Gordon earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Long Island University and began his broadcasting career as an overnight and weekend DJ and assistant sports director at rock-and-roll station WGBB.
In 1986 he succeeded John Condon on the MSG Network, providing color commentary for Felt Forum bouts alongside blow-by-blow announcers Sam Rosen and Bruce Beck.
[6] In 1987, José Torres resigned as chairman of the New York State Athletic Commission to write a Mike Tyson biography.
[7] Sugar Ray Leonard, Gil Clancy, Alex Wallau, and Joyce Carol Oates were considered for the job, but were not interested.
Gordon was selected out of the remaining candidates, which included Michael Katz, Harold Lederman, and Arthur Mercante Sr.[2] His nomination was confirmed by the New York Senate on March 14, 1989.
For this reason he vetoed two of George Foreman's proposed opponents and canceled at least a dozen matches promoted by Bob Goodman.
[3] In 1989, Gordon chaired the commission's hearings over Bill Cayton's complaint that Don King was interfering in his boxer-manager agreement with Mike Tyson.
[9] The hearings ended inconclusively after Gordon made a comment regarding Tyson's deceased former manager Jimmy Jacobs shopping the fighter around.
[10] Gordon held up the judge's decision in the December 1, 1989 fight between Dennis Milton and Michael Olajide pending a review by the athletic commission.
[11] Following Jesse Ferguson's February 6, 1993 victory over Ray Mercer, Gordon brought allegations that the fight was fixed to the New York State Police.