Let the Facts Be Told – Ring Announcer Henry “Dis-com-bob-u-lating” Jones Voices His Thoughts.

Interview by Pattee Mak – May 11, 2015

African-American ring announcer and Hall of Famer Henry “Dis-com-bob-u-lating” Jones from D.C. wants more presence announcing on TV.   If you know him, maybe you are wondering the same thoughts … so let’s talk Jones.

Pattee Mak: Mr. “Dis-com-bob-u-lating” Jones , previous to this interview we spoke a bit about the joys of you being a pro/am boxing and mma ring announcer and on the flip side your troubling concerns that you aren’t getting enough TV time on mainstream television. Am I correct and can you elaborate in more details as to why I’m not seeing more of you on national TV.

Jones: Well, Pattee, the facts speak for themselves. It has been one incident after another ever since I started announcing back in 1989. The first curious thing was with the USA Tuesday Nite Fites Network. Their Boxing Coordinator told the local DC Promoter I was okay to announce the non-televised undercard but not the TV portion because “Jones doesn’t SHOW UP WELL on TV!” The Promoter countered, “That’s funny…because the FIGHTERS look just like Jones and seem to show up pretty good”. The recently departed Ed Derian from Philadelphia was brought in and given the job over me on a couple of different occasions.

Years later, in the mid ’90’s, the Boxing Coordinator for ESPN told the local Baltimore Promoter they couldn’t let me announce the TV fights because “Jones has an…um…condition, he’s too Loquacious”.   The Promoter, not well-versed in words said, “Well, I sure hope he can get help for it ‘cuz he’s the best ring announcer around these parts”. Ed Derian was again brought in to announce the card. I sent a letter to the ESPN Boxing President, who called me personally to assure me it would never happen again, that he welcomed the diversity I brought to the telecast in that position. I announced several cards on ESPN after that from around the country, as it was the Promoter’s prerogative to hire and pay the Ring Announcer, and many Promoters liked my style and wording on the mic to motivate the fighters and keep the paying audience entertained. They also liked how I was able to sell tickets, wherever I announced.

Most recently, ESPN jumped through hoops again to keep me from announcing.   Last February, 2014, our local Champion Lamont Peterson was defending his Jr Welterweight Title from the DC Armory. Both the local Headbanger Promoter as well as the Lead Promoter, Gary Shaw Productions, wanted me to announce the card but was TOLD by the ESPN Boxing President that they were bringing in “One of their Own!”. Ironically, it was a former boxing writer who they brought in to replace me, a guy who had actually interviewed me several years ago on the challenges I was facing as the only Black Ring Announcer.

Worse than anything, I was slated to receive a proclamation in the ring that night during the telecast, from the White House Office on HBCU’s, signed by President Obama, for being the Modern Day Trailblazer of African-American Ring Announcers. Get this scenario: I was relegated to announcing the undercard for a relatively unknown Caucasian ring announcer…during Black History Month…who was flown in from Florida, put up in a hotel and paid by ESPN…here in my boxing base of operations where I’ve been THE ONLY Ring Announcer for the past 25 years.  Stevie Wonder could see something very wrong with that picture!

When I was able to finally get in contact with the ESPN Boxing President who made the decision to exclude me, he said the reason was “Frankly, we don’t like your … (wait for it) … STYLE! You are more suited for Showtime or HBO and we prefer our ring announcers to be more CUT and DRY on the mic”.  First, I thanked him for the back-handed compliment, then asked why he didn’t exercise due process and give me the opportunity to be cut and dry. He had no good answer except to say that he would consider it next time “IF” a Promoter asked for me. I thanked him for the future opportunity and corrected him to say “When” a Promoter asked for me again, that I was somewhat in demand but being held back because of my … style? And here I thought style was a good thing. Fighters have styles … and styles make fights right? Further, you certainly can’t have style without … COLOR. Just a thought.

Well, Pattee, as you are undoubtedly aware, the May 22nd telecast will be the last one for ESPN Friday Night Fights, so my last opportunity with them would have been the best one.

As far as being prevented from announcing, it very well may not be due to my pigmentation … MAY NOT BE … but anyone would have to agree that it certainly is rather curious that 99% of Boxing Fans HAVE NEVER SEEN A BLACK RING ANNOUNCER OF PROMINENCE on TV, except for when I was able to get work. Take a poll and ask anyone to name just ONE Black Ring Announcer. No boxing fan under 50 years of age will be able to do so. Manny Steward had a black guy in the late 70’s and early 80’s named Jim Ingram but he was too dark in hue to stay on the air. Manny said Jim died not just from a heart condition, but from a broken heart in being discriminated against because of how he looked. Before that, you would have to go all the way back to 1947, when a fair-skinned guy named Jim Bostic became the first licensed Black Ring Announcer, then it took him 25 more years to get to announce in Madison Square Garden in 1972. There is no recorded document of what happened to him afterwards. This is also my 25^th year of announcing, so I feel as if I’m channeling his spirit at this time.

