Bob Sheridan(1944-2023)
Bob Sheridan is an American boxing and MMA commentator.
Sheridan was born in Boston, Massachusetts, after his parents moved to the United States from Ireland as toddlers. His mother came from County Mayo and his father came from County Longford; both were born in 1905. Sheridan didn't come from a highly educated background. His grandfather worked as a sheet-metal worker and passed that trade onto Sheridan's father. Bob's knowledge of Irish culture was provided to him by Andrew Dougherty, his maternal grandfather.
Sheridan graduated from Lexington High School and continued on to college (University of Miami) on a baseball scholarship. After graduating from college in 1966, Sheridan found a spot on a Minor League team called the Miami Marlins. By his own account, Sheridan wasn't very good at baseball and had only been brought on the team to fill a spot until a younger player arrived.
Soon after college, Bob began his amateur career as an announcer. He hosted games for the University of Miami football team and the Miami Dolphins as well. Sheridan also spent time during early adulthood traveling between Ireland and Boston while managing a cattle farm in Ireland. At the same time, Sheridan managed his broadcasting career and a part-time job as a rodeo bull rider. In 1982 Sheridan left the cattle business, along with the rodeo bull-riding business, and moved back to the States to focus on his career as an announcer.
He went on to announce several of Muhammad Ali's title fights, including the Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman and the Thrilla in Manila which saw Ali take on Joe Frazier. He anchored telecasts for Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield's bouts. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2007 he succeeded Lon McEachern as the main play-by-play commentator for the bodog Fight mixed martial arts promotion, calling fights alongside Paul Lazenby, Jeff Osborne and Royce Gracie.
Sheridan was born in Boston, Massachusetts, after his parents moved to the United States from Ireland as toddlers. His mother came from County Mayo and his father came from County Longford; both were born in 1905. Sheridan didn't come from a highly educated background. His grandfather worked as a sheet-metal worker and passed that trade onto Sheridan's father. Bob's knowledge of Irish culture was provided to him by Andrew Dougherty, his maternal grandfather.
Sheridan graduated from Lexington High School and continued on to college (University of Miami) on a baseball scholarship. After graduating from college in 1966, Sheridan found a spot on a Minor League team called the Miami Marlins. By his own account, Sheridan wasn't very good at baseball and had only been brought on the team to fill a spot until a younger player arrived.
Soon after college, Bob began his amateur career as an announcer. He hosted games for the University of Miami football team and the Miami Dolphins as well. Sheridan also spent time during early adulthood traveling between Ireland and Boston while managing a cattle farm in Ireland. At the same time, Sheridan managed his broadcasting career and a part-time job as a rodeo bull rider. In 1982 Sheridan left the cattle business, along with the rodeo bull-riding business, and moved back to the States to focus on his career as an announcer.
He went on to announce several of Muhammad Ali's title fights, including the Rumble in the Jungle against George Foreman and the Thrilla in Manila which saw Ali take on Joe Frazier. He anchored telecasts for Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield's bouts. He was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004. In 2007 he succeeded Lon McEachern as the main play-by-play commentator for the bodog Fight mixed martial arts promotion, calling fights alongside Paul Lazenby, Jeff Osborne and Royce Gracie.