I like the fights themselves, but I agree that a black and white picture with poor sound quality and old film does kind of suck. Its sort of like going from using a modern day dell computer to an Apple system made 25 years ago.
Bad audio does make old footage irritating, whether only being able to hear the weird crowd noise or with awful punch effects added.
Its a small price to pay to bring a time capsule of amazing skills into your living room for you to view first hand..
I know. I listen to the commentary from some of the old fights as well, and it sounds like the speaker is buzzing in my ear.
I remember watching the footage of the Willard-Firpo fight. Those guys had the handspeed of flyweights!
Ofcourse I wish I could watch Robinson, Marciano, Dempsey in full HDTV colour at an ultra high frame rate
It's the truth. He seems to be under the impression that all black and white footage is of the quality of a Fitzsimmons fight or a Langford fight where those factors apply. Most footage from 30's through 60's is just as high quality as most colored footage, aside from the lack of color of course. He's generalizing based on what little he's obviously seen. Thus, he's uneducated.
It's not that the fight is B&W or old...its the fact that the film you are watching has been copied and copied and copied a dozen or more times...each time degrading the quality of the film. I'd love to have access to the first generations...
Sometimes depending on how focused I am. I grew up during the age of continuous chatter from broadcasters (talking heads) whether there is or isn't anything going on in the ring. Sometimes the audio can hamper down the experience. If I'm completely relaxed though and into it then no, it doesn't make a difference.
I'd happily watch Jersey Joe Walcott or Fighting Harada any day of the week. It might not have the technological brilliance of full colour and brilliant replays, but the boxing is of a very high quality and thats the most important thing.