Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricardo Celis.
Hi Ricardo, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I didn’t start my career under studio lights. I started working the overnight shift at the San Antonio Light, delivering newspapers and at 5 a.m. I would head straight to a small Hispanic radio station to read the morning news before the sun came up. When that shift ended, I’d grab a few hours of sleep and then head to my job at TGI Friday’s. It wasn’t glamorous, but it taught me discipline, sacrifice, and what it means to chase a dream when no one is watching.
Those years of nonstop work opened an unexpected door. I earned the chance to pursue a master’s degree in Television Production at Incarnate Word College, and that education changed everything. It gave me the technical foundation, the confidence, and the professional legitimacy to step into television—a world I had admired since childhood but never imagined I would enter so fully.
Since 1988, I’ve been on the air. More than three decades calling fights, anchoring sports, hosting news, reporting from the field, and lending my voice to some of the biggest moments in global sports. I’ve covered the Olympics, FIFA World Cups, Copa América, Super Bowls, and hundreds of championship boxing and MMA fights. I’ve worked for HBO Boxing, DAZN, ProBox TV, Netflix, Univision, and the NFL Network. I’ve been blessed to host everything from combat sports to entertainment shows—something very few broadcasters ever get to do.
I’ve also lived moments that shaped me beyond the studio, including reporting from New York City during the September 11 attacks, a reminder of the responsibility that comes with being a communicator in times of crisis.
After all these years, I still carry the same work ethic I had back in San Antonio: the long nights at the newspaper, the early mornings at the radio mic, the double shifts at TGI Friday’s. Those experiences built the foundation of who I am on the screen today. And every time I go on the air, I try to honor that journey—giving audiences something real, something honest, and something worth their time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road hasn’t been easy. I’ve been discriminated against more times than I care to count—sometimes for my accent, other times simply for being part of Hispanic television, where salaries rarely resemble those earned by my English-language counterparts. This business demands constant travel, constant sacrifice. I’ve spent years living out of suitcases and airport terminals; the fact that I have more than three million miles with American Airlines says enough about the life behind the camera.
There are countless obstacles in this career, from the instability to the long separations from family. I missed birthdays, holidays, and milestones because the show had to go on, the fight had to air, the broadcast had to be flawless. And yet, with all of that—every challenge, every hard moment—I wouldn’t change a thing.
What has made it all worth it is the people I’ve met along the way and the example I’ve been able to give my children: that perseverance matters, that passion opens doors, and that a dream is worth fighting for even when the odds aren’t in your favor. My journey hasn’t been perfect, but it’s been mine, and I’m proud of every step.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a Spanish-language sports broadcaster specializing in boxing play-by-play, though over the years my career has taken me far beyond just calling fights. I’ve anchored sports, news, and entertainment; I’ve covered Olympics, World Cups, Super Bowls, and some of the biggest combat-sports events on the planet. At this point, my voice has become familiar to fans who grew up watching boxing on HBO, DAZN, ProBox TV, Univision, Netflix, and the NFL Network.
What I’m best known for is storytelling. Boxing is raw and emotional, and I try to bring viewers into that world with honesty, rhythm, and a deep respect for the fighters. I come prepared, I research obsessively, and I never forget that every athlete stepping into a ring carries a lifetime of sacrifice behind them. My job is to honor that story while keeping fans engaged, informed, and entertained.
What sets me apart is versatility. Very few on-air personalities have successfully crossed between sports, news, and entertainment the way I have. I’ve done breaking-news coverage, morning shows, entertainment reporting, MMA hosting, and football broadcasts, all while maintaining a consistent voice and a deep connection with Hispanic audiences. And I’ve done it for almost four decades.
What I’m most proud of, though, isn’t a single event or broadcast. It’s longevity—thirty-plus years in an industry where careers often vanish overnight. It’s the respect I’ve earned from colleagues, fighters, producers, and viewers. And it’s knowing that I’ve built all of this without shortcuts, starting from night shifts at a newspaper, reading the news at 5 a.m., and working double shifts and sometimes triple shifts to keep the dream alive.
Most of all, I’m proud that my children have watched this journey. They’ve seen the sacrifices, the discipline, and the love I have for this work. If there’s anything that truly sets me apart, it’s that I never forgot where I came from—and I never stopped giving everything I had to the craft.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I grew up in the late ’70s and early ’80s in Tampico, Mexico—a place that shaped my character long before I ever imagined a life in television. I was an active kid, competitive by nature, and sports quickly became my outlet. Playing college football was a turning point for me. It earned me a scholarship at the Universidad del Noreste (UNE), where I completed my degree in Communications. That opportunity changed the trajectory of my life; it gave me education, structure, and a sense of purpose.
But more than anything, I was shaped by my father, Dr. Fernando Celis Pascal. He lost much of his vision to glaucoma, yet he never let that stop him from providing for our family or from carrying himself with dignity and courage. Watching him navigate life with that kind of strength and determination taught me the value of perseverance. It’s the reason I work the way I do, and why I’ve pushed through every obstacle in my career.
Growing up, I was curious, driven, and fascinated by storytelling—even before I knew that’s what it was. But the foundation of who I am comes from Tampico, from football, from education, and from the example of a father who never stopped fighting for his family.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @CelisDeportes
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardo-celis-b954004/
- Twitter: @CelisDeportes
