Max Kellerman, once a prominent ESPN personality, stepped away from the network after a high-profile exit but has since made a strong comeback in boxing broadcasting.

ESPN Exit Timeline

Kellerman co-hosted First Take with Stephen A. Smith until 2021, when internal tensions—reportedly including Smith's push to remove him—led to his reassignment to less prominent roles like a morning radio show and This Just In. ESPN fully parted ways with him in 2023 amid layoffs, leaving him on a lucrative payout estimated at $5 million to sit out his contract, which fueled speculation about his "disappearance" from TV. During this period, he stayed low-key, enjoying financial security while plotting his next move, as former colleague Marcellus Wiley noted.

Boxing Broadcasting Return

By September 2025, Kellerman relaunched publicly with Inside the Ring , a weekly boxing show on Magazine alongside Mike Coppinger, timed perfectly before major fights like Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford. He escalated his comeback by joining the broadcast team for the blockbuster Canelo vs. Crawford super middleweight clash on Netflix from Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium on September 13, 2025—his first major sports TV gig in nearly two years. Kellerman called it the "show boxing always needed," highlighting his passion for the sport where he first built credibility.

Recent Buzz and Reflections

In late 2025, Kellerman reflected on First Take 's grueling format, admitting the daily demand for "counterintuitive takes" on 12 topics felt "insane" and strained his dynamic with Smith. Forum chatter spiked around a podcast appearance praised as "legit great," showcasing his sharp analysis beyond ESPN drama. A viral moment saw Canelo Álvarez clapping back at Kellerman's comments on UFC's Dana White, stirring boxing vs. MMA debates on Reddit.

Phase| Key Events| Status
---|---|---
ESPN Peak (2010s-2021)| Around the Horn host, First Take co-host 2| High visibility
Transition (2021-2023)| Reassigned, then laid off with payout 15| Off-air, paid hiatus
Comeback (2025+)| Inside the Ring , Canelo-Crawford broadcast 210| Active in boxing media

TL;DR: Kellerman cashed an ESPN severance, vanished briefly, then roared back in 2025 with boxing gigs, proving his mic skills endure.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.