Ring announcer Dan Hennessy retiring after viral screw up: ‘No longer the world’s punching bag’

Nina Hughes | ESPN, Top Rank

Sometimes you screw up so badly that the only thing to do is hang it up. That’s where ring announcer Dan Hennessy is right now.

This past weekend, Nina Hughes and Cherneka Johnson fought for the WBA bantamweight title as the co-main event for the Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. George Kambosos fight card, and after 10 rounds of action largely dominated by Cherneka, Hennessy badly botched the reading of the official decision, announcing Hughes as the winner. As the commentary team sat in stunned disbelief and Hughes celebrated her unexpected victory, Hennessy realized his mistake and then re-announced the decision, with Johnson getting her justly earned victory.

To his credit, Hennessy completely owned up to his mistake, and Johnson accepted his apology. But as you might expect, the internet was less kind to him. And as a result, on Tuesday, the veteran ring announcer declared that he is hanging up his microphone in response to the backlash.

“I love all the support from everyone. Thank you all for the kind words. Unfortunately the worldwide backlash is absolutely incredible and it’s effecting my mental health to a degree where I will have one more show ever. I am doing this show because I am still a man of my word and promised Sam Rapira that I would do it because he is a great mate and I refuse to leave him hanging. I love and will keep in touch with all my friends from around the world. Thank you. No longer the world’s punching bag. I’m out.”

At least he didn’t bungle this announcement.