Paulie Malignaggi is a superb

commentator. In the Garcia Matthysse fight, Bernstein was ready to claim that round 4 was another close round and Paulie said, "I think that this is the clearest round of the fight so far for Garcia". Bernstein corrected himself and agreed. Normally we would've been talking to the TV saying, "What the hell is Bernstein talking about"!? Second, in round 8 and other rounds, the "no plan B" that Hopkins was talking about was confirmed by Paulie. He said that Matthysse's big punches are seen by Danny. Some are landing, but Danny is able to take them. On top of Danny having a good chin, he can throw his combinations, and they land, and land with some power. Matthysse is not throwing combos because they are not as hard as his usual punches. He throws single shots which are hard, but seen. He's not as effective when he throws combos. He throws combos, but they aren't effective like Danny's. Hop said that Danny took Matthysse's power away from him, and forced him to use another part of his style to beat Danny . At first Danny was just countering Matthysse. Too much waiting even though he was doing well, but it made Matthysse look like the aggressor. Danny's Dad did not like that. After being slapped by Angel, Danny started using his jab and combos more. Matthysse couldn't adjust. Hop was basically saying that Matthysse can't do anything else if he can't bomb you out. Matthysse stayed aggressive, and kept the pressure up, but Danny landed the cleaner, harder more visible shots. Matthysse landed very good body shots, but they never even bothered Danny. Matthysse also stopped using his left hook which I thought was effective.

Comments (20)

Bigg_Rigg

Paulie's score card was off though. Had it 9-3 in rds I think. Fight was closer then that.

12y ago

dre23000

The fact that he is such a knowledgeable boxer inside the ring helps him in the announcer booth. Like I couldn't imagine a face first brawler being very good at announcing fights. His insight is fantastic, like how he pointed out the importance, and the sheer difficulty of Danny's "catch and shoot" strategy against Lucas. The "catch and shoot" line was great! It is truly a pleasure listening to Paulie break down the sport the way he does.

12y ago

savorduhflavor

He really is amazing. Remember when we were talking about how good Tarver was? To be fair, Tarver was really good but Paulie is just on another level; and it was predictable. On that note, Bernstein is unbelievably overrated. I'm sorry but the bernstein bear makes more flat out irrelevant...and flat out wrong points than any commentator I see. I scratch my head non-stop listening to him I don't know why he has this sterling reputation that he has.

12y ago

Frank_Ducketts

He is a commentator not an announcer. A ring announcer is what Michael Buffer does. So can everyone stop calling him that!!!You are right. I edited it. But calm yo ass down.

12y ago

sunny31

He is a commentator not an announcer. A ring announcer is what Michael Buffer does. So can everyone stop calling him that!!!

12y ago

mconstantine

He does a very good job talking about what he's seeing and gives good insights on boxing in general. He needs to slow down abit and realize he has to be brief when explaining the action. He can go back to his point during the rest period and finish comments along with the replays! I haven't noticed if he's in touch with any directors yet (ear plug) so he can get feed back as to replays coming or adding info. Hopefully he studies the ins & outs of the job and it would help if he was a part of a two man team and learned with that senerio instead of the "4 blind mice" team! As to Bernard he's not very good over the air and Roy still thinks he's Ray Leonard, all the eye blinking like Ray used to do and trying to be cute, he's not very good! Ray. Paulie speaks very clearly, but he is a fast talker...I think for those not as familiar with the concepts he talks about, it may not fully sink in. Good input...probably the only negative with him I see.

12y ago

Ray_Corso

12y ago

Bushid333

Malignaggi is the TRUTH!

12y ago

animalfan10

Paulie has the gift of gab for sure. Anyone else notice that Italians are the least socially awkward White people haha

12y ago

SkillspayBills

12y ago

BostonGuy

it is the truth. sometimes i watch FNF and think "i am wasting my 20's. i should not be home and watching this." Well, that's why the almighty Rick Reeno created the "Video Trading Block"! Use it and you'll never have to spend a Friday night at home watching a Mike Lee fight

12y ago

New_England

C'mon, NE that's being a little too cynical. FNFs frequently showcase up-and-coming fighters before they make the jump to SHO/HBO; they also show fighters who are trying to turn around their careers and are 'back to basics' fighting on ESPN (again). I don't care too much for Atlas but the fights can be very entertaining. I see your point about scorecards but Atlas frequently criticizes the scorecards of official judges. How can he criticize a judge for a bad scorecard when he himself regularly does so as well? it is the truth. sometimes i watch FNF and think "i am wasting my 20's. i should not be home and watching this."

