Merchant was part of the HBO Boxing commentary team along with Barry Tompkins, Jim Lampley, Max Kellerman, Gil Clancy, Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, Roy Jones Jr., Emanuel Steward, Lennox Lewis and Harold Lederman for championship and pay-per-view fights.
Among the fighters who have clashed with Merchant include Mike Tyson, Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Merchant continued to alternate "World Championship Boxing" telecasts and HBO PPV cards with Kellerman.
Among the many people that Merchant interviewed during his tenure as sportscaster on HBO Boxing was the future President of the United States Donald Trump before the fight between Mike Tyson and Michael Spinks in 1988,[1] and former South African President Nelson Mandela, the latter during a side-trip to Mozambique off an HBO Boxing program of the first Lennox Lewis-Hasim Rahman contest, which was held in South Africa in 2001.
[2] Merchant was hospitalized in critical condition in Los Angeles, California, following a medical emergency on December 21, 2023.
Dana White drew allegories between MMA commentator staff and stated negative opinions on Merchant.
Since leaving HBO Merchant has provided commentary for the international English language feed of some Top Rank promoted boxing shows.