Mario Lopez Takes the Helm at DAZN's 'Inside the Ring', Replacing Max Kellerman
Actor and TV personality Mario Lopez is set to host the upcoming season of DAZN's boxing program, signaling a shift in the show's lineup.
Mario Lopez, known for his roles in "Saved By the Bell" and as a host for "Extra," will step in as the new host for DAZN's boxing show "Inside the Ring" for its second season. The announcement was made Tuesday via DAZN's Boxing social media accounts.
This change will see the departure of previous host Max Kellerman and analyst LeSean McCoy. Boxing insider Mike Coppinger confirmed Monday that he will return to the show, which is slated to stream twice weekly on DAZN Boxing and Ring Magazine's YouTube pages. Total Boxing reported last week that Turki Alalshikh has agreed to sell a controlling stake in Ring Magazine to DAZN.
Lopez brings a notable background in boxing to the role. He trained for several years at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles and has shared his training progress on social media. Additionally, he has co-hosted "The 3 Knockdown Rule" podcast with Ring Magazine's Steve Kim and has served as a guest commentator for boxing events.
The second season of "Inside the Ring" is scheduled to premiere on Thursday. Lopez previously hosted "Extra" from 2007 to 2019 and reprised his role as A.C. Slater in the 2020 reboot of "Saved By the Bell."
Max Kellerman, who departed ESPN in 2023 after joining the network in 2003, will continue his work calling matches for Zuffa Boxing, a partnership between the Saudi Public Investment Fund and TKO. Kellerman's first broadcasting appearance after leaving ESPN was in September 2025, providing commentary for the Canelo Álvarez vs. Terence Crawford fight on Netflix.