(MAY 14) The voice behind New Zealand and Australia combat sports, MC Lt Dan Hennessey, has called it quits on his 18-year international MC career after announcing the wrong name on the World title fight.

Lt Dan Hennessey has announced on social media that he will be retiring from his MC role after the controversy of announcing the wrong winner of a World title fight on 12th of May in Perth Australia. He states that his last fight night will happen in New Plymouth on a Sam Rapira boxing show.

“I love all the support from everyone. Thank you all for the kind words. Unfortunately the worldwide backlash is absolutely incredible and it's effecting my mental health to a degree where I will have 1 more show. I am doing this show because I am still a man of my word and promised Sam Rapira that I would do it because he is a great mate and I refuse to leave him hanging. I love and will keep in touch with all my friends from around the world. Thank you.. No longer the world's punching bag. I'm out. ”

Earlier in the week he made a public apology, claiming full fault of his mistake.

“I own it. It's all on me. I take full responsibility for the Chernika Johnson vs. Nina Hughes controversy. Not the Judges, not the sanctioned body. Me. I have apologized to all involved and now I apologize to you. I am sorry for what happened. Again I own it and can only try and do better next time. Not my best day in the office. I guess all the shitty comments on socials I have coming. Again I am crushed and sorry for my shitstorm of a performance . You all deserved better. Sorry again.”

Hennessey joined the United States Marine Corps in 1991, where he became Lt Dan. He moved to New Zealand in 1998 to become a Club DJ. He received the stage name DJ Danimal during his DJ days when he was on Radio Hauraki and Max TV between 2000 and 2002.

Sky TV hired Hennessey as a commentator in 2003, mainly focusing on basketball for the NZNBL. The biggest accomplishment of his commentating career was being the head commentator for the FIBA Under 19's world champ in 2012. Hennessey finished with the doing stats for the Breakers in their 2016 season.

He was introduced into the Combat Sports role in 2006, announcing the World Grand Prix K1 in New Zealand. Hennessey would have the breakout moment of his career when he announced David Tua vs. Shane Cameron on Duco Events in 2009, which at the time was the biggest PPV buy in New Zealand History. Hennessey went on to announce David Tua's last four fights of his career, the majority of Joseph Parker fights, especially when he fought in New Zealand, King in the Ring, and multiple world title fights, including Geovana Peres vs. Lani Daniels, Joseph Parker vs. Andy Ruiz and many more.

Hennessey's combat sport announcing career has taken him to all parts of the world, including New Zealand, Australia, Samoa, Singapore, and back home to the USA. In retrospect, the mistake Lt. Dan made with the Cherneka Johnson vs. Nina Hughes world title fight was a very rare mistake for Dan, but a big one that ended his career.

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