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 really enjoyed the humor in his last few pre-match fight plans but none have delighted him more than the Julio Diaz feature that featured “Hugh Hefner’s youngest girlfriend” Kendra Wilkinson. If you missed it, check out Teddy’s wandering eyes and bad puns below. Btw, don’t listen to Kendra’s prognosticating advice. She’s no Jimmy the Greek. And thank heavens for that!

Post from: EveryJoe

Teddy Atlas at the Playboy Mansion

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 twice in the four-round fight. Mackey first went to the canvas in the rousing second round. At the round’s opening bell a strip of lights over the ring in went dark. So much for Scranton being the “Electric City.” Both fighters traded blows and flurries in that highly enjoyable round with Mackey falling into the ropes late.

Snyder floored Mackey again in the fourth with a monster right hand. Perhaps the judges were blinded by the temporary darkness as one judge scored the fight a draw. Granted, Mackey landed some great punches of his own in the second and fourth so the draw score wasn’t as egregious as ESPN2 announcer Teddy Atlas claimed.

This was a terrific four-rounder with great action and a powerful knockout. We’ll admit that we were pulling for Snyder. He was born in York, Pa. which is near jabandgrapple.com’s Harrisburg, Pa. HQ, and he currently lives in Berlin, Md. which is nearby jabandgrapple.com’s vacation destination of the Delaware shore. The Lackawanna College Student Union got their money’s worth with this one. The main event will get a post of its own, so above is a video of Snyder’s fourth round punch. The knockdown comes with 1:25 left in the round (or around 0:48 in the video).

Post from: EveryJoe

Scranton, Pa. Enjoys A Fun Night of Boxing

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 problem is that during his broadcasts he reminds you how much he knows during every second of every match. Sometimes I just want to watch, and take in both the ringside noise and the sounds of the fight. Atlas never allows for personal reflection; the fight always becomes only what he thinks.

Despite Friday Night Fights being Shannon Briggs’ first announcing attempt he sounded relaxed and comfortable. His biggest asset is his very calming pleasantly-toned voice. He’s just nice to listen to. He’s never whiny and never over-the-top. He’s understated but not overwhelmed by the experience, clever without being obnoxious, and jocular with Kenny without excluding to the viewing audience. Sure, he said a lot of banal “wows” “nices” and “definitelys” and his analysis rarely approached the technical smarts of Atlas but I sure hope he gets another color commentary chance.

As for Brian Kenny, he’s the best ESPN has to offer. He’s a straight announcer who neither plays for laughs nor takes the sports he covers too seriously. His world perspective reaches further than sports and Bristol, Conn; he’s not a cookie cutter Syracuse U. broadcast journalist. His on-air presence is always commanding despite the fact that he (thankfully) never yells or raises his voice. If more ESPN sports announcers brought Kenny’s studied approach, pleasant, curmudgeon-free attitude, and irony-free personality then maybe I’d start watching SportsCenter again.

Oh, and ESPN, would you please start broadcasting the Wednesday and Friday Night Fights fights in HD? That would be very much appreciated. And please bring back the Kenny-Briggs team. They were great.

Photo Source: Newscom.com

Post from: EveryJoe

Shannon Briggs Makes Boxing Announcing Debut