Ian Darke

About

Ian Darke is an English association football and boxing commentator.

Darke was previously one of Sky’s “Big Four” football commentators alongside Martin Tyler, Alan Parry and Rob Hawthorne. He was also the main commentator for Sky’s big boxing fights and along with Jim Watt, covered some of the biggest fights involving British boxers.

Sky Sports

In 1995, as Sky’s boxing coverage expanded so much that the sport almost disappeared from terrestrial screens, Darke switched permanently to be their main boxing commentator, his role on Monday Night Football being taken by Rob Hawthorne. He was one of the Sky commentators for Evander Holyfield vs. Mike Tyson II, the fight known for being the one where Tyson bit off a piece of Holyfield’s ear.

Nearly ten years later, after boxing promoter Frank Warren took his fighters to ITV, Sky’s boxing output was significantly reduced, freeing up Darke for a return to ‘live’ football (although he had commentated on matches for an international audience, and had been heard on Sky covering some Champions League matches). Darke commentated on matches such as the 2005 Champions League semi-final between Chelsea and Liverpool.

Darke enjoyed a prolific Sky Sports career with commentaries for Premier League, UEFA Champions League and Football League matches, as well as maintaining his boxing commitments.

ESPN

In 2010, Sky did not receive rights to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and Darke was hired to be an ESPN commentator for their coverage of the World Cup for the American market, and he became known to the American public as the English-language commentator for Landon Donovan’s last-second goal for the United States against Algeria that allowed the USA to not only advance to the knockout stage, but also win their group.

BT Sports

At the start of the 2013–14 Premier League season, Darke joined the BT Sport team as a commentator for English Premier League matches. He can also be heard on the Premier League world feed. He commentated on the 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2019 FA Cup Final.

Darke was part of a team of commentators for Prime Video’s UK Premier League coverage. He paired with his ESPN colleague Craig Burley.