What’s the hardest thing about being a commentator?
Adam Smith
Sky Sports commentator
I’ve wanted to be a commentator since I was 11 and I’ve been doing it in many ways ever since. It is very hard and different every time. Preparation, knowledge, sensing changes, levels, light and shade, passion and finding real rhythm with your co-commentator. Listening to people you respect and always being ready to adapt and learn.
Mike Costello
BBC commentator
There are different demands for radio and TV. On radio, the challenge is to avoid repetition and to judge when to stray from describing the action to add anecdotes or analysis, knowing the fight could end with a single punch. Miss the ‘moment’ and it’s gone forever, as there is no scope for replays without the pictures.
Alex Steedman
Boxing and sports commentator
The hardest part is the preparation and it’s so important. I’m not scared of criticism, or about seeing a fight differently, so the graft is really in the prep.
Ronald McIntosh
Boxing and sports commentator
When privileged to occupy a commentary box, my objective is to do the event justice; be accurate, informative and provide context about what is taking place.
What’s the most memorable fight you’ve commentated on?
Adam Smith
The first barnburner between Diego Corrales and Jose Luis Castillo. Toe-to-toe, classy skills and a Rocky-like ending from Diego in that 10th. On British soil, two stand out: Danny Williams beating Mark Potter with one arm and the classic between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko.
Mike Costello
Joshua-Ruiz I. Not just for the drama, but as someone raised on the wonder of Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier, it was a thrill to commentate on a heavyweight title fight at Madison Square Garden. Three knockdowns in a single round and one of the all-time upsets in a hallowed era.
Alex Steedman
Steven Ward beating Liam Conroy in June last year and Jamie Conlan versus Anthony Nelson are right up there for drama. But the first fight between Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez in 2017 was huge at the time and special to be part of.
Ronald McIntosh
There are far too many to mention! The obvious one would be Anthony Joshua beating Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley in front of 90,000 people. On the flip side, Joe Joyce versus Filip Hrgovic over five rounds at York Hall in WSB was a thriller!
