Mamma Mia! Longtime MMA, boxing, and pro wrestling commentator Mauro Ranallo has been selected to call the highly anticipated Floyd Mayweather vs. Connor McGregor match scheduled for August 26. According to Sporting News , the announce team will consist of the normal Showtime TV boxing team, which will include host Brian Custer, analyst Al Bernstein and ringside reporter Jim Gray.
Ranallo, along with Paul Maglianaggi, Jim Gray, and Steve Farhood will be added to the team. Ranallo will be doing play-by-play, Maglianaggi being the color analyst, Gray being the ringside reporter, and Farhood being the unofficial scorer.
Ranallo has been a commentator within the MMA and boxing scene for nearly 15 years, with affiliations with the pro wrestling genre for even longer. He became popular during his broadcasting with MMA promotions PRIDE Fighting Championships, EliteXC, and ShoXC. Ranallo would stay with Showtime as a play-by-play broadcaster for their combat sports events.
As a result of being one of the most valuable people behind an announcing booth due to his hard work, Ranallo returned to wrestling and joined the commentating team with Josh Barnett for New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS TV. This led to a position with the WWE, joining Daniel Bryan to commentate the inaugural Cruiserweight Classic. The success of this led to a permanent spot as a commentator for the SmackDown brand, before leaving the company in April.
Mayweather vs. McGregor is expected to be the highest promoted event since Mayweather faced Manny Pacquiao in 2015. Interestingly, since then, Mayweather has told the press that he did not plan on returning to a boxing ring after 49 wins without a loss. However, living up to his “Money” nickname, he could not resist the huge payday to add to his current $650 million net worth. Moreover, if he is able to defeat McGregor, he would be 50-0, surpassing Rocky Marciano with the best record in modern pro boxing history.
Although McGregor is “only” sitting at $22 million , being that one loss to blemish Mayweather’s record will immediately increase his already high stock. Both are some of the most notorious talkers in their respective genres, but they have proven time and time again that the actions in the octagon and ring, respectively, support the talking.
#MayweatherMcGregor Tale of The Tape pic.twitter.com/I3bdujiV5c
— FightNights.com (@boxing) June 16, 2017
With it being a boxing match, Mayweather would undoubtedly have an advantage. However, with McGregor being a dozen years younger, he would have the speed and agility advance that is oftentimes crucial in boxing matches.
[Featured Image by WWE]
