NBC Olympic boxing announcers leave in dispute with IBA

(AP) -- NBC Sports is telecasting the final two days of the Olympic boxing tournament without announcers Bob Papa and Teddy Atlas in the arena following a dispute with international boxing officials.

The International Boxing Association asked Papa and Atlas to move from their seats close to ringside to a broadcast booth farther away because they were "very disturbing" to boxing officials, even during bouts they were not calling, said the group's spokesman, Sebastien Gillot.

He said the broadcasters claimed they didn't want to stay anyway because no U.S. boxers were in the running.

It's not clear why Papa and Atlas, who have at times been critical of the boxing judges and referees during the tournament, were suddenly judged too disturbing with only two days of boxing remaining.

"There are two sides to every story," NBC Sports spokesman Greg Hughes said. "We will address the matter with the IOC after the games conclude."

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/olympics/2012/08/11/nbc-olympic-boxing-announcers-dispute.ap/index.html#ixzz23Hjys1jV