One thing is clear to me...

[kayjay]

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.

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

Lampley said that. Not Merchant.

Same boat

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

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.

[ANDROID_DOES]

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.

[ANDROID_DOES]

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 ****** phrase because it is not true.

[ICEMAN JOHN SCULLY]

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

[Motofan]

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. ****, 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 **** 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.

[Truth]

What did Larry do?

[Bea5T]

not too mention

Merchant cant complete a sentence *big pause* to save his life

he has ****ing down syndrome

[C'MONMANG']

I know!!!! He kept saying the fact that Forbes has never been knocked down is a bad thing cause it means he takes no risks.

First of all he's not in there, and second of all i've seen Forbes fight agressive and very active in his 2 most recent fights, Hopkins and Bajado. AND Tonight he fought his ass off.

idk what Merchant was talking about

I caught that too. I was like "he's throwing more punhces then ODLH"....