One thing is clear to me...

Good post. I agree with most of it. I do, however, appreciate that Larry mentions his own score. I think he has the right to disagree (I disagree with Lederman about 50% myself) and I think that it is important for him to let the audience know that Harold's card is just a sample score from one individual (albeit a highly experienced one) and not the consensus HBO scorecard. Fair enough.

not to sound to much like a hugger, but i always thought roy really knew how to break it down when commentating for hbo Nah, you're no hugger. That's what Roy pays you for. :lol1: I agree that Roy is a good analyst.

I agree with a lot of what's already been said thusfar. I feel like unless Larry Merchant is getting a Marquez-Vazquez style fight, then he is generally upset or irritated with the fights he commentates on labeling them as boring or a fighter as being to cautious. I think the fact that he never boxed makes it unfair for him to criticize fighters in the manner he does. More times than not he does seem to have this arrogant "holier than though" attitude. For example, it drives me apeshit when he announces how he's scored the fight right after Harold Lederman's score as if to say " Actually Harold, you're wrong". However, the one thing I will give Larry Merchant is that he asks fighters the tough questions, does call fighters on their bullshit and pushes for fighters to fight the best opponent out there. As a fan I appreciate that. P.S. How people can say that Manny Steward isn't biased leaves me perplexed. Good post. I agree with most of it. I do, however, appreciate that Larry mentions his own score. I think he has the right to disagree (I disagree with Lederman about 50% myself) and I think that it is important for him to let the audience know that Harold's card is just a sample score from one individual (albeit a highly experienced one) and not the consensus HBO scorecard.

I agree with a lot of what's already been said thusfar. I feel like unless Larry Merchant is getting a Marquez-Vazquez style fight, then he is generally upset or irritated with the fights he commentates on labeling them as boring or a fighter as being to cautious. I think the fact that he never boxed makes it unfair for him to criticize fighters in the manner he does. More times than not he does seem to have this arrogant "holier than though" attitude. For example, it drives me apeshit when he announces how he's scored the fight right after Harold Lederman's score as if to say " Actually Harold, you're wrong". However, the one thing I will give Larry Merchant is that he asks fighters the tough questions, does call fighters on their bullshit and pushes for fighters to fight the best opponent out there. As a fan I appreciate that. P.S. How people can say that Manny Steward isn't biased leaves me perplexed.

not to sound to much like a hugger, but i always thought roy really knew how to break it down when commentating for hbo Jones was the best analyst HBO had IMO.

not to sound to much like a hugger, but i always thought roy really knew how to break it down when commentating for hbo

Thats YOUR opinion..I THOUGHT FOREMAN ADDED A LOT...especially when the other guys couldnt put their finger on the pulse of what he was trying to get across. I am not using anything as a crutch to explain to you the things that Larry obviously doesnt know about...I only need to listen to him to know this...it is factual. He knows the game of boxing, the history of it, the business of it, but he doesnt understand the mentality and the science of it. I concur. George was prone to saying some strange (and, at times, contradictory) shit on a fairly regular basis, but he also added some really insightful gems from time to time (unlike Lennox).

LOL BAZO...LOL...please, man...in terms of what happens in the ring? Larry knows more than I do? On his best day he couldnt know half of what I know just from the knowledge gained from having beein in a ring thousands of times. Don't take offense, man, and he shouldnt either if he ever read this. As someone who knows boxing I can assure you that Larry is VERY much out of touch with what fighters go through, what they think in there, etc etc agreed gd comment there its true larry is out of touch.

And it's clear you dont like Larry and are using the crutch of his never having boxed as meaning he must not know anything. Foreman never added anything to the fights. Ever. Steward is the same way. Thats YOUR opinion..I THOUGHT FOREMAN ADDED A LOT...especially when the other guys couldnt put their finger on the pulse of what he was trying to get across. I am not using anything as a crutch to explain to you the things that Larry obviously doesnt know about...I only need to listen to him to know this...it is factual. He knows the game of boxing, the history of it, the business of it, but he doesnt understand the mentality and the science of it.

well one thing is clear to me, Larrys roots in the sport are deeper than yours, so if I were you I would come down of that high horse of yours and accept the fact that the little guy has more knowledge about this sport than you do!! I aint trying to hurt your feelings or anything its just fucking reality, Larry does know about this sport, and if you seem to think otherwise your an idiot. LOL BAZO...LOL...please, man...in terms of what happens in the ring? Larry knows more than I do? On his best day he couldnt know half of what I know just from the knowledge gained from having beein in a ring thousands of times. Don't take offense, man, and he shouldnt either if he ever read this. As someone who knows boxing I can assure you that Larry is VERY much out of touch with what fighters go through, what they think in there, etc etc

Larry Merchant does NOT understand what it is to be a fighter, or what it is that is ACTUALLY going on inside the ring. Listening to him all these years... he comes off like he knows something but his knowledge of (actual) boxing is VERY limited well one thing is clear to me, Larrys roots in the sport are deeper than yours, so if I were you I would come down of that high horse of yours and accept the fact that the little guy has more knowledge about this sport than you do!! I aint trying to hurt your feelings or anything its just fucking reality, Larry does know about this sport, and if you seem to think otherwise your an idiot.

not too mention Merchant cant complete a sentence *big pause* to save his life he has fucking down syndrome

What did Larry do?

