Interesting story about Larry Merchant on racism.

Anyone who thinks Merchant didn't have issues with race, see his comments prior to the ODH/Sweet Pea fight and the reaction to those comments from the Latino community. seemed like he just didn't like the way whitaker (one of his favorites) was treated and how oscar seemed to overdo it in trying to get the mexican fans behind him. He had been beating mexican and mexican-american fighters and all of a sudden fights whitaker, says "black fighters don't take body punches well", and comes out with a mariachi band when he never did that kind of entrance before. Although I think Pernell maybe goaded him into the comment about body punches, I forgot what he said.

Merchant was just a grumpy old man. He had his favorites and others he didn't care for. He loved Pernell Whitaker despite Whitaker being an abrasive personality and not too exciting a fighter.

Using some of the libtard logic around lately Larry is racist simply because he is a white male over fifty. Seriously, that's all it takes since Trump won.

I think you want a "company weasel" as you call it. Who the f#ck thinks HBO should hire guys who attempts to sh^t on the fighters Just reading that clearly means you either did not read what I wrote or are unable to comprehend it.

I remember when Max Kellerman asked Pac a few softball questions after Pac's fight with Floyd Mayweather. Can't remember the exact questions but they were pretty standard, just the generic routine **** commentators usually ask to fighters. Apparently that was too much for the some of the same folks praising Larry Merchant for always antagonizing and asking the fighters he hated the "tough questions".

LOL I'm not saying ask questions. Quit being dense man I know you're not that stupid. I'm saying what is the point of asking these guys aggressive questions that can make them look bad or like a p#ssy in the minds of simple minded boxing fans who don't understand the business angle of the sport these guys are at largely? Thats like asking Justin Bieber how he'd fix the stealing of music in his industry. I know what you mean and disregarding your nonsense comparison, I'm going to answer your question seriously: The point of a commentator is to commentate on the fight, not to hype anything. The point of an interviewer is to ask questions, if that occurs after a fight, those questions will be based on the fight, the fighter himself, the opponent and the future. This has nothing to do with making someone look bad and in all honesty, if a fighter has the ability to handle himself well, he can look great in post fight interviews. Consider the two fighters I mentioned: Naz and May. Naz was a sharp guy who had a way with words and Larry asked him some important questions during that storied career (as did the likes of MacGuigan and co in England). Naz was able to handle it, answer, be entertaining and up his stock in the minds of many. I guess your problem is Mayweather looking bad and yes, he did, simply because he could not compete on an intellectual level or ultimately, on a career level. Mayweather avoided too many guys at too many important points, Merchant asked him if he would fight them (same as he did with Naz and MAB/Morales). May could not respond adequately and that made him look bad. nOt Merchant. Remember, Merchant is the same guy that provided May with a massive platform on HBO, gave him credit in the rumours of a potential Naz fight and made him seem a million dollars. No one likes to bring that up. Merchant was, as far as I could tell, a straight shooter. He saw a guy do good, fight who he should and beat them, he said so. If he saw the opposite, he said so too. That's the job of an impartial interviewer. I can't stand modern day guys like Kellerman who are nothing but company weasels.

oh ok so you dont think there should be any interviews, thats great, lets give them candies, cakes and cookies and kiss their boo boos better Simplistic diversion. No, i'm saying give them a second to get their **** together, especially the loser. Maybe in the locker room or something where they are more composed.

Larry secretly likes big black ****. It goes against his hatred for blacks, thats why he struggles so hard with it.

I think the issue is why are you even asking boxers questions after they were literally in combat with someone trying to take their head off and vice versa. I think the post fight interview on boxing is pretty dumb and insensitive to the combatants at a humane level. oh ok so you dont think there should be any interviews, thats great, lets give them candies, cakes and cookies and kiss their boo boos better

If you have to ask why its important for an interviewer to ask questions and not just wank the fighter off then there really is no point in me replying to you. I think the issue is why are you even asking boxers questions after they were literally in combat with someone trying to take their head off and vice versa. I think the post fight interview on boxing is pretty dumb and insensitive to the combatants at a humane level.

I think merchant has issues with certain styles of fighters more than anything. There's not enough evidence to call the man an outright racist and I'm not a fan of his by any means.

That's a long winded way of saying "He has black friends".

Why is this a goal of a post-event sports interviewer? Like the ideal commentator is a cross between Cosell & Oprah. I don't get it. Just go out there & hype the f#cking product. Thats a commentators job. Trying to trash a fighter or put a fighter your channel promotes into some awkward position is one of those dumb things boxing continues to do. Makes no sense. Also PLEASE f#cking quit asking "who's next" to these nice guy boxers who aren't sh^t talkers & always say "whoever my team decides is best for me" like 60%+ of boxers do these days. Its a wasted, hack question for most boxers who don't like to sh^t talk & probably just in general. The guys who wanna say a name will usually say a name without you asking if you let them. If you have to ask why its important for an interviewer to ask questions and not just wank the fighter off then there really is no point in me replying to you.

Why do people call him a racist? Because of the Floyd thing? I think he was great at antagonizing him. Floyd was trying to play the heel and Larry treated him like one by speaking for the fans who don't like an arrogant, brash fighter. It was a very WWF kinda thing they had going. Simply calling everyone we don't like "racist" is ignorant and damaging because it wrecks your own integrity, as well as the credibility of your cause. Nice thread tag BTW. :lol1: Floyd loved to project his insecurities onto larry in a twisted way. Post Castillo 1, larry told Floyd that most people thought Castillo won. Most of the fans booed the decision.. Floyd & trump both lack the class to hear criticism, smile, and let it roll off their backs..

Shane was one of the "good ones". Quiet, smiled for the camera. He knew his place. Shane is the type that let white people rub him on his head like he's a good boy. Merchant didn't like the uppity ones who didn't know their place. He loved Ali.

Larry hated Floyd because he saw Floyd as the selfish fake weasel that he was, not because Floyd was black. He simply called him out on it. Any intelligent and honest man can see this. Larry was a good man. When he was sober?

I think Larry Merchant suffers from old man syndrome.

Anyone who thinks Merchant didn't have issues with race, see his comments prior to the ODH/Sweet Pea fight and the reaction to those comments from the Latino community.

Interesting thing is Larry Merchant was a catalyst in HBO losing both Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather to Showtime. They forgave him for Tyson, but after Mayweather left they canned him. mayweather left because he got a hell of a deal from CBS. merchant was literally in his 80's :lol1:. the guy retired. he's 86 now. if you think hbo canned merchant, or floyd left hbo because of merchant, you're wrong and honestly pretty naive.

larry merchant, jim lampley & harold ledderman ALL SUX! They are the reason you fools out there can't decide who won the fight! SMH....Get them OUT of BOXING!