With Max Kellerman now alternating duties with Larry Merchant on HBO's World Championship Boxing and HBO Pay-Per-View telecasts, a void opens up on Boxing After Dark. And there certainly isn't a lack of interest for a gig on the fight game's flagship station, as veterans of television, print and otherwise are reportedly vying for a spot on the often well-regarded (but sometimes lacking), late-night program. Perhaps B.A.D. is considered lacking lately because of its historic beginnings. Think about it: Originally created to give more exposure to gifted-but-lesser-known fighters, B.A.D.'s first-ever show was Feb. 3, 1996 the night Marco Antonio Barrera knocked out Kennedy McKinney in one of the greatest junior featherweight brawls of all time. A month later, the Arturo Gatti legend was born, as the New Jersey slugger got off the canvas and rebounded from sure defeat to stop Wilson Rodriguez.
   
HBO would like nothing more than a return to the glory days. But a good on-air chemistry may be a key to that.
  
Back in the day, Merchant (color), Jim Lampley (blow-by-blow) and either Emanuel Steward or Roy Jones Jr., (all clad in neat business attire in place of the stuffy tuxedos) would call the action. Now, it's the newly-arrived Bob Papa, former heavyweight champ Lennox Lewis, and.
    
Here's a list of possible candidates.
     
Steve Farhood: The former editor of KO and Ring magazines has evolved into a solid on-air presence for Showtime. Always insightful and full of interesting fight knowledge that seemingly dates back to Cain vs. Abel, Farhood is a treat for hardcore boxing fans. The personal hope, though, is that Farhood an inspiration for many a writer, myself included returns to his rightful place as the best magazine writer and editor in the game. It's no coincidence that the quality of some of his former magazines has dropped since his departure several years ago. And that's not necessarily a knock on the current regime. It's just that Farhood was a workaholic whose passion for the sport was obvious in everything he wrote and edited. And there was information out the wazoo. If HBO picks him, there will be few complaints. But then that would also mean he'd never go back to print. And that would be the real shame.
     
Wally Matthews: If Farhood is the best magazine scribe, then Matthews is among the best newspaper guys. A veteran of the New York sports scene, formerly with the Post and now with Newsday, there's not a story on this planet that Matthews wouldn't attack with zeal. And Matthews' investigative instincts are solid. He made his name back in 1988, when he was covering the Seoul Olympics for NBC. Matthews covered every crevice of the boxing landscape over those three weeks, and got people to notice. (A communications teacher at UTEP, my alma mater, used him as an example of tenacious journalism).  People have strong opinions about him in New York. But he's always been a top-notch, knowledgeable, interesting boxing writer. And, he has a good personality for a gig like this (most writers are, ahem, boring). A solid choice.
    
Lester Bedford: Don't know if HBO is seriously considering him, but Bedford could be their upset special. Fans outside of the Texas area may not be familiar with Bedford , but he is a staple of the Southwest boxing scene. In fact, almost every significant fight card that has been staged in Texas over the past 25 years is a product of Bedford' s hard work (always in tandem with a major promoter). His promotional accomplishments include managing/marketing over 100 world title fight events, including; the 1993 superfight between Pernell Whitaker and Julio Cesar Chavez in San Antonio 's Alamodome that drew 65,000 and the 1998 fight between Oscar De La Hoya and Patrick Charpentier in El Paso. It was Bedford who convinced Top Rank boss Bob Arum to stage that fight in the Sun Bowl, and then made it work, drawing a record 46,000 people. Besides his obvious promotional expertise, Bedford has called several HBO and Showtime, International telecasts as a color analyst.  Unlike most writers, he has a personality and insight from the inside. He is perhaps best known by some for having managed the career of two-time world champion, Jesse James Leija, as well as being involved in the development of several other contenders and champions.  Heck, he boxed himself when he was a young man. And, he even started out as a sports writer after college.  A darkhorse, but a versatile, well-rounded choice that HBO should be considering.
   
Ron Borges: Borges has been a regular of the newspaper boxing scene for years. Which is why it was so depressing to see his demise at the Boston Globe. But, given Borges' talents, it won't be long before he's in the spotlight again. It could be at HBO, which is obviously attracted to the idea of scribes-turned-announcers, and employs him as a writer for its website. Not only that, but the network has used Borges often for its boxing documentaries, whether it's Countdown To (Insert Fight Here), or Legendary Nights: The Tale of (Insert Fight Here).He is knowledgeable, funny, and insightful if a tad dry. Still, if it's not here, it'll be somewhere for Borges, a good guy who deserves the benefit of the doubt for the Globe debacle.

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