Amy Hayes
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Amy Faye Hayes (born November 24, 1973, Wyandotte, Michigan), better known as Amy Hayes, is a famous boxing ring announcer. She introduces boxers at fights televised nationally in the United States by the Fox Network, and she has become a sex-symbol among the network's male audience. She has made her Its time to separate the men from the boys! phrase a household saying. Her other phrase, Its time to box on Fox! is equally famous.
Hayes began her career as a fashion model. She continues doing modeling jobs and has worked for many prestigious companies, such as Saks Fifth Avenue (where she began modeling) and K-Mart.
Hayes wanted to be a broadcaster. Thinking that a career as a ring announcer would lead her to become one, she left her job as a ring-card girl to start working as an announcer. She worked for the first time at an amateur card promoted by Fight Night promoter Bill Kozerski.
Hayes was hired by the WCW to participate as a broadcaster in their Monday Night Nitro show, and she interviewed Hulk Hogan and Dennis Rodman. Hitz saw that show and he remembered her. Her friend, boxing referee Frank Garza recommended her to former Major League Baseball player Dean Chance, then president of the little recognized International Boxing Association. Chance gave Hayes her first real shot at being a ring announcer. Soon after, she flew to Chicago to work at a card at the Rosemont Horizon.
Hayes graduated from the Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts and she went on to become a disc-jockey for a local station in Flint, Michigan. However, ring announcing was her calling, and after Garza connected her with Chance, she began receiving major national attention, being featured on Showtime and ESPN 2 cards. With ESPN 2, she had the experience of working at an undercard held at the Playboy mansion in 2000.
Hayes considered retiring from ring announcing and moved to Kentucky. However, Dan Goossen, a well known promoter, offered a job on his Fox network's Sunday Night Fights show and she accepted. She then became the first female in history to be the official ring announcer of a televised boxing show.
Hayes' future plans include releasing a book, which will be named Separating the Men From the Boys.
In early 2006 Hayes worked in Italy as a wrestling ring announcer for Nu-Wrestling Evolution.