Don’t get me wrong, it was great seeing a world-class fighter like lightweight Julio Diaz on free TV. Thank you ESPN2 and Wednesday Night Fights. His clinical dismantling of previously undefeated and evidently stone-footed David Torres, however, didn’t make for exciting TV. The fight’s venue…that’s another story.
For the fifth year in a row ESPN2 filmed a boxing card at Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion and there was plenty of beautiful sights to see in between rows. The ESPN announcing team of Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas even commented on the many requests they had for press credentials.
Speaking of Teddy, we’ve …read more

ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights card took its first hit last week when the Ola Afolabi vs. Francisco Palacios main event was canceled last week. Most of the fights appeared to be one-sided stat-padding producers. Nevertheless the Scranton, Pa. crowd and the viewing audience got a good show replete with a debatable decision and a bloody main event.
In the opener 20-year-old Mexican welterweight James De La Rosa outclassed Guyanan Troy Wilson (80-72 on all the cards) to up his record to 16-0.
In the second fight middleweight Josh Snyder (7-3) gave John Mackey (8-1) his first L dropping him in …read more

Something was different about ESPN2’s Friday Night Fights. I was relaxed. I was soothed. I wasn’t stressed. I didn’t change the channel. I wasn’t yelling “please stop talking” at the television. The mute button was not engaged. What was the difference? The increasingly annoying team of Joe Tessitore and Teddy Atlas was replaced last night with the always excellent Brian Kenny and ex-heavyweight champ and Transporter 2 actor Shannon Briggs.
I’m not denying Teddy Atlas’ extensive knowledge or his boxing acumen. He’s a likable guy who every five minutes forgets more about boxing than I’ll ever know. My main …read more