Buncey's monologue on Pav-Lockett preview

[Grilling Machine]

He's the Ron Manager of boxing. 'Cut him down like an overgrown hedge, Phil!'

[jeej]

Ha ha ha, Bunce just said that he gets a lot of stick on the boxing websites! You certainly do mate!

[Grilling Machine]

You should comment on his chat!

[Autobarn]

Well, Buncey, I think Pavlik's massacre of Lockett shows how much these made up belts do for a fighter's development.

[jeej]

I have nothing against Lockett, but surely I wasn't the only person thinking "wtf? Lockett VS Pavlik!"?

[whatashambles]

Did you hear Woodhall. About Abraham and Sturm "These fighters never come out of Germany". Well apart from Abraham fighting in the US this month....

[Asterix]

Did you hear Woodhall. About Abraham and Sturm "These fighters never come out of Germany". Well apart from Abraham fighting in the US this month....

[hitman_hatton1]

I have nothing against Lockett, but surely I wasn't the only person thinking "wtf? Lockett VS Pavlik!"?

yeah always looked a horrible mismatch.

i looked at lockett's record earlier in the week and just cringed for him really.

talk about out of the paddling pool and into the deepest darkest ocean.

[ebeneezer]

yeah always looked a horrible mismatch.

To the non Welsh

[chesh]

Lockett never gave the impression in any interview that he genuinely believed he could win. He probably knew, as most of us did, that it was a complete mismatch, but was worth it for $250k. Horrible stuff.

[Autobarn]

Pavlik did the business nicely. Lockett looked like a guy who was used to having opponents fall over & I think it was a shock to him getting hit by a world class puncher. Even by the jab.

Like many Enzo Calzaghe fighters, Lockett was getting nailed when on the back foot.

In hindsight the Rhodes fight showed Gary his level, but these WBU and whatever belts let things fall into a grey area to deceive some ppl that certain guys are world class.

Hopefully Pavlik will be in action sooner than late Sept which is the date they're talking about for Rubio. I like the idea of him facing normal contenders if it means him staying visible, building profile and having lots of fights.

Which Warren fighters can beat Arum's fighters? Setanta are showing a lot of Arum shows for the next few months and obviously behind the scenes it's about Calzaghe-Pavlik.

Really keen to see more of Juan Manuel Lopez. That was an almost effortless stoppage of dangerous De Leon. I was never sold on Lopez - he was being built as the next Cotto - but he seems to have the special ingredient when he needs it.

Re Buncey - Pavlik v Calzaghe "170-pound catchweight" - can't they just have it in one weight or another.


On another subject, domestically, I'd like to see Barker perhaps go after Lockett, see if he can get a dominant win and earn some good notices for beating a world title challenger.

[Asterix]

Lockett's face was a sight. I was genuinely worried for him when he kept getting back up. Pavlik is a huge puncher and you can't keep taking those shots.

Pavlik vs Calzaghe would have to happen at 168lbs. There could be no other way. If Calzaghe fights Jones Jr and scores an impressive win, I'm sure the fight will be made.

I think Lockett will retire. He doesn't seem interested in boxing and I think he just wanted to get paid, but also show some courage and guts, to make us proud, in the process. He did the best he could do.

[Glyn Leach]

I don't think anyone else in boxing could handle that Setanta gig. Imagine it: You're stuck in a studio with a presenter who knows absolutely jack about the sport and you have to do ALL the work otherwise there's no show. As far as I'm concerned Setanta need to show Bunce a bit more credit and pay him two people's wages cos he's doing two people's work, every time

I agree. I'm a big fan of Bunce. He saved the day during Barrera-Pac II when Setanta lost the live feed in the latter part of the fight. There would have been a lot of dead airtime without Steve's ability to talk unscripted ad infinitum. We "anoraks" might pick up on the odd factual error, but he does have great knowledge of the game, and the ability to utilise that knowledge in such an enthusiastic and entertaining manner is, surely, a great asset to Setanta.

I like Bunce's charisma...but Glyn is bound to back him as he employs him!

Utter crap. If I didn't believe what I said I wouldn't have said anything at all.

[jeej]

The guy is a chancer.

When he openly says things like "I'm probably wrong, I'm wrong a lot", then you have to question his job title of 'expert'.

Expert at what then?

He just rambles on like a balding white Essex version of Don King. Only he isn't a promoter. No... he's an 'expert'.

[Gray-Fox]

Steve Bunce is alright. I don't see where all the hate comes from.

[jeej]

I don't hate the man, I just think he is inept.

[Glyn Leach]

Inept. Don't make me laugh. He's forgotten more about this sport than most people will ever know. And I'll bet there isn't one 'expert' in Britain who would even attempt to do what Setanta ask of him, which is to basically carry a three and sometimes four-hour programme by himself, with no support from the anchor. That is an immensely big ask.

As regards Bunce's persona, allegedly once referred to him as the British Bert Sugar and FW was spot on. Bunce is larger than life (no pun intended), deliberately so, end of. Like it or don't, that's your prerogative, but there are only a handful of people in the world with the credentials to call Bunce inept at what he does and you are not one of them.