In the Boxing Ring of Public Opinion, I think I have a pretty strong case that there has been something amiss about that particular position … and it has affected me more than anyone due to my longevity and perseverance. Is it merely coincidence? I’ll leave it to you to judge.

Pattee Mak: WOW, I honestly do not know what to say. For the first time I’m speechless. There was a lot said there… It seems to me that maybe you have an issue with ESPN?

Jones: No, you have it TWISTED SISTER (my homage to the musical group I met once..lol). ESPN had the issue with me! I find it real hypocritical of them saying they didn’t like my STYLE. As I recall, they used the exact term about the late Sportscaster Stuart Scott, my Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Brother, then sung his praises after he died from cancer. I’m a cancer survivor, for 26 years now, and take pride in being a Mentor to many but I have no intention of being a Martyr.

Pattee Mak: I’ve never did any ring announcing, but I would assume that the [Michael] Buffer’s of this world would be under contract to ring announce x amount of shows. If that is the case, wouldn’t it be hard to bring someone else in unless maybe for the undercard? How does the procedure usually work?

Jones:  Michael Buffer has been my Mentor since I started in 1989 and helped me more than anyone in boxing on a high level. I’ve announced undercards for him in the Garden, he allowed me to make history by opening up Radio City Music Hall for boxing (Roy Jones-David Telesco), Atlantic City, Philadelphia, and elsewhere. He even wrote the foreword for the book I’ve authored, “It’s More Than A NOTION!”, which is being scripted for a movie. A Documentary is also in the works and he will be featured prominently in that as well.

Contractually, HBO is obligated to use Buffer as their 1^st choice and Jimmy Lennon, Jr. is the main man at Showtime. If neither is available for whatever reason, the lead Promoter has the option to bring in one of the second tier ring announcers approved for announcing … Joe Antonnacci, Joe Martinez, Dave Diamante, Thomas Trieber, Ray Flores, Mike Williams and a few others….NONE of whom are African-American. Still coincidence? The Ring Announcer’s job is really a prestigious and political position in boxing. The entire boxing world saw it firsthand when both Buffer AND Lennon, Jr shared the ring introductions for the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout. The last time that happened was when Lennox Lewis fought Mike Tyson. I think I’m deserving of, at least, being in the 2^nd tier of ring announcers.

Pattee Mak: What about mma, do you feel the same way with not getting enough of exposure?

Jones: Well, we know Michael Buffer’s brother, Bruce Buffer, is the voice of MMA for the UFC. I personally spoke with UFC President Dana White about the opportunity we have to increase the African-American fan base for mma if he brought me on board. I put a proposal packet in the hands of his VP, Marc Ratner, who I’ve known for over 20 years, from when he was the Chairman of the Las Vegas Boxing Commission. I followed up and tried to contact both gentlemen but never received a response. There’s no doubt my colorful ring announcing “style” would be a great fit for UFC or Bellator events.

Pattee Mak: Do you feel that you are being discriminated against? I don’t know the actual laws that govern discrimination but have you sought counsel on this or spoken to anyone at ESPN and voiced your concerns?  

Jones: Pattee, for the record, I’ve never used the term “discrimination” in this interview but that is the word that would come to the mind of anyone reading this from the facts I’ve given I don’t want to come off as that stereotypical “angry Black Man playing the Race Card” but something’s rotten in Denmark, as they say. There is no denying the fact there has been a very obvious “bias” present when it comes to me getting TV work. The network boxing coordinators couldn’t say that I’m not articulate, knowledgeable or competent, so they got “creative” on me and used excuses that have ranged from the sublime to the ridiculous. I couldn’t make any of this up if I was former TV journalist Brian Williams.

I thought seriously about pursuing my situation through legal channels but decided to take the path of least resistance and felt I could reason with ESPN. Their long running Friday Night Fight series officially ends on May 22^nd as previously mentioned, so all of this is a moot point now, per se. In the event Mr. Al Haymon desires to hire me for his new PBC fight series, some of which will be telecast on ESPN, and the same people are there and exclude me again, then I will have no alternative but to look into tort claims.

Pattee Mak: Have you discussed this with other ring announcers and has anyone else mentioned that it’s difficult for them also to get hired for TV bouts?

Jones: I’ve tried to reach out to some of the other ring announcers I mentioned but none of them ever responded back. It’s a very competitive situation and no one wants to share the microphone.

