Who da best announcer?

Lampley more passionate about boxing than Bernstein? (or even Kellerman, who, say what you will about his credentials or worthiness to have landed his gig, does eat sleep and breathe the sport and has a bigger personal tape library than most on this forum)

His fandom of individual boxers (like Pacquiao) may be unparalleled, but his love of the sport in general? (even if he did name his show "The Fight Game" -it was really still just an excuse for him to give his favorites a little extra spit-shine)

Nah.

 

Maybe technically, but not in common parlance.

 

Larry Merchant. I like his no BS attitude. He always keeps guys in check. Kellerman is pretty good as well.

 

Something to appreciate about each - Merchant has given us some great moments - but I voted Lampley. His vocabulary is impressive and helps to elevate the action as well as refute haters who think boxing is for dumb people.

 

:conf I think exactly the opposite. (unless you were asking Lampley about his favorites or boxers and fights pertinent to HBO's in-house programming)

 

When you say "best announcer" as it pertains to boxing the first assumption most people have will be ring announcer. Why not just say commentator?

 

As far an announcers go I'd pick Buffer, hands down.

( I remember when my daughter was 4-5 I'd yell "Let's get ready to rumble" and then proceed to chase her all over the house)

Commentators, I've always like Bernstein and thought him and Gil Clancy worked well together.

 

Yeah, if you're into that sort of thing and place a premium on someone "keeping boxers in check" as though it were the avowed goal of a commentator or interviewer (which it actually isn't) and dig crotchety guys dripping snark and venom on athletes whose accomplishments they have no real appreciation for, then yeah, Merchant is great.

You must like Jim Gray too.

 

Buffer might be the GOAT but is past his prime. Most consider Lennon the #2, but for me it's Martinez with his professional no-frills approach. (Contreras and Diamante are both too gimmicky for my tastes, and clearly love the attention)

 

Yes, I've heard that nowadays he only bangs ring girls and flight attendants on a nightly basis two at a time instead of three and four at a time like in the old days.