January 8th, 2013 by Colin M Jarman
ESPN’s Friday Night Fights returned on Jan 4th for its 15th season with a new studio host and on-site reporter, plus some exciting changes to the long-running format.
Todd Grisham, an anchor for ESPNEWS’ Highlight Express, MMA Live and SportsCenter, is the new Friday Night Fight’s studio host. Prior to joining ESPN, Grisham [pic right] served as a WWE backstage interviewer, play-by-play commentator and ring announcer.
Bernardo Osuna [pic below right], who served in the host role in 2012, is now the series’ first-ever on-site reporter with live ringside interviews and news updates.
Blow-by-blow commentator Joe Tessitore and ringside analyst Teddy Atlas will work in tandem from ringside to describe the action. Both are recipients of the prestigious Sam Taub Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism presented by the Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA).
Teddy Atlas will also bring his years of experience to bear in special vignettes showcasing the main bout boxers with occasional appearances from special guests. ESPN’s College GameDay’s Heisman trophy winning & boxing aficionado Desmond Howard was the first celeb to meet Teddy for an unforgettable one-on-one on Miami Beach!
Video: Teddy Atlas calls out “corrupt” Miami judges after local fighter Rances Barthelemy is given a shocking home-town decision over the clear ‘winner’ Afghanistan-born Canadian resident Arash Usmanee in Jan 2013.
More Fights
Friday Night Fights, which typically has included a televised main event and co-feature, will now add a third fight in most 2013 shows.
Ultra-Mo
Every Friday Night Fights telecast will implement an ultra slo-mo camera, providing some of the most dramatic and amazing replays of a fight’s biggest punches.
Social Media
ESPN’s Friday Night Fights social media presence in 2013 will continue with the “Live Friday Night Fights Facebook Voting App,” an application on the ESPN FNF Facebook page that allows viewers to score the fight round-by-round. Osuna (@osunaespn) and Nigel Collins (@ESPNFNF), ESPN boxing analyst/former Editor-in-Chief of ‘The Ring’ magazine, will live tweet during every show.
Video: Friday Night Fights celebrates its 15th season in 2013.
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