The recent blunder by ring announcer Dan Hennessey at a big fight in Australia has caused quite a stir in the boxing world. Hennessey mistakenly declared the wrong winner at the RAC Arena in Perth, leading to a major controversy. His error occurred after the intense fight between Cherneka Johnson and Nina Hughes for the WBA bantamweight belt.
After mistakenly announcing Nina Hughes as the winner, Dan Hennessey faced heavy criticism from both the fans and fellow announcers alike. The mistake was particularly egregious as Hughes was seen celebrating her victory with her team, only for Hennessey to later correct himself and declare Cherneka Johnson as the true winner. The backlash on social media was swift and harsh, leading to Hennessey’s decision to step away from his role as a ring announcer for good.
A Career Cut Short
Dan Hennessey’s career as a ring announcer had been a successful one up until this unfortunate incident. Starting out at the Kings of Oceania kickboxing event, Hennessey quickly rose through the ranks to become a prominent figure in the industry. His most notable moment came in 2009 at the David Tua vs. Shane Cameron fight, which was the biggest PPV event in New Zealand at the time. Hennessey went on to become the main announcer for Duco Events, handling major fights featuring legendary boxers like Manny Pacquiao and Andy Ruiz. In 2019, he was even named MC of the Year at the Gladrap Boxing Awards.
Despite his previous success, the fallout from his mistake proved to be too much for Dan Hennessey to handle. In a heartfelt post on his Facebook page, the 56-year-old announcer expressed his gratitude for the support he had received over the years. However, the relentless criticism and backlash had taken a toll on his mental health, forcing him to announce his retirement from announcing. Hennessey bid farewell to his fans and colleagues, stating that he will cherish the memories of his time in the ring but will no longer be the “world’s punching bag.”
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