HBO Crew Should Be Ashamed For Their Comments

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Aside from being stunned at how easily Bernard Hopkins handled Kelly Pavlik over twelve rounds on Saturday night at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, my eyes and ears were in disbelief as I saw, and heard, Jim Lampley and Larry Merchant make numerous comments about Top Rank's decision to match Pavlik against Hopkins. [details]

[gridiron]

Not being able to watch HBO, I wonder, did Lampley/Merchant criticize this match up before the fight. Then, I can respect their views. Or did the criticism pop up during and after the fight - well, it's always easy being wise after the event. Pavlik lost his unbeaten record, so what? He probably learned a lot from this fight, which will benefit him in the future.

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

Not being able to watch HBO, I wonder, did Lampley/Merchant criticize this match up before the fight. Then, I can respect their views. Or did the criticism pop up during and after the fight - well, it's always easy being wise after the event. Pavlik lost his unbeaten record, so what? He probably learned a lot from this fight, which will benefit him in the future.

It always pops up during the event.

[Left Hook Tua]

Aside from being stunned at how easily Bernard Hopkins handled Kelly Pavlik over twelve rounds on Saturday night at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, my eyes and ears were in disbelief as I saw, and heard, Jim Lampley and Larry Merchant make numerous comments about Top Rank's decision to match Pavlik against Hopkins. [details]

They're just making excuses. Pavlik was/is very marketable. Blue collar white guy from Pittsburgh with great heart and very action oriented.

Maybe it was their way of saying Pavlik was just wet behind the ears and the fight was too soon for a developing fighter.

HBO definitely wanted this fight. No other Pavlik fight would've generated as much money. The big mouth black guy vs. the quiet white guy , old fighter at the end of his career vs. young fighter who's a rising star.

[BennyST]

It always pops up during the event.

Exactly. If Pavlik had been whoopin' on B-Hop they would say that this was a good learning experience etc etc, and a new passing of the torch, that it was history in the making and Pavlik's destiny etc etc. It's just how things work. If Pac gets a big, fat beat-down, like Hopkins gave Pavlik, then I'm pretty damn sure that they will be saying similar things. If it's a close competitive fight then they won't. Simple as that.

[MANGLER]

Exactly. If Pavlik had been whoopin' on B-Hop they would say that this was a good learning experience etc etc, and a new passing of the torch, that it was history in the making and Pavlik's destiny etc etc. It's just how things work. If Pac gets a big, fat beat-down, like Hopkins gave Pavlik, then I'm pretty damn sure that they will be saying similar things. If it's a close competitive fight then they won't. Simple as that.

Co-sign. Fair weather ****.

[TheSurgeonMDMPH]

they seemed devastated to me. They made every excuse for the loss. I don't want to say it but they seemed very biased to me until the apparent was happening b4 their eyes.

[Haglerwins]

I thought the HBO crew was very fair for once. They gave Hop props throughout and didn't play that "ignore what the other guy is doing" game.

[GoD]

the hbo crew showed alot of disrespect towards hopkins. it seemed like they had enough of him.
still in terms of service and quality hbo is by far more professional and superior compared to the rest.

@Left hook tua
well said

[TEACHER701]

I'm a white boy myself, but maybe Floyd was right - HBO doesn't like black people... and if dislike is too much of a strong word, then maybe they just would prefer Pavlik had won.