As regards Essex, he's from South London - get your mockney accents right.

[Captain Hook]

I agree to a point, he does know his stuff but he aims his style at the armchair fan. I guess that's fair enough as most people watching Inside Sport etc aren't anoraks like us :)

I wouldn't take "UK's Bert Sugar" as a compliment, he is fornicating atrocious. Watched him with Atlas and Holmes on this ESPN show the other day, discussing the best heavies. He's a joke, though he's appreciate he's been there and done that.

He's become a parody of himself.

[E]

I agree to a point, he does know his stuff but he aims his style at the armchair fan. I guess that's fair enough as most people watching Inside Sport etc aren't anoraks like us :)

I wouldn't take "UK's Bert Sugar" as a compliment, he is effing atrocious. Watched him with Atlas and Holmes on this ESPN show the other day, discussing the best heavies. He's a joke, though he's appreciate he's been there and done that.

He's become a parody of himself.

Bert Sugar turns my stomach. He sits there smugly in his 'trademark' hat and cigar and talks in actorish melodramatic fashion....gushing with self-importance.

He never seems to make an insightful remark yet would eat himself if he were made of chocolate.

[Captain Hook]

Well said.....

Legs crossed, same hat and same cigar....banging on about Tunney and Louis et al...

I wish he would move on, never heard him say anything intelligent about a boxer of recent times.

Give me Al Bernstein any day.....

[whatashambles]

I don't have a problem with Bunce doing fights involving British fighters, as the armchair fan will be tuning in. But for something like Torres/Holt when pretty much only the anorak will be tuning in we need someone a bit better.

[Glyn Leach]

Whether you rate Bert Sugar or not, you know him, just like you know Bunce. That's why they both do things the way they do them. It isn't rocket science.

So OK, you don't like the way Bunce delivers his three hour monologues. Fine. Now be constructive, tell us who COULD deliver a three-hour monologue to your satisfaction. And think about that before you answer because there are people out there with knowledge and there are people out there with personality and the two very rarely meet.

You want all these things but you don't tell us what they actually are or how you can get them. Try being more than an armchair critic.

[Captain Hook]

Who wants a three-hour monologue anyway?!

If he wants to do that he should get himself a role in an Alan Bennett play.....

I personally don't mind the guy, at least he's enthusaistic and helping raise the sport's profile.

[Glyn Leach]

Who wants a three-hour monologue anyway?!

If he wants to do that he should get himself a role in an Alan Bennett play.....

Unreal, the lack of understanding of what is a very basic situation here.

So you think it goes like this, yes? Bunce contacts Setanta and says "I want to do a three-hour monologue"? NO.

Setanta contact Bunce and say "You have to sit in a studio with someone who knows fack all and will be of fack all use to you for three hours and make sure that the conversation, which will be entirely one-sided because matey boy know fack all and will be of fack all use to you, doesn't dry up. And no, you won't be getting any help cos we can't afford any."

THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE FACKING THREE-HOUR MONOLOGUE FELLA!

And IMO, very few people other than Bunce would even have the balls to try taking it on. But of course, you could all do it better than him. I'd love to see you try, I really would.

[E]

Who wants a three-hour monologue anyway?!

If he wants to do that he should get himself a role in an Alan Bennett play.....

Unreal, the lack of understanding of what is a very basic situation here.

So you think it goes like this, yes? Bunce contacts Setanta and says "I want to do a three-hour monologue"? NO.

Setanta contact Bunce and say "You have to sit in a studio with someone who knows fack all and will be of fack all use to you for three hours and make sure that the conversation, which will be entirely one-sided because matey boy know fack all and will be of fack all use to you, doesn't dry up. And no, you won't be getting any help cos we can't afford any."

THAT'S THE REASON FOR THE FACKING THREE-HOUR MONOLOGUE FELLA!

And IMO, very few people other than Bunce would even have the balls to try taking it on. But of course, you could all do it better than him. I'd love to see you try, I really would.

Come on Glyn that's a little simplistic and facile. I will never be able to box anywhere near as good as Lockett, Hopkins or maybe even Peter Buckley...and nor could you...but that doesn't mean we haven't got a right to criticise or comment.

As to Bunce; it's like this:

Pros -
Colourful, Charismatic
Knowledgeable on boxing
Has boxed
Is a fluent and energetic talker

Cons -
Sometimes uses 150 words when one will do
His column in Box Monthly seems to be a 10 minute drunken waffle and says little

In my opinion pros outweight the cons EASILY. BUt it doesn't mean we can't have reservations or criticisms.

And as to Buncey having to carry a non-boxing presenter....fine - but this setup is a classic one. Have a layman who doesn't know much about the sport to ask the questions and offer a layman's viewpoint. And then have an expert (in this case Buncey) to offer the more detailed knowledgeable answer. This works on many, especially minority sport programme.

The question is, whether Buncey lets the Layman open his mouth enough let alone breathe.

Conclusion - Bunce is good for Tv and boxing, but may need to reconsider his output.

PS Glyn - I think you are both brave and honourable to give your comments on an anonymous board