Boxing has always been part of Justin Goossen-Brown’s life. Now, the next generation of one of the sport’s most recognizable families is beginning to establish a voice of his own.
Goossen-Brown will serve as the blow-by-blow announcer when Rising Star Promotions presents “South Philly Showdown: Round 2”, live from the legendary 2300 Arena in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 26.
The event will stream LIVE & FREE worldwide on the Rising Star Promotions YouTube channel.
In the 10-round main event, Kyrone “Shut It Down” Davis (20-4-1, 6 KOs) takes on former WBA & IBF Unified World Champion Jeison “Banana” Rosario (24-5-2, 18 KOs), who returns to Philadelphia, the city where he became a unified world champion.
For Goossen-Brown, stepping behind the microphone represents another chapter in a boxing story that began long before his broadcast career.
The son of TGB Promotions president Tom Brown, and nephew of Hall of Famers Dan and Joe Goossen, Justin grew up surrounded by the sport at its highest levels. His family roots have given him a close-up education in boxing, but as he develops as a broadcaster, Goossen-Brown is focused on turning that knowledge into something valuable for the audience.
With each assignment, he says he is becoming increasingly comfortable with the demanding role of blow-by-blow, learning when to describe the action, when to provide context and when to allow the fight itself to tell the story.
“I’m definitely becoming more comfortable every time I get behind the microphone,” said Goossen-Brown. “Blow-by-blow is something you have to develop through repetition because there is a rhythm to calling a fight. You have to see what is happening, process it immediately and communicate it to the audience without getting in the way of the action.
“The more fights I call, the more I understand how important timing is, just like in boxing. You don’t have to describe every single movement. You want to identify the punches that matter, recognize momentum changes and give the audience the information they need to understand what is developing in front of them.
“I study fighters before a broadcast because I want to understand their tendencies, their backgrounds and the styles they bring into the ring. But once the bell rings, you have to react to what is actually happening. Boxing can change in one punch, so as a blow-by-blow announcer you have to stay locked in every second. I’m still learning, and that’s something I really enjoy about it. Every broadcast gives me another opportunity to get better.”
Goossen-Brown also understands that his surname carries considerable history within boxing. Dan and Joe Goossen built distinguished careers in the sport, while his dad Tom Brown has been associated with major boxing events and fighters for over 30 years. Justin embraces that history while recognizing that earning credibility behind the microphone requires preparation, knowledge and a style that is authentically his own.
“Boxing has been part of my family for as long as I can remember, so I have a tremendous amount of respect for the people in my family who came before me and what they accomplished in this sport,” continued Goossen-Brown. “I’ve been fortunate to grow up around boxing and hear conversations about fighters, styles, matchmaking, training and all of the details that go into this business.”
“When you grow up around people like that, you learn there are layers to boxing that the casual observer might not always notice. Why a fighter is positioning his lead foot a certain way, why someone is attacking the body early, how a corner makes adjustments or how the pace of a fight can change from one round to the next, those are things I’ve always found fascinating.
“At the same time, I understand that I have to earn my own place in boxing. I can’t rely on my last name. Broadcasting gives me an opportunity to take everything I’ve learned from being around the sport and apply it in my own way. I want people watching the broadcast to know that I’ve done my homework and that I respect the fighters and the sport enough to be prepared every time I sit down at that microphone.”
That preparation will be especially important September 26, when South Philly Showdown: Round 2 brings championship-level experience and hungry contenders into one of Philadelphia boxing’s most historic settings.
The main event provides an intriguing assignment for the emerging broadcaster. Davis enters looking to make his statement against Rosario, while the former unified champion returns to the same fighting city where he experienced one of the defining moments of his career.
Beyond the headliner, Goossen-Brown believes the atmosphere of the 2300 Arena and the depth of the card will give viewers plenty to watch throughout the night.
“I think this is going to be a really good show for boxing fans because there are interesting stories and competitive fights throughout the card. The main event alone gives you a lot to talk about. Kyrone Davis is coming in with something to prove, and Jeison Rosario has already competed and won at the championship level. Rosario coming back to Philadelphia adds another layer because of what this city represents in his career.
“Philadelphia also has a different energy when it comes to boxing. The fans understand the sport. They appreciate skill, but they also appreciate fighters who are willing to compete. When you combine that type of audience with the atmosphere inside the 2300 Arena, it creates the kind of environment that comes through on a broadcast.”
“As an announcer, those are the nights you want to call. My job is to help bring the audience inside the arena , whether they’re watching from Philadelphia or somewhere on the other side of the world. I want them to understand what they’re seeing, recognize the adjustments the fighters are making and feel the momentum of the fight as it changes. If we can accomplish that, we’ve done our job.”
The Goossen name has long been heard throughout boxing gyms, corners, promotional offices and television broadcasts. Now, a new generation is taking his place behind the microphone. And Justin Goossen-Brown is determined to make sure his voice earns its place there.
