Legendary Argentine Boxing Commentator Hernan Santos Nicolini passes

As Easter beckoned, and just shy of his eightieth birthday Hernan Santos, the commentator who defined and refined boxing vocabulary has passed.

In so doing, He has passed the microphone to a young, keen generation of commentators, who have been enthused by his mastery of syntax. More than being able to wax lyrical. It’s also all to do with swotting and poring over your homework, being in possession and command of all the facts, imbued and possessed with passion and belief, charm while winning the implicit confidence of boxers, who just after their victory or loss, will lean across the ropes and shoot the breeze with you. It’s called TRUST, and it’s earned the good old fashioned hard way.

Hernan’s moment of history within his finest hour came, commentating the legendary 1970 fight one between Carlos Monzon and Nino Benvenuti. Also fluent in Italian, Hernan charmed the birds down from the trees

In a: “Don’t say yes until I stop talking,” negotiation, he convinced Roman Promoter Rodolfo Sabatini to sell him the radio broadcast rights. In the midst of his came, saw and conquered triumph, a flourish of extraordinary
generosity and the ultimate professional courtesy, which comes from within.

Hernan insisted his friend and colleague Osvaldo Caffaretti commentate the odd numbered rounds, and pass him the mic for the even ones. God the Ultimate Arbiter was watching, so fate decreed the Monzon won by knockout in the twelfth.

Hernan also used his skills to work as an Agent, guiding the careers of Nestor Giovanni and Marcelo Dominguez.

The Great Marvin Hagler once said the contents of his very own head would reveal a boxing glove. Examination of the veins of Hernan Santos Nicolini, would splash the coursing lifeblood of boxing. He himself coined the phrase: “The perfume of a Knockout.” He himself captured the scent of wintergreen rubbing liniment, the pungent scent of sweat beads trapped in a gym encased by closed windows. And The Nirvana of “Smells like teen spirit.”

There will never ever be another like Hernan Santos Nicolini, 1946-2026. His legacy to communicators the World over, is that where he led, others will follow, inspired by his giant footprints and voiceprints. For, the passage of life passes like light, you begin with the morning,…you end with night.