FOX hires Boom Boom to broadcast

By Greg Gulas

sports@vindy.com

For the first time since the early 1990s, network television is bringing boxing back to its prime-time sports schedule.

FOX Sports and Premier Boxing Champions recently announced they will be teaming to televise eight world title fights in the first three months of their new deal.

Youngstown native Ray “Boom Boom Mancini, the former lightweight world champion, lives in the Mahoning Valley but has multiple business dealings in Santa Monica, Calif.

Mancini is one of two analysts whose services have been secured as either ringside commentator or studio host.

“I am very excited about this opportunity,” Mancini said Monday from the West Coast. He’ll join former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis as an on-air personality with a third analyst to be determined.

Mancini and Lewis are set to team with Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Chris Myers and Emmy Award-nominee Kenny Albert, who will call the action ringside. Kate Abdo will serve as studio and fight night host.

Boxing hall of famer Larry Hazzard will serve as rules expert and unofficial scorer.

Mancini said he received a call in October from Eddie Hearns and DAZN about serving as a commentator for their upcoming streaming deal with Matchroom and Golden Boy Promotions.

FOX Sports executive Steve Becker then pitched Mancini about their aggressive boxing schedule and commitment.

“Fox had just completed a deal with Al Haymon and his Premier Boxing Champions group,” Mancini said. “Becker said Al asked for me personally, then told me the situation and asked if I was interested.

“After talking with him I told him I was, in fact, very interested and he said he’d call me back in a couple weeks.

“When Steve called back, I jumped at the opportunity,” Mancini said. “He said I was the first commentator they had signed, then came Lennox and a few others would soon follow.”

There are three platforms that FOX Sports will utilize for their shows with eight world champions and more than two dozen top-notch boxers squaring off on FOX, FOX Deportes, FS1 and their first FOX PBC Pay-Per-View fight, set for March.

Heading the FOX Deportes portion of their telecasts will be International Boxing Hall of Fame member Erik “El Terrible” Morales, a former four-division world champion who will team with Jaime Motta and Jessi Losada.

“It’s my understanding that there will be 11 shows on FOX prime time Saturday night, 11 more shows on FS1 with four more shows on FOX PBC Pay-Per-View,” Mancini said. “The shows will take place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, MGM in Las Vegas and in Los Angeles at the Staples Center.

“I’ll work both ringside and in-studio, which is very appealing to me,” Mancini said. “When I work ringside I’ll fly to the site the day before, do the event and then fly home on Sunday.

“If I’m in studio then I’ll need to be at the site on Wednesday, attend the press conference and weigh-ins and then do the show,” the Cardinal Mooney High School graduate said. “I pass the FOX Studios almost every day when I’m in California, which is where they do their NFL Live show. Now, I’ll be working there.”

Mancini’s first assignment will be on FOX in Brooklyn on Dec. 22 at 8 p.m. when Jermall Charlo (27-0, 21 K’s) defends his WBC interim middleweight title against top-ranked contender Willie Monroe (23-3, 6 KOs).

Charlo’s twin, Jermell (31-0, 15 KOs), will go up against Tony Harrison (27-2, 21 KOs) in the fourth defense of his WBC super welterweight championship.

“I’ve yet to receive word as to whether I’ll be ringside or in their Los Angeles studio,” Mancini said. “Either place, it’s a great opportunity for me and one that I am really looking forward to, plus the fights are very competitive pairings.”