Noted Boxing Reporter Mike Coppinger Joins ESPN

Combat Sports

Noted Boxing Reporter Mike Coppinger Joins ESPN

Photo of Dave Nagle Dave Nagle Follow on Twitter July 1, 2021

Mike Coppinger, one of the most accomplished journalists covering the sport of boxing, has joined ESPN as a reporter. In this new role, he will contribute news, analysis, storytelling and live event coverage for both boxing and mixed martial arts.  In addition to writing, he will appear on TV and radio.   

“We are excited to welcome Mike Coppinger to the ESPN combat sports team,” said Cristina Daglas, ESPN senior deputy editor, ESPN.com.  “He has been a leading voice in the boxing space, breaking news and providing smart analysis as well as compelling behind-the-scenes storytelling.  He will bring those skills and more to our many platforms.” 

Coppinger added, “I’m excited to join the already formidable boxing and MMA team at ESPN among the likes of Max Kellerman, Mark Kriegel and Joe Tessitore.  To cover the fight game for ESPN is truly a dream come true. Through breaking news, analysis and storytelling, the goal is to shine a light on combat sports for fans around the world.”  

Coppinger studied journalism at George Mason University.  He started his career as a boxing freelancer for USA Today in 2010, covering events on deadline from ringside.  He was USA Today’s lead boxing writer from 2015 to 2017.  He then was the lead boxing for Ring Magazine from 2017 to 2019.  He has been the boxing insider for The Athletic since 2019.  He won first place in Investigative Reporting and also in News Story in the 2019 Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA) writing awards.  He is an elector for the International Boxing Hall of Fame and votes on the BWAA’s annual awards (fight of the year, fighter of the year, etc.). 

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Photo of Dave Nagle Dave Nagle Follow on Twitter July 1, 2021
Photo of Dave Nagle

Dave Nagle

As I write this on 11-11-21, it's now 35 years for me at ESPN, the only real job I’ve ever had. I joined merely to help with the upcoming America’s Cup in Australia. I was told it would be for three months at all of $5.50 per hour. I like to say I simply kept showing up. I’ve worked on almost every sport, plus answered viewer calls and letters (people used to write!), given tours, written the company newsletter and once drove NASCAR’s Jeff Gordon to the local airport. My travels have been varied…I’ve been to Martinsville, Darlington, Indy and Super Bowls; the America’s Cup (all 3) in San Diego and College GameDay in the sport’s meccas such as Eugene, Auburn, Lubbock, Stillwater and more; the NBA Finals, Wimbledon (16 times and counting) and the “other Bristol,” the one with a race track in Tennessee. These days, my main areas are tennis, UFC, boxing, network-wide ratings (by month/quarter/year), and corporate communications documents, including fact sheets, chronologies, lists and nearly 35 of the Year in Review press releases. UPDATE EXACTLY ONE YEAR LATER: Today, November 11, 2022, I am retiring from ESPN -- 36 years to the day I began. As I ride off into the sunset – top down and E Street Radio blaring – I do so with so many wonderful memories, proud of my contributions and a heart full of gratitude for the opportunity. 
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