Max Kellerman sat down with Ak and Barak, revealing just how outspoken he has become about boxing’s establishment since joining forces with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

The former HBO and ESPN broadcaster made it clear that he has no time for any of the four major sanctioning bodies.

Asked which of the bodies he respected during Ring Champs with Ak & BarakKellerman delivered a blunt response.

“None. Zero.”

The interview’s official description on Instagram went even further, highlighting that Kellerman “spits on all of them” before the post was removed.

Kellerman explained that his contempt for the organizations dates back to the controversial 1999 draw between Lennox Lewis and Evander Holyfield, long before White announced his plans to reshape professional boxing.

“You want to know what the breaking point was?” Kellerman said. “Holyfield Lewis first fight draw.”

He believes the proliferation of championships has allowed promoters to sell fights that fall short of the best facing the best.

“You’re the champion of the world, but there are 10 dudes better than you who weigh what you weigh,” Kellerman said.

“They’re promotional tools tied into promoters.”

Kellerman argued that the fragmentation has damaged boxing’s mainstream appeal in America, where even Terence Crawford could walk down the street without being recognized.

However, he stopped short of blaming the sanctioning bodies for everything wrong with the sport.

“They’re not the cancer. They’re a symptom of the cancer.”

He also claimed that he has refused to mention any sanctioning body by name on air for almost 25 years.

“I’m not going to call them by name, not even to insult,” Kellerman added.

Kellerman’s HBO Revelation

Kellerman also revealed that he challenged the championship system during his time at HBO, arguing that the network should recognize the genuine champions rather than the alphabet belts.

“Guys, do you know who the belts are for? They’re for everyone else,” he recalled telling colleagues.

“Why should we recognize all these belts?”

His position is understandable, particularly given the questionable decisions and championship politics that have plagued boxing for decades.

However, it is the way Kellerman has gone about expressing that position that appears to rankle his detractors.

During his years with HBO and ESPN, Kellerman regularly discussed sanctioning-body championships, undisputed status and pound-for-pound achievements despite his objections to the system.

Since Zuffa entered the picture, however, his rejection of the traditional organizations has become considerably more emphatic.

The Dana White Connection

That shift has aligned Kellerman closely with White’s blueprint, which rejects the established sanctioning bodies in favor of a different championship structure.

In September 2025, World Boxing News reported Kellerman telling White that he loved the decision not to recognize the sanctioning bodies.

His latest interview suggests those beliefs were established long before Zuffa came calling, but it does little to settle the separate argument over his independence.

There is a difference between opposing the alphabet organizations and appearing to endorse almost everything their potential replacement wants to do.

There’s also the not-so-small possibility that removing the sanctioning bodies could see decades of championship history disregarded, diminishing the achievements of legends like Sugar Ray Leonard and Roy Jones Jr. in the eyes of today’s fans.

Max was once one of the most respected boxing frontmen in the world, and his increasingly vocal support for Zuffa has overshadowed much of the reputation he spent over thirty years building.

His criticism of the sanctioning bodies has some merit. Whether handing more control to a promotional organization is the answer remains another matter entirely.

About the Author

Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing news website founded in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of experience, he has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside from major events. His work is published worldwide through WBN and distributed on platforms including Apple News.

Read Phil Jay’s full bio and latest stories.

Anthony Joshua could soon face one of the heavyweight division’s most ferocious punchers, but must first defeat Tyson Fury in their Battle of Britain on December 11.

The pair will finally collide at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, with the winner set to become a three-time world champion by claiming the WBA ‘super’ title.

This is in spite of Murat Gassiev currently reigning as the sanctioning body’s only heavyweight titlist, given that Oleksandr Usyk vacated his three major belts in June.

Prior to that, Gassiev had claimed the WBA ‘regular’ title by dethroning Kubrat Pulevwho he stopped with a vicious sixth-round knockout last December.

The former unified cruiserweight champion then orchestrated the same outcome against Peter Kadiru in July, with many viewing this as a first defence of his full WBA title.

Following the announcement of Fury-Joshua, however, it was reported that the organisation’s ‘super’ title will be on the line in Cardiff.

As a result, there is a degree of doubt over Gassiev’s championship status but, in fairness to Joshua, the 36-year-old has said he would be happy to face the Russian next year.

In a social media clip posted by BoxingSceneGassiev has now responded to the former two-time world champion and accepted his challenge.

“Hi, Anthony. I heard you want to fight me. Let’s do it. I’m ready. Anytime, anywhere. See you.”

While ‘AJ’, indeed, seems keen to face Gassiev in 2027, many are forecasting a defeat to Fury who, despite not looking his best, did manage to convincingly defeat Arslanbek Makhmudov and Mariusz Wach earlier this year.

Joshua, on the other hand, suffered two knockdowns before scoring a second-round finish over Kristian Prenga in July, and so will enter the ring this December as underdog.

An unbeaten bogeyman has called for a clash with the winner of Christian Mbilli vs Canelo Alvarez as he looks to unify the super-middleweight division.

Mbilli will make the first defence of his WBC world title in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 31, having been upgraded from ‘interim’ to full champion following Terence Crawford’s retirement.

Prior to that, the Frenchman battled to a 10-round draw with Lester Martinez in September 2025, while Crawford dethroned Canelo with a unanimous decision victory.

As a result, Canelo is now attempting to reclaim a quarter of his undisputed crown at 168lbs, with both the Mexican and Mbilli having been out of the ring for over a year.

Someone who has managed to fight twice in 2026, meanwhile, is Osleys Iglesias, who claimed his IBF title by scoring an eighth-round finish over Pavel Silyagin in April.

Based in Canada, the 28-year-old Cuban trains with renowned coach Marc Ramsay, who is perhaps best known for his work with former undisputed light-heavyweight king Artur Beterbiev.

Regarding his skills in the ring, Iglesias adopts a fluid style and delivers considerable power at the end of his punches, as reflected by his record of 16-0 (15 KOs).

Following his latest victory – a seventh-round stoppage of Oliver Zaren on Thursday – ‘El Tornado’ told those in Quebec that he would like to capture the WBC title next.

“I hope the winner [of Canelo-Mbilli] faces me. I’d like my next fight to be a unification.”

Entering their showdown as an unbeaten contender, Zaren was pulled out by his trainer, former multi-time world champion Mikkel Kessler, after enduring a sustained beating.