Pattee Mak: I could understand why they wouldn’t want to “share the microphone”.

Jones: I can too, especially if one of them has to announce after me. I leave a hard act to follow.

Pattee Mak: You are currently in the Washington, D.C. area. I know there isn’t a ton of pro boxing held there. Do you feel that maybe to bring you into another location would mean additional travel expenses including room, air fare where a local ring announcer might cost less money?

Jones: Actually, Pattee, there is a considerable amount of pro boxing here in the DMV (District, Maryland, Virginia) area, and on a consistent basis, led by Keystone Promotions, Renaissance Boxing, HardWork Promotions, Tony Jeter/RBA Promotions, District Entertainment and HeadBangers Promotions who feature our Jr Welterweight Champion Lamont Peterson. Local Product Gary Russell, Jr just won a World Title and Al Haymon has signed no less than a dozen of our local talent. It would make for standing room only if he showcased them at home on the same card.

As far as me announcing elsewhere, I’ve been able to market myself to make it cost-effective for Promoters to bring me on board. What most fans don’t know is that I am a Masters degree Social Worker by profession, having been employed for 33 years now with the DC Government Department of Human Services. I work in the Teen Parent Assessment Program, empowering adolescents to make good, conscientious choices, I engage teens, young fathers, Returning Citizens and other groups, helping all of them to become more self-sufficient. I have an extensive network of professional contacts in most cities around the country. I usually arrive to a fight site city days in advance, rent a car, and go around to promote the card. I do so in very interactive ways, through motivational speaking engagements, I implement my Anti-bullying, Domestic Violence, Anger Management initiatives, set up book signings, participate in Media interviews, visit schools, rec centers, churches, and as many other places as my time allows. In exchange for my appearances and presentations, groups and organizations purchase tickets from me to attend the fight card I’m announcing. On several occasions I’ve also been able to obtain Sponsorships that I split with Promoters.

To your point that a local ring announcer would cost less in expenses, then why bring in someone to DC over me? Especially when their presence won’t generate ONE more ticket sold! The name of the game is to put…feets at the seats…and I do that better than anyone in DC in particular. When Amir Khan fought here against Lamont Peterson a few years ago, I personally sold over $33,000 in tickets easily, and did so for just a 20% commission.

In essence, it pays for a Promoter to hire me, here or elsewhere, as I make it a Win-Win situation for everyone. Pattee, doesn’t this “make dollars and good sense?”

Pattee Mak: Sounds like a win-win situation also to me.   Promoters take note of Jones!!!  

Jones: Thank you for the vote of confidence.

Pattee Mak: What do you want people to know about your situation?

Jones: Just that I’ve been true to the sport and dedicated myself for 25 consecutive years to become one of the best. Unfortunately, my obsession to succeed in boxing was largely responsible for costing me my first marriage after 24 years. I’ve recently re-married and have the right partner now, a former model who has a passion for fashion and we support each other’s interest, which is a great compromise. I am better able to balance my boxing involvement with the other areas in my life now.

Pattee Mak: What would you eventually like the outcome to be?

Jones: I just want a fair chance to demonstrate my ring announcing skills too. Boxing is back in a big way now, with bouts scheduled to air on Tru TV, Bounce TV, CBS, NBC, Fox Sports, in addition to ESPN, HBO, and Showtime. There should be room for me somewhere in there. Interestingly enough, Black Entertainment Television (B.E.T.) is also in the mix now, with their first card slated for June 20^th , featuring the return of Andre Ward. Wouldn’t it be apropos for “Pro Boxing’s Most Prominent Black Ring Announcer to debut on B.E.T.” in the near future? It’s not like I feel entitled to getting that job, just highly deserving, and the positive benefits I could bring as a high profile Black Male Role Model would be far reaching. We could do good and do well (for many others) at the same time. Speaking of time…that certainly is of the essence Pattee, as I don’t have another 25 years to devote to ring announcing, hoping for a breakthrough!

Pattee Mak: I wish you all the best and thanks for answering my questions. What social media sites can your fans follow you on?

Jones: I can be reached at https://www.facebook.com/discombobulating.jones.5

Pattee, thank you for allowing the more conscientious boxing fans to know of my challenges to become mainstream. The truth of the matter is that we will never be a Post Racial society and “truth crushed to earth shall rise again!” I’ve never lost faith that my breakthrough would come and know THIS IS MY SEASON…..GOD BLESS.

Pattee Mak: GOD BLESS you also and good luck on your documentary.

Jones: Thanks and I hope to meet you at ringside sooner than later….for a televised card I’m announcing.

Pattee Mak: I hope so too. Looking forward to it. Please follow me on facebook, twitter and instagram.



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