Boxing ring announcer, Michael Buffer, famous for the trademarked phrase, "LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE", is currently recovering at his  home in Los Angeles following surgery to remove cancerous tumors from  the throat and neck.

Buffer has issued the following statement:

"The cancer was detected at a very early stage in mid-February and  three weeks ago I was operated on by one of the best surgeons in the  field.  I am recovering well and feel stronger every day.  The early  detection prevented any spread that would have jeopardized my vocal  ability.  I am looking forward to being back in the ring next week  (Saturday, April 19th) as Bernard Hopkins faces Joe Calzaghe on HBO  PPV from Las Vegas.  The support and encouragement for a return to  good health received from my friends and members of the sports  promotion and broadcasting community was overwhelming and greatly  appreciated.  I was very surprised to learn how many cancer survivors  are out there and how they instantly rallied to my support.  As a new member of that group, I intend to keep up that tradition.

"My physicians are not sure of the cause as many things can  contribute to cancer but one very distinct possibility is smoking.   After a decade of smoking, I quit 35 years ago but the damage may  have begun.  Hopefully, my circumstances will encourage others to avoid smoking and second hand smoke when possible, and please get  regular checkups."

For more than 25 years, Buffer has been recognized around the world  as boxing's premiere ring announcer.  He is a staple on HBO boxing  and regularly travels to Europe and Asia for fight telecasts.  The  words, "Let's Get Ready To Rumble" are actually a registered  trademark and the licensing of the phrase has generated hundreds of  millions of dollars with video games (a new one coming out late this  year), toys, food products, clothing and sporting goods to name a  few.  Buffer's appearances and introductions have not been limited to  boxing as he has also opened World Series games, NBA Finals, Stanley  Cup games, NCAA events, WWE matches, the Olympics and concerts  featuring JayZ, Black Eyed Peas and Aerosmith.  He has appeared in numerous TV commercials and on dozens of shows such as the ESPYS,  Academy Awards, BET Awards, the Grammys, SNL, Mad TV, Leno, Letterman  and Conan.  Buffer has played himself many times over in motion  pictures but will be seen in a featured role as an unscrupulous NYC  realtor in "YOU DON'T MESS WITH THE ZOHAN" starring Adam Sandler due  this spring.