Has Charlie Magri ever done any TV pundit work?

King Tubby · Post by **King Tubby** » 11 Feb 2008, 18:12

Can't remember seeing him.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 11 Feb 2008, 18:47

Yes..... Usually BBC stuff when he was champion.

rhino222 · Post by **rhino222** » 11 Feb 2008, 18:47

without being disrespectful i dont think charlie is academically astute enough to do this kind of work.

King Tubby · Post by **King Tubby** » 11 Feb 2008, 19:03

I'm sure he could analyse a fight.

Greg Nicholas · Post by **Greg Nicholas** » 12 Feb 2008, 04:20

He commentated on Chris Eubanks first fight shown on ITV against Simon Collins.. basically said Benn would take his head off..

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Feb 2008, 06:52

Charlie was actually the first pundit on Sky, he covered the first few Barry Hearn shows there. He was offered a long term contract, but turned it down as he was trianing and managing fighters at the time.

It's one of his great regrets that he turned it down.

King Tubby · Post by **King Tubby** » 12 Feb 2008, 07:46

Just enjoying your book at the moment ,mate. Good stuff. Lovely story about Johnny Owens family. Some funny stories in there as well. Have you written others?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Feb 2008, 08:13

Thanks mate.

It's a simple little story really, my job was really to make sure the book sounded like Charlie, and reflected his personality, which I think it does. Charlie spoke with a lot of affection about Johnny and his family, the kindness they showed him as a young amateur was something he never forgot.

Am supposed to be doing another one this year, but don't think it will be finished this year as too much else going on.

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 12 Feb 2008, 09:18

Magri was involved with the BBC when Duke McKenzie won his world title against Bohol.

Really nice touch at the end of McKenzie's win when Charlie (clearly pleased for Duke) said "I can say he beat me now".

bennie · Post by **bennie** » 12 Feb 2008, 10:01

I remember they dragged Charlie in for an interview on Grandstand just four days before his world title fight with Eleoncio Mercedes. Big mistake. Charlie was already in Hagler "Destruct and Destroy" mode and came across as a serial killer.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Feb 2008, 10:16

THEBUTCH wrote:Magri was involved with the BBC when Duke McKenzie won his world title against Bohol.

Really nice touch at the end of McKenzie's win when Charlie (clearly pleased for Duke) said "I can say he beat me now".

Charlie admits himself he clearly underestimated Duke when he fought him, he thought McKenzie would fold under pressure, but was really pleased when he saw how well he went on to do.

King Tubby · Post by **King Tubby** » 12 Feb 2008, 13:20

Shocked to discover he once had a pointy nose.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 12 Feb 2008, 13:33

I know, look at him now!

You can see what his hooter used to look like on the cover. His family are basically of Italian/Maltese descent, so he used to have the classic conk of an Italian.