Why was Larry Merchant arguing with Bernard Hopkins

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by InMemoryofJakeLamotta, Dec 16, 2025.

  1. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2017
    Messages:
    17,461
    Likes Received:
    12,892
    This content is protected
     
  2. USFBulls727

    USFBulls727 Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2022
    Messages:
    1,098
    Likes Received:
    2,072
    Larry: Well it looks like tonight you got paid for doing not much

    Bernard: Well let me tell you something Larry, you get paid every day on TV for not doing much.

    Larry viewed it as a waste of time, which it kind of was. The opponent was a mandatory for Bernard though. Kind of a common situation in the multi-belt era.
     
    NoChin, Fergy, MaccaveliMacc and 4 others like this.
  3. GoldenHulk

    GoldenHulk Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2007
    Messages:
    4,914
    Likes Received:
    5,656
    I loved Larry funny as hell! His best beef imo was with Floyd Mayweather.
     
  4. SwarmingSlugger

    SwarmingSlugger Active Member Full Member

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2010
    Messages:
    1,357
    Likes Received:
    1,680
    Hopkins sucked, always a snooze fest.
     
    TNSNO1878, BCS8, Skins and 1 other person like this.
  5. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2005
    Messages:
    55,229
    Likes Received:
    49,569
    Hopkins owned him here.
     
    NoChin, Levook, Bokaj and 2 others like this.
  6. Jel

    Jel Obsessive list maker Full Member

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2017
    Messages:
    8,055
    Likes Received:
    13,742
    You could argue they were both right.
     
    NoChin, TNSNO1878, Cobra33 and 4 others like this.
  7. elmaldito

    elmaldito Skillz Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2009
    Messages:
    22,885
    Likes Received:
    6,545
    The best was larry merchants commentary for Whitaker vs delahoya
    He got sent on vacation and had to issue an apology after.
     
    NoChin and InMemoryofJakeLamotta like this.
  8. InMemoryofJakeLamotta

    InMemoryofJakeLamotta I have defeated the great Seamus Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 21, 2017
    Messages:
    17,461
    Likes Received:
    12,892
    I wish Larry Merchant could do commentary for AJ vs Jake Paul
     
  9. Smokin Bert

    Smokin Bert Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2013
    Messages:
    5,522
    Likes Received:
    7,912
    Merchant was just telling it like it was. That fight was garbage.
     
  10. Saintpat

    Saintpat Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2009
    Messages:
    24,579
    Likes Received:
    29,252
    Bernard and Larry are two guys who would start an argument with a fence post.

    They were made for each other.
     
  11. Rico Spadafora

    Rico Spadafora Master of Chins Full Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2008
    Messages:
    45,678
    Likes Received:
    4,208
    :lol: that was hilarious. Larry never was scared to speak his mind even when it came to Mariachi music.
     
  12. PrimoGT

    PrimoGT Well-Known Member banned Full Member

    Joined:
    Jul 20, 2025
    Messages:
    2,632
    Likes Received:
    2,615
    Larry Merchant was a character.
    And so was Hopkins. He handled Merchant nicely there.
     
  13. NoNeck

    NoNeck Pugilist Specialist

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2012
    Messages:
    29,597
    Likes Received:
    20,145
    I think this was after Hopkins beat Morrare Hakkar or however his name is spelled. Hopkins was right. The issue was with the fight being a mandatory and Hopkins didn’t have the pull to drop a belt and still have the same negotiating power and demand for fights with guys like Oscar. Merchant frames it like Hopkins wanted to fight Hakkar.
     
  14. GoldenHulk

    GoldenHulk Boxing Addict Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2007
    Messages:
    4,914
    Likes Received:
    5,656
    I loved that Larry was never afraid of asking hard questions when he interviewed boxers. Unlike Jim Gray who I could never stand!
     
    Smoochie and Smokin Bert like this.
  15. Joe.Boxer

    Joe.Boxer Chinchecker Full Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2011
    Messages:
    7,717
    Likes Received:
    1,209
    It's unfortunate that Merchant never brought that attitude when interviewing Roid Jones post-fight.
     
    Smoochie likes this.