These guys constantly ruin fights with their bias or inability to correctly call action. I don't know if they are inept or agenda ridden but it seems like about half the time I watch fights I disagree with their commentary. I almost never disagree with the Showtime guys. This is why I laugh when I see people try to justify that someone was robbed or got a gift based on the HBO team's commentary and Harold Ledderman's awful judging. Now yes Martinez was winning, but Barker had won a good amount of rounds (maybe 3 of 4 by my estimation), the HBO team gave him no credit for some reason. I had to laugh when one round Lampley goes on about how Barker can't hit Martinez and as he says it they show the punch stats and reveal that Barker had been credited with over 20 scoring blows that round. Been thinking this for awhile but damn it's getting frustrating. For everything that Max and Roy aren't, two things they can do are score rounds correctly and call live action.
Kellerman should be at every fight, Vodka Breath despite being a legend for making Floyd throw his toys out of the pram, is really not a great commentator now. Anyway, Bernstein > Merchant and Tarver > Roy. I like Gus Johnson too, Showtime's team are just better.
They are horrible, always have been. They only see what the "name" boxer does but never call the punches landed by the underdog.
Lampley went haywire last night! "Harold, how do you have it through...wait that's not the round we usually do this in. COMPUBOX!! COMPUUUUBOOXXX!!!"
I hate to break it to you, but if you're working for HBO, it's because you play ball and are biased for HBO's agenda. It's a prerequisite that you're biased for HBO, to be part of the HBO team. Same for Showtime. This is business. HBO does not bring us fights so fighters can get paid or so we can see great fights. They bring us fights because there's money in it and there's more money in investing in certain fighters and playing up the fighters you've invested in, which requires the personalities that you pay to represent your channel to do the playing up of the fighters you pay. If you change teams, you will get the same **** with a different team. Because the system does not change. Business is still the top priority for businesses. Edit: That said, of course they were terribly biased against Barker and for Sergio.
I used to like 'em...err.... at least I used to like Lampley. But he and the rest of the team have regressed over the years. Last night's broadcast was one of the worst. Showtime's team of Johnson, Bernstein and Tarver are far more enjoyable, or less biased. Gus johnson's energy is unmatched!! I like Kellerman though. Dont know why he receives so much hate... unless you see that he's a Merchant wannabe, which I kinda do. If he gets away from that, he's fine. He knows his boxing history and doesnt come across as biased as the other guys. Im a huge RJJ fan, but he's not TV friendly. I dislike Tarver ( because Im a Jones fan ) but he's by far the best boxer/commentator out there right now and with each broadcast, my dislike is widdled away. He does an outstanding job and it's a credit to him. As someone else on here recently pointed out; "Bang... Bang. Bang, bang... bang". SMDH!!!
love or hate MMA, watch how Joe Rogan handles a post fight interview.. addresses the fight, asks relevant educated questions, and shows complete respect to both fighters. That's the difference between someone who has respect for the combatants ( because he actively trains in the sport ) and someone who has contempt for combatants.
Funny because few months back they couldn't stop kissing Williams' ass, and then they jumped wagon. Even more frustrating if they do if for a favorite of mine. They were pretty biased unfortunately. But it was a good fight, excellent showing by Barker and a great finish by Martinez who off the slow start might get more opportunities. Boxing won.
:deal Don't see what's so hard to understand about this. You simply can't have a guy in there interviewing fighters who he has an obvious bias against, and refuses to hide it. It only sounds good if you hate the fighter he's criticizing. It puts a severe damper in the entire broadcast otherwise.
Joe Rogan a G, as I've read on here, lol. He has some great youtube videos and prolly is the single reason why joke thief Carlos Mencia fell off. Seriously check out some of Rogan's youtube vids. And I dont watch MMA, so Im not some fanboy. I should mention, concerning my previous post, that I like Manny Stewart's commentary. Just not Lampley ( anymore ) and Ive never really cared for Merchant.
Larry is the best hands down. I myself don't agree with them all the time but still think HBO's boxing shows are the best overall. Anyways, like everything, there's always options: tune in with no volume, tune in with the spanish hbo crew (THERE YOU WILLLLL SEE WHAT BIAS IS) they always cheer for the Mexican OR against anything born in Puerto Rico no matter if the rican is giving a schooling to the other guy.... And finally, you don't have to tune in at all. Most of the time Showtime will have a card at the same time HBO is having one! If not Showtime, somebody else!!!