In terms of giving insight I think Foreman often gave insight into things that sounded odd to the layman but people with a knowledge of what it's like in the ring knew what he meant...I saw several times where Merchant would go against him at times like that and Foreman I think realized he was talking to someone who could NEVER understand. One thing is crystal clear...and for some crazy reason certain people take offense at this...but there are in fact certin things about boxing that a man could never, EVER know unless he has been in the ring. Larry doesn't understand many aspects of boxing and, for me, it affects his commentary (he gives false info to the viewers) And it's clear you dont like Larry and are using the crutch of his never having boxed as meaning he must not know anything. Foreman never added anything to the fights. Ever. Steward is the same way. He will say "I think this is gonna be a tougher fight then people think." then as soon as the fight goes one sided he takes credit for predicting that before the fight as well. Fuck, he said Oscar looked as good as he did 10 years ago last night. Really? Plus ALL of the commentators are homers for some fighters. Larry is, Roy was, George was, Max sure as fuck is and Jim is worse then anyone. We get it, you dont think much of Larry because "He can never understand." but why do the people that should "understand" like George and Manny contribute nothing to the fights? I guess only those who were pro can appreciate it huh? Boxing at the gym every once in a while must not help me out any huh? I wasnt pro, I didnt understand Georges "If he hit him he's gonna win, but if he dont he's gonna lose...buy my grill!" statements. How sad for me.

I agree with you to some extent but you gotta admit you look forward to hearing what merchant is going to come up with as so do I. We all look forward to his post fight interviews. He's an HBO icon and I don't think a hbo ppv would be the same with out his commentating and post fight interviews. LOL I promise you I do not look forward to hearing him in any way. Also, for me, sometimes when I was caught with a good shot I would let it be known it didn't hurt me for the simple reason that hearing the crowd oooh and ahhh and scream when u get caught clean is embarrassing, its like they think you are REALLY shook up and u just want them to know u are not

The problem is that 90 pct. of the viewers rely on his words....and when guys like him say something people often take it is fact....they spread bad info on a REGULAR basis. How many times have you heard an announcer say, for example, "when a guy gets hit with a good shot and shakes his head no, it almost always means the punch really did hurt him." And now I hear people say that all the time and...that is WRONG WRONG WRONG...it's bad info that guys like Larry spread, thinking it makes them look boxing savvy. I agree with you there 100%. To me that's just the person getting hit acknowledging a good shot landing on him. Some shake there heads some do other things its all the same crap. I can remember a few times when i got caught with some good shots and i would smile or acknowledge that "yea ok you got me on that one" but by no means does that mean that it hurt or i was hurt by the punch. It did bother me when they say that stupid phrase because it is not true.

Larry Merchant does NOT understand what it is to be a fighter, or what it is that is ACTUALLY going on inside the ring. Listening to him all these years... he comes off like he knows something but his knowledge of (actual) boxing is VERY limited I agree with you to some extent but you gotta admit you look forward to hearing what merchant is going to come up with as so do I. We all look forward to his post fight interviews. He's an HBO icon and I don't think a hbo ppv would be the same with out his commentating and post fight interviews.

I don't doubt this. He's a media guy and so of course the limits of his comprehension of the sport are evident to YOU. The problem is that 90 pct. of the viewers rely on his words....and when guys like him say something people often take it is fact....they spread bad info on a REGULAR basis. How many times have you heard an announcer say, for example, "when a guy gets hit with a good shot and shakes his head no, it almost always means the punch really did hurt him." And now I hear people say that all the time and...that is WRONG WRONG WRONG...it's bad info that guys like Larry spread, thinking it makes them look boxing savvy.

Lampley said that. Not Merchant. Same boat :)

But....he goes where he does not belong, thats my point.... he offers his catchphrases etc for the average fan but MANY times during the telecast he offers up his opinion that is often disrespectful and CLEARLY ignorant. He does not know BOXING, that is very very clear to me. He has his place on the telecast sure...but he shuld let Manny handle the BOXING issues (for the record, he even said Forbes was a "former 140 pound champion"....we ALL, I am sure, caught that..and Manny did, too. Called him on it. I agree with this post. Manny should handle the "boxing issues," Larry should interject at more carefully chosen points. That's why I posted the comment about Foreman above. Foreman made it a little harder for Lampley and Merchant to, as you say, go where they don't belong. Lennox is the worst in this regard, he never forces the other two to back off. Steward is a little to polite and doesn't want to openly disagree with Merchant.