Introducing Miss Daisy

Announced

By 15-year-old Daisy Lidz, two prizefights at The Legendary Blue Horizon in Philadelphia (SI, Dec. 9, 1996). Daisy, a freshman at Tower Hill high school in Delaware and the daughter of SI senior writer Franz Lidz, is the youngest ring announcer ever. Franz writes:

The crucible that is Philadelphia boxing has produced some improbable characters, and since 1961 nearly every one has straddled the Blue Horizon's teal canvas. Squatting like a frog on a seedy stretch of North Broad Street, this wonderfully Victorian coliseum is so intimate that every seat is practically ringside, and you can almost hear the palookas' hearts thump as they climb through the ropes. The latest novelty act to debut at the Blue was my daughter, last Friday. An aficionado of screwball comedies from the 1930s, Daisy got sweet on the sweet science after watching Mae West fall for a pug named Tiger Kid in Belle of the Nineties. Last year she attended her first fight at the Blue. "I love the glamour," said Daisy, who became such a regular that matchmaker Don Elbaum invited her to announce.

At the weigh-in Daisy took notes on the fighters' records, hometowns and handles. "I like Killer," light heavyweight George McCoy told her, "but I fight more like Cream of Wheat." Daisy suggested Maypo. "Call me that in the ring, and I'll slug you," McCoy snarled. They settled on Wonder Boy. That night the Girl Wonder stepped into the ring and surveyed the 1,000 fight fans in the damp, airless hall. Betraying no trepidation, Daisy introduced the combatants, clearly, crisply, with a pitch and resonance that would make a Marine drill instructor envious. She closed with a line adapted from West: "Come on, boys, show me your stuff." Bam! The bout ended in a second-round TKO. Crunch! Fight No. 2 was over in Round 1. "And the winner...."

Out of the Blue, an old-time fight fan asked Daisy, "You here at the Blue Horizon for good?" Daisy, purring in the languorous, low-down voice of her idol, said: "Well, I'm here, but not for good."