The backlash for calling the wrong winner in a boxing match was enough for ring announcer Lt. Dan Hennessy to say he was quitting boxing for the first time in 18 years.
The internet mob proved unforgiving after accidentally awarding Nina Hughes the winner in her match against Cherneka Johnson in Perth, Australia, before being corrected.
“Thank you everyone for your kind words. Unfortunately, the worldwide backlash has been truly incredible and has affected my mental health to the point that I have to do one more show,” he said. he wrote in a Facebook post.
“The reason I’m on this show is because I still keep my promise…I love all of my friends around the world and I’ll keep in touch with them. Thank you. I’m no longer the punching bag of the world. No, it came out.”
Hennessy claimed that one judge scored the contest 95-95, one judge scored it 96-94 and the final judge scored it 98-92.
While Hughes celebrated, Hennessy corrected him by majority vote saying Johnson was the true winner.
The broadcast announcer, namely Joe Tessitore, did not like him and was furious at the mistake.
“Is this guy real?” Tessitore said. “Is this guy, Lieutenant Dan Hennessy, real? … Can someone other than Mark Schnock, Jimmy Lennon, Michael Buffer, and Lieutenant Dan Hennessy come here right now?”
Tessitore also said that the ring announcer made multiple mistakes that night, as Hennessey incorrectly read the score from the usual standard scoring procedure in the first match.
Hennessy was clearly annoyed by his blunder and walked away after announcing the correct winner, very angry with himself.
He tried to correct the mistake before doing so and apologized to everyone involved.
“I own it. It’s all on me. I take full responsibility…me,” he wrote in a Facebook post. “I have apologized to everyone involved, and I would like to also apologize to you all. I am sorry for what happened. Again, I own it and will do better next time. All I can do is try my best. It wasn’t the best day at the office. I’m sure all the witty comments on social have left me feeling overwhelmed and overwhelmed by the performance. I’m sorry. You deserve better. I’m sorry.
Hughes, who was originally announced as the winner of the fight, was also upset.
“I don’t understand how you can change the score after you announce the winner,” Hughes said. “That’s a joke. I feel like I was robbed of big time. There should be a rematch. I didn’t lose that fight.”
