Malinaggi is terrific although I sometimes have trouble with his ,"Brooklynese". Cosell didn't know much about boxing but he was a sponge, he stored and repeated what more knowledgeable people said.Ken Norton beating Ali made him look foolish
mcvey,,, that is one accurate statement! He was the most arrogant announcer in history. If he did make a correct prediction you heard about it for 20 years.
Howard had that swag and immortal toupee to make him stand out, but he probably had gotten tired of the sport. Also, he realized that Larry Holmes probably didn't have the charisma of Ali and Holmes, and couldn't deal with dealing with Larry for another few years, so he packed it in. Still wondering why he tried to feel up Larry that one time.....
I didn't care for him too much either but I'd still take Howard or even Larry Merchant( I liked Larry actually), over Jim Gray anyday
Ken Norton was part of the four-man crew providing commentary at the Thrilla in Manilla - the rest of the team were Don Dunphy, Flip Wilson and Hugh O'Brien. Norton was easily the best informed of the bunch, having fought Ali and sparred with Frazier and gave great insight, but kept getting overshadowed by the two TV stars. He was always a gracious man and said nothing, but it was a bit frustrating to listen to. I just heard Quarry for the first time in the video someone shared of Scott LeDoux fighting George Foreman - he also gave a good accounting of himself, and all the more tragic the way he wound up.
He had the balls to call out Floyd Mayweather, and he could definitely have taken him in a street fight 50 years ago, no doubt.
Cosell was a notoriously pompous egomaniac but entitled to his own views on boxing. I can’t say if he was just grandstanding or if he just genuinely got sick and tired of the negatives of boxing. I never thought he was very good in commentating boxing anyway, at least in the fights I’ve seen. He seemed better at doing MNF. For what it’s worth, this is what he said in late 1982. https://archive.is/iQBQf
