the top 10 highest-paid Sportscaster Analyst Commentators in 2017. He reportedly takes home $3 million every year as the host of ESPN’s highly rated First Take.
Kellerman’s net worth is placed at approximately $7 million.
Family, Brother
Kellerman grew up in a family of three brothers including his beloved younger brother Sam Kellerman who was murdered inside his apartment at the 1400 block of Vista Street in Los Angeles on October 17, 2004. A report said he was killed in the most horrifying manner by former boxer, James Butler who slew the young and promising artist through repeated head blows with a hammer and set his apartment ablaze.
Sam Kellerman was only 29 years old at the time of his murder. Butler was later apprehended during an investigation and sentenced to 29 years in prison.
Learning about the tragic incident, Max Kellerman took some time off from the I, Max’s new show on Fox Sports Net to mourn his brother. He described Sam as a creative genius who was fated to write and be in front of the camera. According to him, it was only a matter of time before his late brother would have been famous.
Max Kellerman Wife Erin Manning
Kellerman has been married to his wife Erin Manning for more than two decades now and they have three kids, Esther Kellerman, Sam Kellerman, and Mira Kellerman.
The couple who were sweethearts since college got married in 1994 and have remained together ever since without issues, except for one time Kellerman admitted he once hit Manning when they were still dating during their college days.
According to him, it was at one college party when they were both drunk and that was the only time he has ever hit a woman.
Nevertheless, nothing controversial has ever been linked to the couple so far. Being a media personality, it usually comes as a surprise that Kellerman is less active on social media; neither Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. He does have Twitter as an official account but only shares his professional work on the platform.
Quick Facts about Max Kellerman
Birthday: August 6, 1973
Birthplace: The Bronx, New York City, New York, United States
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: North American
Occupation: Boxing commentator and sports television personality.
Height: 1.8 m (5 ft 7 in)
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue
Music Preference: Hip Hop
Max Kellerman and his late brother Sam Keller were rappers before they became sportscasters and sportswriters respectively. Their first singles together, Young Man Rumble, shown on cable television featured James Butler (his brother’s murderer) as part of the cast.
Kellerman is extremely private about his private life, thus pictures of himself, his wife, and kids are rarely seen on the internet.
