Michael Buffer REFUSES to say his catchphrase

He’s the voice behind the famous boxing catchphrase ‘Let’s Get Ready To Rumble’ and he’s paid quite a generous sum to say it.

But on Wednesday morning during a live segment on Sunrise, Michael Buffer awkwardly ignored hosts David ‘Kochie’ Koch and Samantha Armytage’s request to repeat his famous catchphrase.

And this wasn’t the first time he refused their request – back in February they asked the same thing, but the 72-year-old blatantly ignored them.  

Well that’s awkward! The uncomfortable moment Sunrise’s Samantha Armytage and David Koch ask boxing legend Michael Buffer to repeat his famous catchphrase again…but he REFUSES (as he’s paid millions not to say)

This time however, ‘Kochie’ managed to get him to say something similar along the lines of his catchphrase. 

‘Can we just ask you to do the voiceover?’ Asked Samantha sheepishly. 

‘Will you do it for us this time? We’ve got to have a go,’ she pressed referring to the previous incident. 

‘Well you know I can’t say that until the main event I have to save that for fight night,’ Michael responded protecting his small fortune worth over $150 million. 

Second time lucky? 'Can we just ask you to do the voiceover?' Asked Samantha sheepishly

Second time lucky? ‘Can we just ask you to do the voiceover?’ Asked Samantha sheepishly

 ‘Can you just say ‘let’s get ready for news’ then,’ probed ‘Kochie’. 

‘Yes I can say that…’ Michael agreed gladly. 

Michael is a veteran of ‘well over a thousand fights’, and a 35-year career has seen him inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame. 

 ‘When I first started they were introducing everyone,’ Michael told Daily Mail Australia whose ‘Let’s Get Ready To Rumble’ battle cry has preceded the world’s biggest bouts since the mid-1980. 

 ‘From the people on the commission to the doctors, the referee, the judges, the board members… it was really getting out of hand and killing the crowd. I just wanted to let them know that they’re about to meet the stars of the show.

Million dollar catchphrase: Iconic MC Michael Buffer in action 

Million dollar catchphrase: Iconic MC Michael Buffer in action 

‘I tried other expressions first – ‘man your battle stations’ and ‘fasten your seatbelts’ – but nothing was happening. So I tweaked something Muhammad Ali would sometimes say at weigh-ins, ‘I’m ready to rumble’.

‘It wasn’t a big deal at first, but I stuck with it and after a few drinks one night a friend told me to shut the heck up after saying ‘Let’s get ready to rumble’ as the crowd wanted to react. So I started pausing and sure enough, there was a huge reaction. That’s when I knew I was on to a winner.’

 Veteran: Michael is a veteran of 'well over a thousand fights', and a 35-year career has seen him inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame

 Veteran: Michael is a veteran of ‘well over a thousand fights’, and a 35-year career has seen him inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame

Michael was born and raised in Philadelphia and was working as a male model before his career in the ring.

It was only when his eldest son, on watching a TV announcer give the scores of a split decision in the wrong order and ruin the surprise of who had won, suggested that his old man could do a much better job that Michael embarked on a career that has pushed his estimated net worth north of $150million. 

He's got his son to thank! Michael took up being a ring MC after his eldest son challenged him to do the job to a high level

He’s got his son to thank! Michael took up being a ring MC after his eldest son challenged him to do the job to a high level

‘I was in my early 30s and started contacting the hotels and promoters,’ he explained. 

‘I managed to get my foot in the door with them, but it would be a compliment to say I was dreadful when I first started!

‘I was nervous, my hands were shaking – I was a disaster. It’s one thing to practise in front of a mirror at home, but another to do it in front of 800 people or on live TV.

‘I got another chance half a year later and was able to correct a lot of things. I still watch myself back on tape to this day, always trying to improve my performance.’

 Male model: Michael was born and raised in Philadelphia and was working as a male model before his career in the ring.

 Male model: Michael was born and raised in Philadelphia and was working as a male model before his career in the ring.

 



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