NBC boxing commentators Bob Papa and Teddy Atlas asked to leave ringside seats because of ‘disturbing’ behavior

Two NBC commentators left the ExCel center in London Friday night after they were removed from the center ring seats for being too loud while broadcasting the boxing match.

Announcers Bob Papa and Teddy Atlas were seated beside the center ring when officials asked them to leave, offering them different seats with other media further back in the center.

Instead of taking their new seats next to the rest of the international media, Papa and Atlas decided to leave the center altogether.

A spokesperson for the International Boxing Association (AIBA) later released a statement saying in part: “NBC commentators were offered a booth in the media tribune like other broadcasters because they were very disturbing for AIBA officials, even during bouts they were not broadcasting, being located at the edge of the Field of Play.”

The statement went on to say that Papa and Atlas stated they were leaving “since no boxers from the USA were still in the running”.

NBC released their own statement saying that the men left for other reasons; however, they failed to disclose those reasons.  They did however say their cameramen remained at the center so they “will be calling the remaining bouts for the U.S. television audience, as planned.”  The commentary, the statement said, would be done out of New York.