HBO’s Lampley says of fight: ‘It’s going to be really special’

HBO’s Jim Lampley has called countless big fights during his Hall of Fame broadcasting career. But even he’s surprised by the attention tonight’s megafight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao has generated.

“The use of social media has really helped grow the interest in this fight,” Lampley said Friday. “But for the 16,700 who are inside the arena, it’s going to be really special. It should set the selfie record with everyone’s cellphone camera out taking pictures of themselves at the fight. It’s the ultimate 21st century get. It’s going to be, ‘Look at me ... I’m here!’”

Lampley, HBO’s blow-by-blow announcer, will call the action for what’s expected to be a record pay-per-view audience. Lampley will be joined by his usual HBO analyst, Roy Jones Jr., and Showtime analyst Al Bernstein.

The three did a rehearsal Thursday, and Lampley said everything went great.

“Roy is the most adaptable person I’ve ever worked with,” he said. “There’s nothing you throw at him that he can’t speak extemporaneously and intelligently about. And Al? Al is someone I’ve watched for years and someone I have great respect for. I think we’ll be just fine working together.”

Lampley said two issues needed to be worked out. One was how replays will be handled (Bernstein and Jones will share the analysis), and the other was handling the CompuBox statistics (Lampley will oversee those).

“I think you’ll see everyone staying within their role,” Lampley said. “Our job is to say as little as possible and let the visuals dominate the broadcast.”

■ DUELING ANNOUNCERS — How big is this fight? It’s going to take two ring announcers to introduce the principals.

Michael Buffer will introduce Pacquiao, and Jimmy Lennon Jr. will handle Mayweather’s introduction.

Buffer works all of HBO’s pay-per-view events, and Lennon is the inside-the-ring voice for Showtime’s major fights. Pacquiao has been with HBO for years, and Mayweather is in the fifth of a six-fight deal with Showtime.

Each will use his signature catchphrase — Buffer’s “Let’s Get ready To Rumble!” and Lennon’s “It’s Showtime!” — as part of the introductions.

But who will announce the result of the fight? If Mayweather wins, does Lennon do the honors? Or if Pacquiao prevails, will Buffer let everyone know? That detail was still being worked out Friday.

Obviously, if the ring announcer whose fighter has won gets to broadcast the outcome, there goes the drama.

“It’s a delicate situation,” said someone involved in the process who didn’t want to be identified.

■ HONORARY SKYHAWK — Pacquiao normally takes his morning runs at UNLV when he’s in Las Vegas for a fight. This time he opted to run at Silverado High School.

Pacquiao and his entourage went to the school in the morning and tried not to disrupt the students. To show his appreciation, Pacquiao wrote the school a substantial check. Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz wouldn’t say for how much, but it was believed to be five figures.

“I was happy to make a donation to Silverado High School because of the hospitality they extended to me and my team during fight week,” Pacquiao said in a statement. “I am a Skyhawk forever!”

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913. Follow him on Twitter: @stevecarprj.