Welcome back to ‘Matchday DJ Of The Week’, where in each issue we put 10 serious and not so serious quick-fire questions to a matchday DJ from the world of sport! This week we sat down for a chat with Matchroom Boxing DJ, Carl Kennedy.
- Name: Carl Kennedy
- Occupation: Event DJ for Matchroom Boxing
- Website
The Interview
SM: When did you begin DJ’ing in the world of boxing?
CK: I started Boxing DJ’ing for Matchroom in 2019 in my original hometown of Manchester.
SM: How did you initially get into the role?
CK: I was DJ’ing for Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium at the time and a last minute very lucky chance came up to cover at The AO Arena. Being my hometown and knowing the crowd, I had it rocking!
SM: Can you remember your first boxing stadium experience?
CK: My first Stadium experience was over in Saudi Arabia for Joshua Ruiz 2 when AJ got his belts back. It was an incredible event with it being the first big one in Saudi and crazily enough it rained for most of the Undercard, but thankfully by the time the main event was on it had stopped. It was a great challenge playing to an international crowd and getting them going, and one I’m immensely proud of.
SM: Would you say your first experience of live boxing and the memories of that day were motivation for taking on the role of stadium DJ?
CK: Yes… I’d actually not been to a boxing event before DJ’ing but watched plenty on TV so was excited and nervous in equal amounts. I was kinda paying more attention to the crowd’s reactions to the songs rather than the boxing so I could gage their feel of tunes… and if that ties in with a good card of boxing it goes off! Experience definitely counts in this instance as it’s not about ‘look at me and my tunes, it’s about the maximum you can extract from the crowd you have in front of you to maximise the atmosphere.
SM: In your time DJ’ing, who’s the best boxer you’ve seen in the ring?
CK: I have to say I’ve been lucky to DJ & see Oleksandr Usyk fight twice vs AJ and, each time, he’s been incredible. It’s not just his brute strength but agility, tactics and boxing brain which are out of this world. The fight with Tyson Fury will be an absolute cracker and I can’t wait to see who comes out on top.
SM: Who is your favourite artist/band of all time?
CK: Wow, favourite artist?! I do love a French band called Phoenix and go to see them every time they tour. They’re so, so good live and their music is ace.
SM: Which piece of music do you think is the ultimate track for a boxer to walkout to?
CK: Ultimate walk on tune, ooft! There’s so many, but ones with dark cinematic vibes and deep bass are the best ones. Roy Jones Jr – ‘Cannot Be Stopped’ is a banger or 2Pac – ‘Ambitionz az a Ridah’ too.
SM: Do you have an all-time favourite track that you play at events?
CK: All time winner has to be ‘Sweet Caroline’! I know it’s a bit cliche now but Matchroom have been using this long before other sports, and it is amazing to see the camera lights and everyone singing ready for the main event. I’ll never forget the one at the Spurs ground for Joshua Usyk 1. Incredible!
SM: What are the main songs you use week in, week out at events?
CK: Go-to tunes for ultimate reactions. I love using classic trance bangers like ‘Insomnia’, ‘Zombie Nation’ & ‘Sandstorm’. The energy you get from the crowd is fab!
SM: On a final note, are there any funny mishaps/cock-ups that have taken place that come to mind when you think about your career so far?
CK: Oh man, I had a belter once. I was DJ’ing for the World Pool Championships and I had to play the walk ons too. It was the final, and the first one went ok, then there was the 2nd walk on for a player called Albin Ouschan. Instead of playing the song, my Mac decided to shuffle through loads of random songs… it sounded horrendous and the the tv director went bonkers. I wanted the floor to literally eat me up. I was gutted! These things happen but on a world tv stage it kinda ramps up the peril!
We’d like to say a huge thank you to Carl for taking the time to talk to us. We wish him the very best for his upcoming boxing events.
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