One of the Most Astonishing Moments in Boxing History Signals an End to a Career
Just four days after a spectacle that ignited discussions reminiscent of the “Moonlight” Oscars blunder and Steve Harvey’s infamous Miss Universe mix-up, veteran boxing announcer Dan Hennessey has decided to retire. The former U.S. Marine mentioned that the ordeal has severely impacted his mental health.
The incident that thrust Hennessey into the limelight unfolded last Saturday, during a bout between WBA bantamweight champion Nina Hughes and former IBF super bantamweight champion Cherneka Johnson. In a moment of confusion that would soon become infamous, Hennessey declared Hughes the winner by majority decision.
The celebration was short-lived. After the initial cheers and congratulations, Hennessey called the fighters back to the center of the ring. There, he shockingly reversed his earlier announcement, declaring Johnson the winner with the same scores.
This gaffe did not go unnoticed and drew sharp criticism, including from ESPN’s Joe Tessitore, who condemned the event as an “absolute clown show garbage amateur hour.” The error not only sparked outrage but left Hughes feeling betrayed by the sport she loves. Devastated, she expressed feeling “robbed” and decried the “dirty side” of boxing, though she vowed to invoke her rematch clause for another shot at Johnson.
Taking to Facebook, Hennessey admitted his mistake and accepted full responsibility for the mix-up, further complicated by his misspelling of Hughes’ name in his post:
“I own it. It’s all on me. I take full responsibility for the Chernika Johnson V Nina Houghs controversy. Not the judges, not the sanctioning body. Me. I have apologized to all involved and now I apologize to you. I am sorry for what happened. Again, I own it and can only try to do better next time. Not my best day in the office. I guess all the shy comments on socials I have coming. Again, I am crushed and sorry for my sstorm of a performance. You all deserved better. Sorry again.”
The backlash on social media took a toll on Hennessey, compelling him to announce his impending retirement after one final event:
“I love all the support from everyone. Thank you all for the kind words. Unfortunately, the worldwide backlash is absolutely incredible and it’s affecting 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.”
This extraordinary sequence of events highlights not only the unpredictable nature of boxing but also the immense pressure faced by those who orchestrate its most pivotal moments.
