The Larry Merchant poll

I like Showtime more than the Brits, and I probably like HBO team just as much as them as well. It's just sometimes they can get on my nerves. Either Kellerman, Merchant, or Lampley saying or doing something stupid. Lampley can be great as long as he contains his cheerleading and doesn't invoke unnecessary non play by play dialogue too much. Although sometimes a 2 man team just flows better, and it seems more natural. I also think the accents sound dramatic and are great for commentating. I particular loved their call for Hatton versus Pacquaio. It was just epic... and that was their hero. Usually when one of their guys fights they can be pretty damn biased, especially when it's a someone like Hatton and the top guys against some American. Their are exceptions like Haye vs Valuev (Where Valuev was winning on the one guy's card).

Al Bernstein, Gus Johnson, and Tarver are a great team. I like Gus but I actually liked Steve Albert more. I kind of miss him... he just had that epic voice that invoked excitement. Gus can sometimes play along with it too much. Almost like he tries too hard to be the consummate professional that he is.

I agree, Bernstein is definitely the most knowledgeable and much more insightful than Merchant.

 

Not what I;ve seen. They usually give the visiting fighter his due. Such as Dirrell vs Froch or even Roy vs Calzaghe.

The only fight I've really seen them be biased about. But I can understand.

 

Boxing needs an old salty dog. Merchant has become that over the years and although I admit he's not the most knowledgeable, poetic or timely he lives up to his role.

 

Merchant doesn't tell it like it is. He tries to, but his points comes across as a + and - lol... He imagines that he's a boxer, but he's a drunk with an attitude towards today's fighters. H often gets exposed in interviews. When Merchant is humble he is an ok interviewer, and when he isn't, he comes off like an *******. He didn't appreciate a boxer like Whitaker when he fought because he likes aggressive styles. In boxing you have to appreciate all styles, and Merchant doesn't do that. Peep how he commentated the Lewis-Klitchsko fight, and check this interview with Lewis: [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjOEuM6gbbk&feature=related[/ame]

 

I was reading a little bit of your post but then when I saw "lol" I thought it might have been you. It is it you. Leave now. Thanks.

 

Larry = legend!

I find it strange that a lot of Americans like our commentators, they are awful. It was a very sad day when Ian Darke left for ESPN, he was the only good British boxing commentator and to compound the agony all the fights on Sky are now covered by Adam 'apologies about the language' Smith teaming up with Jim 'arrram punch' Watt.

 

He always had a tendcy to be a *******...but as i watch guys like maxie pad i have more respect for him....at least larry would actually try to ask some tough questions.

 

Merchant has been around the game and i like him because he understands the politics and tries to hold fighters accountable. He isn't the most knowledgeable... in fact i don't think i have ever agreed with a scorecard of his... but he is there to fight for the boxing fan who wants a blood and guts war.

 

Ian Darke thats the dude. I liked him.

 

I hate Larry. Not for what he says or doesn't say. I just hate his voice and his slow talking ass. Spit it out already....!!

 

I love Merchant. He's honest, and he's not afraid to ask tough guestions or to give honest feedback.

I loved the way he pissed off Lennox Lewis following Lewis' much tougher than expected fight against Klitschko. Lewis was being a jerk though, so he asked for it. Lewis was basically not giving Klitschko any credit at all, so Larry had to remind him how tough the fight was and how vulnerable Lewis looked.....haha....that was classic!

 

Is Ian Darke the guy who did World Cup for Soccer? If so I recognized him and that's the guy I liked. Is he the one that left?

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9jk2U8FFtM[/ame]

4:20

 

His call on Pac-Hatton was legendary if I'm thinking of the right guy. "He's been caught by a Pacific typhoon!"

 

You think my hatred of Merchant started with Mayweather? I have been hating Merchant since the 90's.

Merchant is a clown. You would look up to a drunk though. :think

 

Merchant tried to bring up the fight talk Lewis talked BEFORE the fight when fighters talk **** to each other, and he tried to bring it to the interview AFTER the fight which is a no no, and that is why he came off looking like a homer in favor of Klitschsko which to me was embarassing lol...