Remember ESPN Superbouts?

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Wvboxer, Jan 2, 2015.


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  1. Wvboxer

    Wvboxer Active Member Full Member

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    I was in heaven when I was in high school & found ESPN's Superbouts. I devoured every book on boxing I coukd find so couldn't wait to see all the greats I read about. A lot of Ali, some Hagler, & few other fights was all I saw but I was happy. At the time, I didn't understand how Ferdie Pacheco could work Ali's corner against Frazier & also do commentary!!! It took me awhile to realize it was all produced years later. The canned crowd finally gave it away.

    That was my intro to Ali anyway. Lousy commentary aside, I enjoyed those fights. Anybody else watch this show?
     
    Wvboxer, Jan 2, 2015
    Wvboxer, Jan 2, 2015
    #1
  2. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Oh yes. Good times.
     
    Saintpat, Jan 2, 2015
    Saintpat, Jan 2, 2015
    #2
  3. Seamus

    Seamus Proud Kulak Full Member

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    Those were the days, my friend.
     
    Seamus, Jan 2, 2015
    Seamus, Jan 2, 2015
    #3
  4. Titan1

    Titan1 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    ESPN truly knew the deal when they did Superbouts.As stated before, good times, and those were the days.
     
    Titan1, Jan 2, 2015
    Titan1, Jan 2, 2015
    #4
  5. redrooster

    redrooster Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    yes. I enjoyed the theme song after the show concluded and marvelled at Marvin's upraised arms

    I had limited access to classic tapes at the time and so it made me appreciate the show even more
     
    redrooster, Jan 2, 2015
    redrooster, Jan 2, 2015
    #5
  6. redrooster

    redrooster Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    we thought they'd never end
     
    redrooster, Jan 2, 2015
    redrooster, Jan 2, 2015
    #6
  7. Wvboxer

    Wvboxer Active Member Full Member

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    I found the intro on YouTube the other day. It just screams early 80's! I remember the first time seeing Hagler & Hearns. Unbelievable. I used to tape all the fights. Ali / Frazier 2, Ali / Quarry 2, Ali against Richard Dunn, Spinks, Norton, & Blue Lewis, Pryor / Arguello, Leonard / Benetiz & a few others. It was such a treat for me. Tyson was blasting guys across the ring, Chavez was around, the 84 olympians were making noise, guys like Starling & Mccallam & Camacho were fighting, & Foreman was back. Plus I could see these old fights. I lived boxing back then!
     
    Wvboxer, Jan 2, 2015
    Wvboxer, Jan 2, 2015
    #7
  8. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    When ESPN classic started they showed some of the old fights in the 80's Superbouts format. The ones I've seen in the last 10 yrs. seem to be in a 1990s production format ie redone after ESPN Classic started.

    My family did not get cable TV until 1985 as it was not set up in our area. I remember in 1984 reading TV guide and it would list the ESPN Superbouts. I was a huge fan of Matthew Saad Muhammad and there was no way I could watch. I had missed most of his championship fights at the time they happened. Then, when I got ESPN I had just turned 16 and got my driver's licence so I watched a lot less TV as I was driving all over the place with my friends. I usually missed the rare times Superbouts would air. It wasn't until 1998 that I finally saw the Saad Muhammad-Marvin Johnson II title fight. ESPN Classic was showing it in a new Superbouts format. It was just as good as I had imagined all those years.
     
    Saad54, Jan 3, 2015
    Saad54, Jan 3, 2015
    #8
  9. Mr Butt

    Mr Butt Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    How bloody wrong we were :-(
     
    Mr Butt, Jan 3, 2015
    Mr Butt, Jan 3, 2015
    #9
  10. dpw417

    dpw417 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Superbouts were epic!
     
    dpw417, Jan 3, 2015
    dpw417, Jan 3, 2015
    #10
  11. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    I remember being so pizzed at those bungholes from ESPN truncating the Leonard-Duran I fight in order to fit in a time slot.


    Then I saw the fight and realized it was just a bunch of hugging and mauling that I'd missed, and then I was okay with it.
     
    salsanchezfan, Jan 3, 2015
    salsanchezfan, Jan 3, 2015
    #11
  12. Wvboxer

    Wvboxer Active Member Full Member

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    That was the only source I had for old fights back then. The other thing was to watch ABC Sports on the weekend & sometimes when the fight ended early, they'd show some classic. I remember after a Mark Breland fight ended early, they showed the Foreman vs Lyle fight!
     
    Wvboxer, Jan 3, 2015
    Wvboxer, Jan 3, 2015
    #12
  13. downgoeslyle

    downgoeslyle Member Full Member

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    Loved the intro track ! Hated the overdubbed commentary with canned noise...thing is it takes away the drama, the atmosphere, the crowd surge and the excitement. Was a good range though!
     
    downgoeslyle, Jan 3, 2015
    downgoeslyle, Jan 3, 2015
    #13
  14. Wvboxer

    Wvboxer Active Member Full Member

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    After a watching a few fights, I started to realize the bell sounded the same in every arena & I heard the same screams in the crowd at every fight! A crowd that NEVER seemed to calm down! They were always at a fever pitch. The commentary by Pacheco & Bob Halloran wasn't good either. I remember Bernstein would introduce the fights by showing what the fighters had previously done. He set the scene nicely.

    I loved Ali vs Quarry 2. It was paired with Ali vs Dunn. I watched those fights so many times it was weird to hear the actual commentary!
     
    Wvboxer, Jan 3, 2015
    Wvboxer, Jan 3, 2015
    #14
  15. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    :yep

    It feels a bit like admitting you in fact didn't mind the look of Casablanca when Ted colorized it, doesn't it? :oops:
     
    IntentionalButt, Jan 3, 2015
    IntentionalButt, Jan 3, 2015
    #15
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