Michael Woods

Michael Woods got addicted to boxing in 1990, when Buster Douglas shocked the world with his demolition of the then-impregnable Mike Tyson. The Brooklyn-based journalist has covered the sport since for ESPN The Magazine, ESPN.com, Bad Left Hook and RING. His journalism career started with NY Newsday in 1999. Michael Woods is also an accomplished blow by blow and color man, having done work for Top Rank, DiBella Entertainment, EPIX, and for Facebook Fightnight Live, since 2017.

Top Rank On ESPN Was A Soft Breakup; Is ESPN Keeping Boxing In The ‘Friend Zone?’

I found it curious that there was a lack of sentiment on the last Top Rank show with ESPN, on Saturday, July 26, from the Madison Square Garden Theater in Manhattan, NY. Yeah, not the big room. And nah, not a big-ticket splashy finale, one befitting and honoring an eight-year marriage which ended in a […]

Top Rank On ESPN Was A Soft Breakup; Is ESPN Keeping Boxing In The ‘Friend Zone?’ Read More »

Bob Arum: The End of ESPN Era, Pacquiao-Barrios PPV Numbers, Teofimo Lopez & More

Bob Arum is not a sentimental man, definitely not publicly. It fits—this is a “businessman” foremost. His lane is boxing promotion, and that in itself leaves less room for sentiment, for feelings, because in business, it is about numbers more than feelings. So, if I am feeling wistful and want to do a sum up

Bob Arum: The End of ESPN Era, Pacquiao-Barrios PPV Numbers, Teofimo Lopez & More Read More »

Exclusive: Bob Arum Anticipates ‘Robust’ Programming Starting Sept & ‘Up To 40 Events’

Bob Arum, like many a good Wikipedia entry, was born in Brooklyn and has been married, divorced, and married again. Arum, born in 1931, has seen lots, done tons, and it must be conceded, even by those who throw darts at him, that he is a “G” at 93. Sounds like smoke blowing? That could

Exclusive: Bob Arum Anticipates ‘Robust’ Programming Starting Sept & ‘Up To 40 Events’ Read More »

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero DAZN PPV: The Ball Was Dropped In Times Square

The circus came and went. I slept on it, hitting the pillow late Friday/early Saturday morning sober, but actually still under the influence after spending three hours watching overall sub pedestrian action, in a setup which came off as less majestic than promised or imagined. Boxing’s top show runner Turki Alashikh got whacked around pretty

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero DAZN PPV: The Ball Was Dropped In Times Square Read More »

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero: Turki, Jim Lampley, Platform Wars-Welcome To ‘Gotham City’

I will be watching the circus tomorrow, Friday, May 2, in a ring in Times Square, New York City, a place that can feel like the capital of the world, make you feel like royalty, or so they will think on IG! Or it can be the place where you go from heady delight, vibing

Ryan Garcia vs. Rolando Romero: Turki, Jim Lampley, Platform Wars-Welcome To ‘Gotham City’ Read More »