Consider this your warning – ESPN talking head Stephen A. Smith will join the broadcast team of November’s fight between Manny Pacquiao and Jessie Vargas.

Smith, a noted defender of Floyd Mayweather, will join a broadcast crew which will also include Brian Kenny of MLB Network, Charissa Thompson of FOX Sports, and former welterweight champion Timothy Bradley.

All are worth noting as a part of the team, but Stephen A. will, for better or (much more likely) for worse, be the star of the show during the broadcast.

“We wanted to give the viewers a different perspective that informs and entertains and I think we have accomplished that with this fantastic team,” said Todd duBoef, president of Top Rank.  “We will expand the reach of this event beyond the boxing fan to an audience that has watched Stephen A., Brian and Charissa as regular fixtures in covering other major sports.”

There was no immediate word as to what role Smith would have during the broadcast. Will he actually provide commentary on the fight itself? Will they go to him between rounds? Will he just sort of be hanging around before and after the fight? The possibilities are endless.

Just how many people are going to tune in to this pay-per-view event strictly because Stephen A. is on the call? The actual number may not be quite what duBoef is hoping for, but even if one person pays for the PPV to hear what SAS has to say, that will be a little extra money in the bank. Of course, how much will Smith have to be paid?

You have been warned.

[Multichannel News]

About Kevin McGuire

Contributor to Athlon Sports and The Comeback. Previously contributed to NBCSports.com. Host of the Locked On Nittany Lions Podcast. FWAA member and Philadelphia-area resident.

Comments are closed.