HBO’s “unofficial ringside scorer,” Harold Lederman, celebrates his 71st birthday today. Since joining HBO’s broadcast team in the mid 80s, Lederman has become one of the most recognizable voices in the boxing industry. Every boxing fan has a Harold Lederman impression. Ledermanisms like “hehe, ok Jim” and “Jim I gotta tell ya something,” are phrases Lederman could probably trademark for the amount of usage they’ve gotten over the years.
Like any judge, we sometimes scratch our heads at Lederman’s interpretation of fights. But he always gives several points to justify his stance. If you’ve ever held a fight party and the bout is close, Harold Lederman’s scores almost always spark heated debate. And you have to know the fighters themselves, who can many times hear the ringside commentary, use his words as a barometer for how they may be doing in the fight.
Happy birthday, Harold. Below is the catchphrase we’ve all come to identify him with.
Beats, Boxing and Mayhem 