Jon Anik’s Live Commentary on Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford Goes Viral for All the Wrong Reasons

Everything old is new again for Jon Anik this week as the veteran UFC commentator made a surprise return to boxing. Anik, the longtime UFC play-by-play announcer, is on the mic for the highly anticipated fight between Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. But while many expected a warm welcome, it seems like fans were divided on bringing Jon Anik back to boxing, especially with a UFC event airing at the same time.

The fact that Anik will be announcing the fight with boxing legends Max Kellerman and Olympic gold medalist Andre Ward only fueled the excitement. Anik’s name, which is linked with MMA broadcasts, led some fans to mistrust his boxing credentials. However, it’s worth noting that Anik’s career in sports analysis began about 25 years ago with boxing, before he became the face of UFC broadcasting.

On tonight’s Netflix broadcast, he is joined by Kellerman, a well-known boxing pundit, and Ward, who retired unbeaten after winning a gold medal at the 2004 Olympics – making this a trio that blends experience from both worlds. However, it seems like while some fans were happy with Anik’s move into boxing, others were quick to voice their displeasure.

A handful of viewers took to social media with comments such as “Jon Anik commentating boxing while a UFC card is on feels wrong” and “Jon Anik, please stop referring to punches as strikes.” A different viewer commented, “Just tuned into Canelo/Crawford, and Jon Anik is talking nonsense to an empty arena, and the main card starts in 5 minutes.” These comments reflect how some fans struggled to separate Anik’s MMA persona from his boxing role, and they questioned whether he belonged in that space.

However, not all of the comments were negative. Many fans praised Anik’s decision, seeing it as a welcome change from the norm. One fan noted, “Jon Anik, Max Kellerman, and Andre Ward are on the call for the main card starting now. Really excited to hear this trio.” Another said, “I really like Jon Anik on the mic for boxing; it’s surreal 🤝👀.” A third fan pointed out, “This is probably going to be an unpopular opinion with some #Boxing people—Jon Anik has done an excellent job so far and does not sound like somebody who hasn’t broadcast boxing before.”

These reactions suggest a segment of the audience surely appreciated the variety of styles and skills. Jon Anik’s role in boxing has emphasized the fluid boundaries between combat sports. While his MMA background is evident in his style, his expertise and mastery of boxing principles may surprise even the most skeptical. In fact, that is surely showing on screen as he already revealed ahead of the event that, despite being away from the sport, he wasn’t nervous one-bit about the comeback.

Jon Anik opens up on his return to boxing

Jon Anik’s confidence stems from a concentration on the sport rather than chasing viral moments. “Stylistically, as a commentator, it’s just going to be more toward the old-school boxing fan,” he told MMA Junkie Radio. “I’m diving into the preparation of these athletes. I’m not trying to pull off some amazing one-liner (on the broadcast) that’s going to get Tik-Tok’d to hell.” For him, it’s about honoring the effort more than chasing clout.

He sees this return as a natural extension of his previous work. Calling the Canelo Alvarez–Terence Crawford bout very similar to what he did when he first moved from ESPN to the UFC, when he balanced hosting and combat calls. “I was charged with that 14 years ago when the UFC signed with FOX, when the UFC signed with ESPN seven years ago – not dumbing it down, necessarily, but … I’m just going to do my thing,” he stated.

Though social media trends have dominated coverage in the media, Anik is not influenced by them. “I likely couldn’t have envisioned the media world’s future being so driven by the so-called attention economy and social media influencers,” he added. But he’s sticking to what he knows, focusing on real narrative and his own style rather than chasing transitory online buzz. So, what do you think about his transition to boxing? Do you like it? Let us know in the comments.