Former New Japan Pro Wrestling and SmackDown announcer Mauro Ranallo was announced officially today by Showtime as the lead play-by-play announcer for the August 26th Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight.
Showtime officials told The Sporting News that they would go with their usual boxing crew, and that the event would also include guest commentators, which are believed to be appearances by members of the UFC broadcast team.
Brian Custer was announced as the host of the show, while Ranallo will handle play-by-play.
Ranallo did the play-by-play for Showtime for the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight and most recently did the Joshua-Klitschko fight from Wembley Stadium in London. Besides his stint on SmackDown, which ended abruptly and in controversy in March, he’s done pro wrestling and every combat sport, from the heyday of Pride, to Glory kickboxing, to a number of MMA
promotions including Strikeforce, Elite XC, and Invicta, as well as the biggest matches over several years from New Japan Pro Wrestling on AXS.
Ranallo started his career as a heel manager for All-Star Wrestling in British Columbia and later became the television announcer for the local promotion, and also had a stint as the lead voice of a remake of Stampede Wrestling.
Boxing Hall of Famer Al Bernstein will handle the color with former champion Paulie Malignaggi.
Also on the crew will be Jim Gray handling the interviews and Steve Farhood doing the scoring. Farhood, who was just inducted last week into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, also has a pro wrestling background as one of the so-called Apter mag writers early in his career.