Buncey's Shameless Hyping of Haye v Audley Has Given Many Fans a Bum Steer

Got no sympathy for those who feel conned by Audleys performance. Even if you're only a casual fan it should've been obvious it was a mismatch.

 

That is exactly the scenario I outlined.

I got an e-mail today from a pal who all of a sudden knows everything there is to know about Pacman.......

His £15 wasn't wasted, even if he didn't have to spend it on Audley.

He never watched the Groves fight either. Events win new fans and I am pretty sure that is how I got into it.

 

:rofl:rofl

You got tipped off aswell you lucky *******?

 

Well done Buncey for coming on here and fighting your corner...i`ll still be tuning in to your top show this thursday best thing on radio without a doubt.
True the Groves fight was virtually ignored and that was always gonna be fight of the night.

 

The editors of Boxing News and Boxing Monthly didnt exactly slate the fight - they commented that they were intrigued by it and liked it. Numerous boxers said they liked the fight and many people boxers and commentators gave Harrison a chance in this fight, and some even said he could win it.

Buncey seems to be getting it in the neck because he hyped the fight on his show in between a bunch of other guests/stories. But, you look at the super-hype that Sky employed into this. They had football commentators dropping it into their football coverage, soccer am, ringside special, Lord of the Ring, a 24/7-style documentary, Craig Slater on overdrive with interviews and how many pressers were there for this.....after the Rees-Watson war they affored the fighters about a minute (2 questions) and then asked them both for their picks for Haye-Harrison.

So the bottom line is, it is irrational to target Bunce for his very small contribution to this hype, in the scheme of things he hardly the bad guy in this - far from it. Did you not tune in for Kaylor-Christie segment the other week - would Sky have done something like that? No chance - because whatever Barney Francis claims are about being a boxing fan etc - he is only interested in PPVs and getting more casuals to buy them.

The real culprits in this is Haymaker and Sky. Adam Booth and Haye are a pair of bullshitters - they are too clever for their own good now - they do not warrant the hype and PR machine of Sky because they do not fight the best in their division.

The Barney Francis interview in Boxing Monthly the other week was very hypocritical, specifically Francis justification for not bringing Froch into the fold after his TV deal with ITV imploded. He said he has no room for him, but then admitted he had to make room for Haye. But look at Haye's last four opponents and compare it with what Froch has faced. If Sky had hyped Froch the same level as they did with Haye - it would have been better for boxing - at least the public would have got 50-50 fights - that is what creates new fans. Also, showcasing and hyping the next generation of top fighters helps to build the next stars - but we didnt hear a word of the undercard fighters and only got one live undercard fight for our PPV purchase - that was a disgrace.

 

Sky are the money men behind the fight, they have paid huge money to get it, of course they are going to promote it - it would be total madness if they didn't.

Bunce, especially on the BBC, is supposed to be an independent credible sports journalist.

There's a world of difference.

 

Did you read the first line of my post - he wasnt the only one who lauded this as an event - so why is he the only one who gets threads made about him slagging him off?

Perhaps I am wrong, but I have no recollection of him saying that Harrison would beat haye or it would be close.

The cynical view is that the only reason why Sky moved to Saturday night boxing and brought back ringside is because they want to pump us for more PPV buys. But, we do not get **** all of the under card - I also stated that in my post. Do you not care about that or do you just want to hate on Bunce?

 

:deal

 

When the Bunce Tour was on the road last year there were lots and lots of fighters who swore they would show up for Buncey and would not let him down, they could be counted on...:yep

So many fell by the wayside and never bothered...:yep

Whilst in training camp for the biggest fight of his life David Haye came out and showed his support for the Bunce...:yep

 

Does Bunce still think Audley was a credible opponent for David Haye?

 

I commented in a thread on this board months ago about how Bunce's "It will bring people in and be good for british boxing" was a load of utter ****, and explained how in fact duping millions of people into watching a farcical mismatch would NOT be good for boxing.
And it doesn't take a genius to figure that out.
In fact, at least half of us here knew exactly what would happen.

Bunce's response was "who cares what a few dozen hardcore fans on the internet think ?", and "It's all about money, always has been".
Yep, that's right. It IS about money, but it certainly NOT about bringing boxing back to a wider audience as a legitimate sport.
Because what we saw the other night WAS NOT BOXING in the sporting sense at all.
Now Bunce says "it was a bad night" ???
But it panned out exactly how we all knew it would, really, even if some of you were wishfully thinking otherwise you all knew deep down this was what would happen. And Buncey knew it.

I don't even think Harrison is to blame. He fought exactly the same way he always fought !
He didn't underperform at all. He's never been any good, he's been a failure as a professional boxer and he doesn't like to throw punches. We've known this for years. It was Haye and the promoters and, yes, the ballyhooing writers like Bunce who chose to reward Harrison with a title shot. Don't forget Bunce was softening up the public for this match long before it was signed and official.

I watched the fight in a bar for free and I laughed at the whole thing. It's sad that casual fans were sucked in and abused by this match and will continue to view pro boxing as a seedy rip-off buiness, but that's inevitable. I don't begrudge Haye and Booth and Harrison their millions, or Bunce his air time and his living. All's fair in showbusiness I guess, pitch it to the public see if they buy it.
Myself and others were telling everyone it wasn't legit, and it would be bad for boxing.

But who cares what some hardcore internet boxing geeks say ?

Buncey's still the man. Full of **** he is. But he's the man.

 

I respect the power of internet boxing fans but the men in true boxing power do NOT! You all know that.
I pick up on complaints and mistakes. I have to because of the weekly show and the nature of the show - I can be wrong and you let me know it!
It is amazing how much credit I seem to be getting for my role in this farce -
Back to selling on Thursday and I hope that you will ALL be there.

Adios.

 

It's Bunces fault that people threw reason out of the window got excited and put their hands in their pockets, Audley didn't break the habit of a lifetime and Haye won as easily I everyone thought he would.

Goddamn Steve Bunce and David Haye for winning to easily

 

I don't think you can sweep this under the carpet Buncey. The reason you were so loved at Setanta is because you were the voice of the hardcore fans. Your one of us. Your shows gave us a platform to get are views out there and they still do. For these reasons we hold you to a higher standard. We expect Sky and a promoter to rip us off and tell us something is great when its not. We don't expect it from you?

You cannot deny you supported this fight and the reasons you gave for that were wrong. It may have made Haye and Sky some cash but its been a PR disaster for them and British Boxing. The sport we love is a laughing stock.

Audley didn't show up and Haye ended it in the round he had put money on. Even myself one of the biggest detractors of the fight did no envisage it being so bad.