Remembering Darren Dutchyshen 1966-2024

Darren Dutchyshen sadly passed this past week after a long battle with cancer.

Dutchyshen was a long-time Canadian sports anchor best known for his time behind the desk at TSN (The Sports Network), Canada’s preeminent sports station.

Understandably, TSN, Canada’s national sports flagship station, focused on NHL hockey, Canadian football and generally the top stories around the sports world. Boxing, unless it was a huge fight, flew under their radar.

However, about 20 years ago, Canadian boxing legend, Rival Boxing boss, and trainer-cut man Russ Anber started a weekly boxing show.

“In This Corner” aired weekly on TSN.  

For Canada-residing boxing followers, starved for live coverage, this was their dream show. To say that boxing took a backseat to the other big 4 would be a huge understatement. Now, Anber was bringing live, weekly boxing coverage to the air every Monday night. It was a great show, with great content.  

Anber, already a legend in Canadian boxing circles, brought his usual passion and energy to the proceedings.

And, his co-host was Darren Dutchyshen.

“Dutch” or “Dutchy”, born on the Canadian prairies, he had worked all over the country and by this time was probably best known for his role as the man behind the mic for “Sportscenter”, the hugely popular nightly sports show that covered the day’s hottest stories.

Dutch jumped right on board for “In This Corner”. He naturally deferred the bulk of the commentary to Anber, the resident boxing expert for the country, but he matched him in excitement and passion. Dutch loved sports and was as excited as Anber to talk about the latest big fight, big fighter or big news in the sport.

It was a perfect pairing. Two Canadian broadcasting legends were bringing their passion to the “Sweet science”.

TSN regulars, and especially boxing fans, couldn’t get enough of it.

Anber, already working with champions and contenders all over the world, brought interviews, live clips, great stories, guests, and an obvious love for the sport that was infectious to viewers. Dutchyshen, riding shotgun, was the perfect co-host asking questions, giving feedback, and also championing the sport every week for viewers.

That show, and those 2 hosts, did as much to bring a larger, and informed audience to boxing in Canada as there has ever been.

Dutchyshen didn’t have the background in the sport that Anber did. However, he matched him in his professionalism and passion for spreading the word, for all things boxing, to Canadian sports fans.

This past weekend, Anber was in Saudi Arabia, working the corner of Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. When news reached him of the passing of his friend and former co-host, he was naturally devastated.

Speaking on social media, the night before the epic fight, Anber said, “I am absolutely gutted on hearing of the passing of my friend and partner in crime. I am dedicating this weekend’s fight to you Dutchy. Dutchy loved Usyk and Loma. This one’s for you”.

It was clear that Anber was fondly remembering the supportive role that Dutchyshen played in his work on “In This Corner”. More importantly, he was remembering their friendship.

Anber went on to say, “Rest in peace my dear friend and ‘In This Corner’ host. I will miss you brother. Tomorrow night is for you”. 

Fittingly, with Anber in his corner, in the fight Anber dedicated to his friend, Usyk won the heavyweight championship of the world.

Rest in Peace Dutchy.