It’s that time of year. September is approaching which means the events are being booked, promoted and attended right through to Christmas. I’ve attended many boxing shows over the last 20 years ranging from Amateur to Professional to Corporate Fundraisers and one thing remains the same: the need for a quality knowledgable Ring Announcer.
Why is that?
Well, the person standing centre ring delivers the evening. He/she will orchestrate and string together the flow of the show packaging it in such a way that it is seamless, informative and extra enjoyable for the crowd. But it’s not a role that just anybody can step into. It requires special attention, advance research, understanding the vibe of the event and every single detail of each fighter and sponsor.
Just as important is knowing the nuances of the sport; the right tone of voice, specific timing of certain things, calling out the decision in a certain way keeping the crowd in suspense and of course: the proper use of cadence, pace, precision and professionalism.
Boxing is a traditional sport and the Ring Announcer is a traditional role. It’s what the fans love about the scene and it’s what keeps them coming back.
With so much planning, time invested, money and sponsorship expectations on the line, I would imagine that any promoter or event planner would want to represent their final product as authentically as possible. When the lights finally come on, it’s that voice, that face standing centre ring who is putting on display everyone's hard work leading up to that moment.
Keep in mind, I’m not just writing this as a Ring Announcer. I am writing this as a fight fan first and advocate for the advancement of the sport.
There is no guidebook for how to be a Ring Announcer. However, there are those who are doing it, putting in the time and passing on the knowledge. For them, I am extremely grateful.
Seconds out and see y’all at the fights✨