WHEN Michael Buffer talks, people tend to listen. So Super League ought to be grateful for the following words from one of the most iconic voices in sport.
‘I think rugby league as a sport has to catch on because it’s just as exciting as the NFL,’ the legendary boxing announcer tells Mail Sport. ‘I’d like to see more fans get involved in watching it.
‘It’s going to have to be marketed right in America, but I think there is an audience out there just waiting for this type of thing.’
Buffer mentions his homeland because rugby league is hitting Las Vegas this weekend, with Wigan Warriors taking on Warrington Wolves in the first-ever Super League match in America.
The 80-year-old has been heavily involved in the promotion of the historic fixture, with Sky Sports flying him over to Wigan’s season opener with Leigh Leopards earlier this month for his first experience of the sport.
Buffer took to the pitch to introduce the teams with his trademarked catchphrase, ‘Let’s get ready to rumble’. He then watched from the stands as Leigh beat the Super League champions 1-0 in golden-point extra time following the first 0-0 draw in the competition’s history.
Michael Buffer as been helped promote the first-ever Super League match in America
Rugby League stars gathered to help promote the historic fixture set to take place in Las Vegas
As part of the promotion, Buffer was flown in to Wigan where he introduced the teams
The next day, Buffer was back at The Brick Community Stadium presiding over a ‘wedding’ ceremony between two Wigan fans at a pop-up Vegas-style chapel set up in the car park as part of a Sky promo.
‘When my office was contacted by Sky, at first I thought, “Where is Wigan?”,’ he laughs. ‘They said, “Well, it’s Manchester” and I’ve been to Manchester many times over the years for Ricky Hatton and other great fighters. I soon found out it’s actually an hour from Manchester.
‘But it turned out to be a happy trip. It was a lot more exciting than I thought it was going to be, with the match finishing 0-0, something that never ever happens in rugby. It was quite something.’
Buffer admits he and many Americans only learnt about rugby league recently because of Super Bowl winner Jordan Mailata. The Australian played the 13-a-side code for South Sydney Rabbitohs before switching to the Philadelphia Eagles via the NFL’s international player pathway programme.
‘He was a superstar as a teenager in Australia,’ says Philadelphia-born Buffer. ‘He was such a great athlete at 6ft 8in and 370lbs that the Philadelphia Eagles brought him in with no experience as an American football player.
‘With the athleticism and speed he displayed as a 20-year-old in rugby, they said, “We have to make this guy into a football player” and he was a big contributor to them being a Super Bowl winner.
‘So I think that made a lot of Americans aware of rugby, especially when they saw his highlights on YouTube.’
Buffer presided over a ‘wedding’ ceremony at a pop-up Vegas-style chapel in Wigan’s car park
Wigan will take on Warrington at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium, home to last year’s Super Bowl
In his 43-year career as a sports MC, Buffer has worked at the biggest matches in American football, basketball, baseball, ice hockey, as well as Formula One, IndyCar and NASCAR races. But he is, of course, best known for introducing the world’s biggest boxing fights, with many being staged at the scene of this weekend’s rugby league spectacle.
Asked for his favourite memories from Sin City, Buffer says: ‘One great moment was when Evander Holyfield and Riddick Boe had their rematch (in 1993).
‘A fan with a parachute crashed into the ring and a heavyweight world title had to be paused until everything died down. They had to wait 15 minutes, but when the fight resumed, it was a great fight.
‘Another great moment was when George Foreman came up with that knockout (against Michael Moorer in 1994) to become heavyweight champion of the world at 45 years old.
‘Then a huge upset was when Iran Barkley knocked out Tommy Hearns to become middleweight champion in 1988.’
Based in Los Angeles, Buffer spends more time in Saudi Arabia than Vegas these days, such is boxing’s changing landscape. He was in Riyadh last weekend to announce Dmitry Bivol’s victory over Artur Beterbiev in their light-heavyweight world title rematch.
And Buffer shows no signs of slowing down despite entering his ninth decade, revealing his secret formula for keeping his all-important voice in fine working order.
‘I have some throat tea that I like to drink,’ he adds. ‘A little warm tea with honey and lemon and when the event happens, the voice comes on and I am ready to roll.
‘I feel great. I enjoy what I do. I am treated well and I enjoy travelling. I do the introductions and then I am thinking to myself, “Man, I can’t wait to get out of the ring and watch the fights”.
‘I think I will maybe do another year or two. But I said that a few years ago and I am still cooking!’
