Brian Kenny-Stephen A. Smith to lead broadcast team for Pacquiao-Vargas fight

Top Rank will produce its own pay-per-view broadcast and has announced a team of broadcasters from ESPN, Fox Sports and MLB Network

By Robby Kalland

Sep 26, 2016 at 9:59 pm ET • 1 min read

When Bob Arum announced that Top Rank would self-produce and distribute the pay-per-view broadcast rather than use HBO for Manny Pacquiao's return to the ring against welterweight titleholder Jessie Vargas, one of the big questions was who would be calling the action.

We now have our answer as Top Rank unveiled the broadcast team for the Nov. 5 PPV bout on Monday. Brian Kenny (MLB Network), Stephen A. Smith (ESPN) and Top Rank fighter Timothy Bradley -- who has fought both Pacquiao and Vargas -- will serve as the commentating team for the fight. Charissa Thompson (Fox Sports) will host the event with Chrystina Poncher (Top Rank TV) as the reporter handling interviews.

"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. "It's a great combination with Brian, one of television's top TV announcers, color commentary from Stephen A. and Charissa's balanced hosting style. The expert analysis from Tim will round this out perfectly as he is considered one of the best fighters in the world and has secured victories against both Pacquiao and Vargas. 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."

When Arum announced the decision to produce the pay-per-view without the help of HBO, he said he had plans for a big-time announcing crew, and it seems as thought he's gotten his wish. As duBoef notes in the statement, the goal of putting together this crew was to make it appealing to more than just boxing fans.

Kenny has plenty of boxing chops serving as ESPN's boxing commentator on Friday Night Fights for years before his move to MLB Network. As for getting a big name in the booth, there are few more well known -- for better or worse -- in sports television than Stephen A. Smith.

Smith has never called a boxing match, which could be a bit of a concern, but he's a boxing fan and adding Bradley to the team should help bring some sharp analysis and insight into both fighters, as he has been in the ring with both.