“Colonel” Bob Sheridan, a/k/a The Voice of Boxing, has died at the age of seventy nine, leaving a legacy of legendary commentaries, most notably the Rumble in the Jungle, The Thrilla in Manila, The Buster Douglas victory over Mike Tyson and the second Tyson vs. Holyfield (ear bite) fight. Bob, who’s parents emigrated to the USA from Ireland, dabbled in several professions after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physical Education from Lehman College. He was A PE teacher and even a rodeo bull rider. He found his natural calling as a par excellence commentator and used his verbal dexterity, superb timing and supreme sense of occasion to its richest and fullest extent in calling thousands of boxing matches.
His first championship was the Jimmy Ellis vs. Jerry Quarry title bout in 1968. Bob was invariably the ringside fixture, as necessary, essential and moving as the furniture, providing crisp, thrilling and pinpoint accurate punch by punch, erudite points of view. His commentaries were sheer trilogy treats.
No one who ever heard his crescendo commentary in sync with the Ali thunderbolt flurry which decked Big George in Zaire, will ever forget the sheer drama, excitement and life force he put into it, exquisitely capturing that iconic moment, accompanied by a cacophony of seventy thousand roaring fans, and then shortly thereafter right on cue the Heavens opened from a velvet African sky. Bob said of it: “The telecast went live to a billion people. It was an extraordinary place, time and a huge thrill for me.”
After many years at the top of his profession, Bob who had suffered ill health for some time, hung up his mic in 2021, but continued to contribute to boxing publications instilling his wit, savvy and perception, which was both appreciated and respected.
Bob’s awards bestowed by admiring peers showed the consistent quality of his work: World Boxing Hall of Fame, Boxing Writers Association of America Sam Taub Award, Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame and the grand daddy of them all…The International Boxing Hall of Fame. Not to forget Irish America Magazine’s Fifty Most Influential Irish Americans.
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British promoter Frank Warren was among those paying tribute to Sheridan on Twitter: "I and everybody at Queensberry are saddened to hear of the passing of legendary boxing commentator Colonel Bob Sheridan. Bob was a great friend of our team for over 30 years, and we have many great memories of the colonel both professionally and socially, and in both fields, Bob was a legend. We will miss him greatly."
Ring magazine editor Dougie Fischer added, "a legend has passed. Colonel is a hall of famer - it's amazing how many years, decades his broadcast career spanned - and a true character you'd only find in boxing."
Boxingtalk salutes Colonel Bob Sheridan and sends its deepest sympathies to his friends and family.
