Who's the best expert commentator?

barry jones is improving all the time

 

Dont think any are that good .

 

I liked Manny. Czyz didn't pull any punches. Roy Jones is by far the worst.

 

Jerry Quarry was terrific. Of the commentators on the list, Sean O'Grady was the best.

- Chuck Johnston

 

I think that Leonard and Jones Jr had the best talking game, and of the two Leonard seemed to add more insight into technique. Foreman probably had the best personality, but also the worst chemistry with the other commentators. Jones and the other commentators will often be making out with each other the whole fight in a mutual appreciation society, but Foreman rubbed guys like Merchant the wrong way, would get angry and tell them they didn't know what they were talking about. Stewart's commentary always felt knowledgeable and Lewis' always felt egotistical.

Of the non-fighters, can we agree that Howard Cosell had his moments and Larry Merchant was awful?

Something I have to wonder, did the commentary get better over time? Because even though the boxing didn't get any better the technical coverage did. The lighting, the camera angles, etc. More and more money got poured into the presentation. The old fights I've watched often don't have more than one commentator who doesn't usually ad much to the fight. However, I've heard that people used to turn the sound off on their television for sports and turn on their radios for a better play by play description. I don't know, this is just a longish way of asking if any of the old timer commentators were anything special we don't have today?

 

I chose Manny Steward, but I think O'Grady was pretty decent as was Leonard and Jones. I haven't heard Czyz.
Foreman was okay but too prone to utterly bizarre comments and Lewis' calling was not behind the microphone. (or earphones, whatever.)

 

I think hes terrible, and extremely biased to the home fighter

 

I also thought ray leonard was one of the most awful commentators and analysts in history.
Roy jones was always very insightful, foreman could be good at times but often strayed from the plot.
Teddy atlas is someone I actually enjoy listening to but most are absolutely dire

 

Gil Clancy was a fine commentator.

- Chuck Johnston

 

When I think of O'Grady, I remember one of his first jobs as a commentator, helping describe the action unfolding in the Arguello-Mancini fight. He said of Mancini at one point, "As Italians go, he takes a good punch."

WTF? :huh And that was basically Gil Clancy's reaction too.

 

Oh yeah, love Gil Clancy. :good He and Tim Ryan were a class act.

 

I've got to watch that one again.

 

The best duo by far was Ryan and Clancy. No other team came close!

 

Barry Tompkins is very good as well.:good