By: Sean Crose
“I am honored to be a part of this historic card,” says Crystina Poncher. Poncher has a lot to be honored about. This Saturday, the longtime broadcaster of Top Rank and ESPN will present the highly anticipated fight for the undisputed middleweight title between Claressa Shields and Savannah Marshall. “These ladies have worked hard for this moment,” adds Poncher, “and I feel so fortunate to help bring their stories into their homes and call to action on what should be an incredible fight night in London.” What really makes Poncher stand out isn’t the fact that she’s a boxing announcer, it’s the fact that the 38-year-old mother of two is excellent at what she does.
A long-standing problem with boxing journalism is the occasional need for broadcasters and editors to bring in people who are frankly unqualified for the job (Frank Sinatra acting as Life magazine photographer for the 1971 Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier fight is the most obvious example of this). Although Poncher has solid experience as an NFL journalist, there is no denying that the Californian knows how to box inside and out. In short, Poncher is an expert in his field. Unfortunately, that’s not always guaranteed among the sports media. “I was a casual fan growing up,” admits Poncher. “My parents would throw fight parties for the biggest events, but I didn’t really get into the sport until after college.”
Few would say that Poncher doesn’t have a deep interest in the fighting game now. She is, simply put, ubiquitous among those in the boxing world. That kind of thing is not easy for anyone, of course. As a wife and mother of two young children, Poncher struggles to find a balance between work and life. “It’s definitely a juggling thing,” Poncher admits, “but I feel so lucky to have the help I do have, starting with my amazing husband, my niece Jaida, and our close family. I couldn’t do it without them. My children are my motivation, so knowing that I am doing this for them helps me get through the toughest times.”
Poncher will have good reason to be motivated on Saturday. There she will be at the O2 Arena in London, thousands of miles from her family, presenting what could very well be the biggest fight in women’s boxing history. However, no matter how great her challenge, the veteran broadcaster will have family and supporters rooting for her in her home. Hard work, both in and out of the media, pays off for her.
