Colonel Bob Sheridan, Rumble in the Jungle Hall of Fame Boxing Commentator, Dies at 79
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Victorville, California (September 28th, 2023)– Colonel Bob Sheridan, the Pro Boxing Hall of Fame commentator who broadcast over 10 thousand boxing and MMA fights on radio and television commentator, including Muhammad Ali’s famous world heavyweight title regaining knockout victory over 40-0 George foreman famous ‘The Rumble in the Jungle’ on October 30, 1974, in Kinshasa, Zaire, and Muhammad Ali’s dramatic stoppage of Smokin’ Joe Frazier in ‘The Thrilla in Manila’ on October 1, 1975, at Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines, has died at age 79.
Sheridan, who retired from broadcasting in 2021 for health issues, was injured in a robbery attempt by a group of renegade motorcyclists while driving his 200 thousand dollar 2021 Corvette in Victorville, California in June of 2021.
A University of Miami graduate who worked in Miami as a gym teacher, Sheridan began calling boxing on Miami radio station WGBS, and had a close relationship with Miami boxing promoters and trainers Chris Dundee and Angelo Dundee. His career highlights included calling Mike Tyson’s titular loss to James Buster Douglas in Japan, and Mike Tyson’s bouts with Evander Holyfield. He called the Ken Buchanan versus Frankie Otero world lightweight title bout for Video Techniques, which led to an agreement to call bouts for promoter Don King. Sheridan also worked as a banker for Olympic Bank.
Sheridan experienced health problems in recent years, starting in the late 1990s. By 2010 Sheridan’s serious health issues included four heart attacks and twelve angioplasties. In 2010, the bank foreclosed on his house, after which Sheridan ended up in a medically induced coma for 30 days. Even after miraculously waking up from the coma, Sheridan was a paraplegic for some time. Fortunately, he eventually recovered. He is survived by a son, Simon Edwards. Who was born in London, England in 1980, from a relationship with the late Irish hotel manager Rosemary Ruane, who died in 1985.
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