Thoughts on Larry Merchant

Is it me or is Merchant just way too negative lately? I mean he's always negative but it seems like he's going out of his way to be negative in every fight he announces. Yes we know it wasnt a great or exciting fight but do we need reminders every 30 seconds about how bad the fight is? And also I've noticed he was really giving it to Haye and talking about him but why was nothing said about Wladimir who outweighs his opponent by at least 30 lbs and has 3-4 inches of height on Haye? Wladimir doesn't take any risks even though he's enormously bigger then most of his opponents. All he does is Jab Jab Jab then he runs and looks like he seen a ghost when an opponent throws a punch at him. He's also a safety first fighter and I wonder why Merchant hasnt bashed him for being so cautious even though he has the huge size advantage against his opponents.

Comments (20)

javysouthpaw

Larry sucks and not because of his opinions either it is because he takes forever to form a thought and he speaks so low that I can't hear what the hell he is saying sometimes. Watch him at the end of broadcasts when he says his final words, he pasues forever like he didn't think about what he was going to say and his color commentary during the fight is dull. Max is so much better at analyzing the fight and making clever observations.

14y ago

William_Blake

Merchant on Haye- "He's wet the ring". Brilliant stuff! Thought his commentary on Mattysse-Alexander was spot on. To those critical of his "negativity"- perhaps he would be more glowing if given more to work with.

14y ago

tangalog2200

Boxing fans are probably the most negative and least grateful sports fans of all sports so I'd say he's doing a great job of accurately representing the average boxing fan :lol1: yes....larry is still the man.......... there are times when he got carried away but his insights are deep and good... he somehow has the knack for dramatics, though...like in the pac/odlh post fight interviews

14y ago

DLT

Larry is bad for the sport now, plain & simple

14y ago

DLT

Boxing fans are probably the most negative and least grateful sports fans of all sports so I'd say he's doing a great job of accurately representing the average boxing fan :lol1: excellent post, green k given

14y ago

Antonio

He was too negative too early. Haye probably should have fought the way he did then. By the 9th-10th round I felt it was necessary when it was clear Haye was a flopping, point stealing, minimal chance taking, **** talker.

14y ago

hebi

Larry is the best. He is a real wordsmith, and a very clever guy. He is negative when there is something to be negative about. There really is no one who can fill his shoes, I hope he stays around for as long as he can.

14y ago

beantown

Nobody can beat a Larry Merchant interview. I think Merchant along with Lampley and Steward do a great job.

14y ago

Outworn

I prefer Larry than Max.

14y ago

jrosales13

Fuck all the BS... People have a problem with Merchant cuz' he doesn't kiss their favorite fighters ass. Larry is the man...He speaks what he feels. And, I have absolutely no problem with that...There should be more people who call it like it is instead of kissing ass cuz' one fighter has ties to a network. Max can't hold Larry jockstrap when it comes to doing that job. I enjoyed listening to Larry last night. I thought he was on point with everything he said. I felt he said some clever lines. And, he does a damn good job at what he does.

14y ago

borgata

every one hop on facebook and join " hbo; please fire larry merchant" a friend of mine started this group. i cant stand him, hes too negative and only enjoy's toe to toe battles, sorry larry you prick thats not what boxing is all about.

14y ago

Carpe_Diem

No its not good for Boxing, cause he's usually only pleased with one style of boxing. When there are many enjoyable styles. All Larry is doing is brain washing causal fans into thinking just certain styles are enjoyable. Thats one thing MMA has learned to do, they try to talk up and make you understand many styles can be enjoyable to watch, from what is perceived as exciting or boring. Well said. At the end of the day, it's about building up the fighters regardless of how unpleasing their styles may be. It's totally okay to call a fight exactly how it is, but you don't have to be a dick all the time.

14y ago

markfrombrookly

I dunno guys but it seems to me Max Kellerman has much more enthusiasm when it comes to announcing fights on HBO. Larry is like that old guy that hates his job and is always complaining everyday about how life sucks.

14y ago

The_Dreamer

I mean he's always negative but it seems like he's going out of his way to be negative in every fight he announces. Boxing fans are probably the most negative and least grateful sports fans of all sports so I'd say he's doing a great job of accurately representing the average boxing fan :lol1:

14y ago

jmmfan

I think his ranting was a bit one sided against Haye considering his opponent was a huge towering vagina that did absolutely nothing but jab. That said, Merchant isn't doing anything especially bad for boxing. I'd rather have a commentator agreeing with me that a fight is boring as hell than have him trying to persuade me to be excited.

14y ago

DE100

larry is the hardest mofo to please...whcih is good for boxing....he sets the standrad high for fighters to entertain....that is why he cant stand floyds boring ass No its not good for Boxing, cause he's usually only pleased with one style of boxing. When there are many enjoyable styles. All Larry is doing is brain washing causal fans into thinking just certain styles are enjoyable. Thats one thing MMA has learned to do, they try to talk up and make you understand many styles can be enjoyable to watch, from what is perceived as exciting or boring.

14y ago

puga

larry is the hardest mofo to please...whcih is good for boxing....he sets the standrad high for fighters to entertain....that is why he cant stand floyds boring ass

14y ago

DE100

His time is over, he's fine and tolerable for avid boxing fans. But I dont want causal fans hearing him commentate.

14y ago

LarryX

It's time for him to reite

14y ago

DoubleMM

Larry has lost his marbles and his extremely disrespectful. His negativity is getting worse as he ages. HBO fights are always better without that drunk bastard.

14y ago