12y ago

BostonGuy

for starters, it doesn't make sense to me that you'd take umbrage with an analyst analyzing. listen to teddy when they have a great fight. there's a lot less analyzing. he has to do that crap, man. those fights can be bad, and the skills can be an insult to national television. casuals would be more likely to change the channel without atlas. i usually don't care about the outcome of ESPN fights, as the fighters aren't doing anything in boxing anyway. i just watch to be entertained and to be around more boxing matches. "i just hope somebody gets nailed." jaded boxing fan. i don't give two craps about teddy atlas' scorecard. giving a good card is easiest when you're quite and watching punches. that's not what he's there to do. C'mon, NE that's being a little too cynical. FNFs frequently showcase up-and-coming fighters before they make the jump to SHO/HBO; they also show fighters who are trying to turn around their careers and are 'back to basics' fighting on ESPN (again). I don't care too much for Atlas but the fights can be very entertaining. I see your point about scorecards but Atlas frequently criticizes the scorecards of official judges. How can he criticize a judge for a bad scorecard when he himself regularly does so as well?

12y ago

New_England

I don't necessarily agree with that. Clearly there are discernible degrees of skill level of novice to elite level fighters but they are not in different "planets." I would say same ballpark. My biggest qualm with Atlas is, he dissects and over-analyzes the fights to death. I get it - he's trying to give an 'insider' perspective on the subtleties of the sport to the masses but sometimes you don't have talk every millisecond during the fight - let the fight speak for itself. As for his scoring, I don't know how you can defend him. With all his expert capabilities, it's surprising how awful he scores some fights. for starters, it doesn't make sense to me that you'd take umbrage with an analyst analyzing. listen to teddy when they have a great fight. there's a lot less analyzing. he has to do that crap, man. those fights can be bad, and the skills can be an insult to national television. casuals would be more likely to change the channel without atlas. i usually don't care about the outcome of ESPN fights, as the fighters aren't doing anything in boxing anyway. i just watch to be entertained and to be around more boxing matches. "i just hope somebody gets nailed." jaded boxing fan. i don't give two craps about teddy atlas' scorecard. giving a good card is easiest when you're quite and watching punches. that's not what he's there to do.

12y ago

mconstantine

In the one and only time I've actually competed, I did the catch and shoot thing against my opponent several times and he reacted the same way Matthysse did, throwing one punch then jumping out of range before the counter "shoot" came back...I love doing that because it sends a message to your opponent that you're not worried about their power and keeps you in position to strike back...so when Paulie started talking about how tough that was and the mental composure it takes, I took it as a compliment and felt pretty dam good about myself being able to do it despite not being a real fighter lol Thank you Mr. Malignaggi 7:35 for a good example of what I am talking about.

12y ago

BostonGuy

atlas, perhaps more than any of the others, is called upon to be subjective. the fights aren't always sufficient content for prime time TV. atlas has to talk about a fight between 150th ranked guys in the same tradition that maligniaggi has to talk about top 10 contenders and world champions. he talks more about flaws than skills because that's what he's looking at. he has to analyze to the point of minutae. you can't just cut away and not talk the way you can during a great fight between greats on HBO and showtime. as lampley said about the diaz - marquez fight after not talking for a minute and a half "why should fights like this even be scored?" atlas gives the same attention to detail in a four rounder between debuting fighters that he does a crossroads fight between former champions. lampley wouldn't even commit their names to memory. you're talking about completely different planets in terms of the product you're covering. I don't necessarily agree with that. Clearly there are discernible degrees of skill level of novice to elite level fighters but they are not in different "planets." I would say same ballpark. My biggest qualm with Atlas is, he dissects and over-analyzes the fights to death. I get it - he's trying to give an 'insider' perspective on the subtleties of the sport to the masses but sometimes you don't have talk every millisecond during the fight - let the fight speak for itself. As for his scoring, I don't know how you can defend him. With all his expert capabilities, it's surprising how awful he scores some fights.

12y ago

Syf

Paulie a good announcer.. The catch and shoot thing was very on point in The One undercard... Oh and how he noticed Floyd's secret is changing levels and looks. Very astuute announcer.

12y ago

fceeviper

I gotta agree here, I like his work behind the mic at Showtime.

12y ago

Frank_Ducketts

Roy Jones Jr is also a superb announcer. Roy just gets caught up when he is doing a fight with Merchant. You can tell that at times he doesn't like Merchant, and has to correct him or let him know that you won't shine when I'm broadcasting a fight with you.

12y ago

Frank_Ducketts

Kinda rash to take one incident and lump Bernstein in with the rest of the rabble. He is by far one of the best to do it. Bernstein is good, but at times he can't even see what is landing. His scoring of rounds is also suspect at times. Paulie straightens him out. That isn't a bad thing. Fans want a boxers perspective, and the casual fans perspective.

12y ago