Larry Merchant was tripping on Steve Smoger

[cupcrazy01]

I think alot of the reason Merchant let loose Saturday night is because he knows his time is up, and that's just unfortunate for us boxing fans. I used to be a big Kellerman guy, but he has NOTHING on Merchant.

Think about it: Larry rips Smoger unmercilessly, then he demands boxing go back to smaller gloves (talk about not PC, with the Levander Johnson and Donaire incidents recently) and smaller rings and then he rips the Taylor-Spinks fight just about every round.

Hilarious and, frankly, unreplaceable...sorry Max.

[pesticid]

I think alot of the reason Merchant let loose Saturday night is because he knows his time is up, and that's just unfortunate for us boxing fans. I used to be a big Kellerman guy, but he has NOTHING on Merchant.

Think about it: Larry rips Smoger unmercilessly, then he demands boxing go back to smaller gloves (talk about not PC, with the Levander Johnson and Donaire incidents recently) and smaller rings and then he rips the Taylor-Spinks fight just about every round.

Hilarious and, frankly, unreplaceable...sorry Max.

Couldn't have been said better cupcrazy.
I can't believe Max will take Larry's position. What is the world coming to?

[jack_the_rippuh]

Larry Merchant is a fool for doing that.

He's a fool.

[squealpiggy]

I think that if a downed fighter spits out his mouthpiece the count should continue until it is back in and he is ready to fight. So instead of getting an extra few seconds to recover, they get counted out for a KO.

[Mozza]

I think that if a downed fighter spits out his mouthpiece the count should continue until it is back in and he is ready to fight. So instead of getting an extra few seconds to recover, they get counted out for a KO.

What about on occasions when mouthpieces come out legitimately?

[Nacho_Analstain]

larry merchant is leaving hbo?

[squealpiggy]

What about on occasions when mouthpieces come out legitimately?

The action can be stopped for the mouthpiece to be put back in. Just about everything can be open to referee discretion, but when fighters blatantly cheat by spitting out their mouthpiece and all that is open to the ref is to give a warning, take a point and call a DQ (which would be grossly unfair in a title fight as the title can't change hands on a DQ ever since Max Schmeling "won" it following a low blow from Jack Sharkey) then it definitely gives a huge unfair advantage to the spitter. The referee should have the option of continuing the count at his discretion. That way there would be no incentive to spit out the mouthpiece.

[JakeNDaBox]

Larry was wrong for his rant on Smoger. I understand his beef - that the offending fighters often get the break they want, even at the cost of losing a point. But still, Smoger admonished him the moment he spit out his mouthpiece, immediately summoned the corner to the ring apron, and while they washed off the m/p, Smoger took a point.

Honestly, Steve couldn't have handled the situation any better.

As for Larry leaving - I'm mentioning it in my next column, but whispers around the water cooler this weekend were that he's not quite turning in his blazer yet.

[freedom213]

Larry was wrong for his rant on Smoger. I understand his beef - that the offending fighters often get the break they want, even at the cost of losing a point. But still, Smoger admonished him the moment he spit out his mouthpiece, immediately summoned the corner to the ring apron, and while they washed off the m/p, Smoger took a point.

Honestly, Steve couldn't have handled the situation any better.

As for Larry leaving - I'm mentioning it in my next column, but whispers around the water cooler this weekend were that he's not quite turning in his blazer yet.

that was about the fastest ive ever seen a mouth piece replaced. Smoger is one of the best, larry is losing it.

[macman]

Generally a big Merchant fan, but thought he was out of line there
- Smoger got the action happening as quickly as possible again, & took a point. Totally legitimate, good refereeing I thought.

Another thought - Smoger lets the action continue without getting Miranda's mouthpiece back in. Miranda gets seriously injured. Guess who's liable?