Another big reason why Showtime >> HBO

[Loud!]

my thoughts exactly

[JRB123]

Exactly, man. I've actually reached the point now where I hope fights are on SHO instead of HBO.

SHO have been awesome for a while. Tarver has been a great addition to the commentary team (tbf to HBO, RJJ is pretty awesome too) and they just build upon the sense of excitement the fans have pre-fight. Whereas HBO are more likely to put a pin in your balloon.

Max needs to STFU and commentate on the fight act like he actually wants to be there.

My only worry about SHO is that with Pac vs Mosley, they don't lose sight of what has made them great; making terrific match-ups that the true boxing fans appreciate, and not just "events" like HBO seem to be built on.

Great post...props 2 you...

Now I see why those articles were made about the fall of HBO Boxing a couple of weeks ago...the act is getting redundant...they gotta change. And fast.

[badnewsbrown]

HBO are so incessantly negative. Every damn fight, especially when Max is there, they veer from the fight into a dissection of the state of boxing, drawing power, fighters ducking other fighters, etc. There's just this constant cloud of negativity at every fight.

Last night, Max was going on and on about the decline of Gamboa - "where is the old exciting Gamboa"? - oh right. The one who used to **** on for his apparent defensive deficiencies and recklessless, Max?

Then he kept mentioning Gamboa's (lack of) drawing power.

In the Saul/Hatton fight, they kept bringing up that Hatton was over-matched. Yeah Max, we know that. Maybe if you keep re-iterating it, you will push away every casual fan.

Contrast that with Cotto/Mayorga (a fight I also wasn't particularly fond of) - but hey, at least the Showtime team sounded like they wanted to be there and actually stuck to commentating on the ****ing actual fight. The only HBO moment was when Tyson piped up () Just commentate on the damn fight, FFS.

It's been like this for a while. Every recent fight on HBO becomes a dissection on the ills of boxing. On the inadequacies of the boxers fighting. I'm not saying we should hide from issues - I maintain boxing is the worst run sport in the world - but goddamn, ease up on that ****.

I guess it's a reflection on the state of both the networks - Showtime are on the up and up, whereas HBO are faltering right now.

Thoughts?

i totally agree with this. hbo commentary must ruin a lot fights for the uninformed fans. i think max is the main problem constantly going on about other bs rather than the actual fight

[Bushbaby]

I'd be mad about the negative stuff that he says if they were lies,but for the most part he's right.When he talked about Floyd in hiatus & Pacman fighting meaningless fights,he wasn't lying.When he talks about questionable decisions,he isn't lying.There is a lot of truth to what he says,most commentators are afraid to say it.If I see a **** sandwich sitting in front of me,I'd like the commentator to say,"that's a **** sandwich".Instead of saying it's a lopsided philly cheese steak.But that's just me.

[Check]

I have no problem with HBO saying what most boxing fans think.

[ANDROID_DOES]

Very true OP I agree 100%! I hope Showtime gets 90% of boxing fights in the very near future.

[Kevin Malone]

The problem is when Max is bring up Pac and Floyd it has NOTHING to do with the fight going on they are covering. I like Max's analysis and I've always appreciate his honesty, but cover the fight you are watching, stop reminicing about the old days and what could be, and be excited about having one of the best jobs in the world covering the best sport in the world.

Last night they were ripping into Mikey Garcia because he wasn't exciting and the fans were supposedly bored. Mikey had a bad stomach ache and wanted to quit after the 2nd round. He then stops Remillard and was clearly outclassing him. Mikey has looked better than he looked last night.

[Kevin Malone]

I have no problem with HBO saying what most boxing fans think.

It's an old bit though. Every broadcast is the same. Most of the time when you watch Showtime every broadcast is different because every fight is different and they are focusing on the fight they are covering and the immediate fights and fighters surrounding it.

We all know, as does even the casual fan, that boxing has issues. We discuss this all the time. I don't need to be beat over the head with them every time I sit down to enjoy an evening of boxing.

[LA_2_Vegas]

Excellent post. I actually feel really strongly about this and it no doubt effects how you feel when you're watching the fight.

Max and Steward are the primary culprits of this.

Steward: To this guy, the fight is basically over 30 seconds in the 1st round. He lets you know what he thinks the pattern will be and doesn't give too much credence to what is actually happening in the fight. Nobody punches hard, nobody is dangerous. predicting UD decisions in the 1st round isnt gonna keep casual viewers around long.

You already went over Max and hit all the main points which I agree with. He loves boxing too but u are right about being on politics too much.

Just a recently example of ruining the moment: in the midst of Donaire's KO of Montiel...Max is sitting there naming off names of other P4P fighters while Donaire is going in for the KILL. Bob Papa couldn't get off cuz he talking about Sergio Martinez in the middle of a dramatic KO. Drives me insane every time I watch that fight.

Lampley still has his enthusiasm IMO but nobody to bounce it off of. I LOVE that Roy is back he is the only who really seems to be enjoying himself as an innocent fan, supporting fighters as humans, wanting to see them do their best, and breaking down the fight pretty good.

the cotto/mayorga fight was the perfect example of showtime commentators making the fight fun - all 3 were great. It's why I will miss Nick Charles on ShoBox - they really enjoyed this.

Watch an old HBO tape with Jim, Larry, and Foreman/Roy. They are having a blast at the openings of the shows and throughout the telecasts. Even if they are having tension while calling the fight - it adds to the uncertainy of how the fight itself is going.

[-MAKAVELLI-]

no mention of Max slurping Roy's testicles every 30secs?