Mike Costello

'''Mike Costello''' (born April 1960) is a British sports broadcaster. He is the main boxing commentator for DAZN, having previously worked at BBC Radio for 45 years.

== Early life == Costello grew up in Camberwell in south London.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=13 April 2020|title=A promise to my father: Mike Costello, London born with Irish roots|url=https://www.irishnews.com/sport/boxing/2020/04/13/news/a-promise-to-my-father-mike-costello-london-born-with-irish-roots-1899852/|access-date=26 August 2021|website=Irish News}}</ref> Both his parents were Irish immigrants, living in London before they met.<ref name=":0" /> An amateur boxer, he also worked as a boxing trainer, training Adam Booth<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mike Costello Discusses Move To DAZN, Long Career With BBC|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/mike-costello-discusses-move-dazn-long-career-with-bbc--158874|access-date=26 August 2021|website=Boxing Scene}}</ref> and Henry Akinwande<ref name=":1">"Mike Costello", BBC Radio 5 Live. Originally broadcast 26 August 2021. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000zg0v</ref> before choosing to focus on his broadcasting career.

== Career == Costello began his career at the BBC in 1979 as a filing clerk in the accounts department. Due to a restructure, he moved to the accounts department within the BBC World Service, where later he became a runner and then a Broadcast Assistant on the BBC World Service sports desk.<ref name=":1" /> Costello reported on cricket for the BBC World Service in the late 1980s and early 1990s, including the MRF World Series in Pakistan in 1989 and England's tour of India of 1992-93.<ref name=":1" /> He also reported on athletics, including at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.<ref name=":1" />

Costello's first commentary was at the 1995 World Athletics Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden.<ref name=":1" /> At the Commonwealth Games in 2002, after John Rawling lost his voice, Costello was asked to commentate live over multiple nights.<ref name=":1" /> After John Rawling moved to ITV in 2005, Costello became lead commentator for boxing and athletics across BBC's domestic radio output.<ref name=":1" />

In June 2021, Costello signed a deal with DAZN to commentate on their coverage of boxing, ending his long tenure covering boxing with the BBC.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mike Costello – the 'voice of boxing' – quits BBC after 45 years for Eddie Hearn's new venture|url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/boxing/article/mike-costello-the-voice-of-boxing-quits-bbc-after-45-years-for-eddie-hearns-new-venture-xzn3pvq2w|access-date=26 August 2021|website=The Times}}</ref> In 2025 he rejoined BBC radio 5 live as a freelance covering their athletics coverage.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} ==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Costello, Mike}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:BBC sports presenters and reporters