Anyone like Darke - watt combo

REAL_DEAL · Post by **REAL_DEAL** » 11 Apr 2004, 15:01

looks like sky have been listening to my posts after I said I like Darke and Watt commentary team the best, or do people prefer darke and Mccory still?

lirva33 · Post by **lirva33** » 11 Apr 2004, 15:03

darke and mccrory will always be no. 1.

Why not have darke, mccrory & watt? that's what they do in the US. For the hbo broadcast last night they had RJJ, lampley & Merchant commentating.

ArtOfWar · Post by **ArtOfWar** » 11 Apr 2004, 15:26

lirva33 wrote:darke and mccrory will always be no. 1.

Why not have darke, mccrory & watt? that's what they do in the US. For the hbo broadcast last night they had RJJ, lampley & Merchant commentating.

Probably because three is a crowd.

TheRiverCityHippy · Post by **TheRiverCityHippy** » 11 Apr 2004, 16:05

jim watts very astute and has certainly come out the game with all his faculties.
in the recent morales/ chavez fight he was on to the fact chavez wasn`t using his right and effectively fighting one handed like a flash. he`s also very good at guaging the momentum swings that occur in fights.
i kinda like the idea of the commentary trinity of darke, mcrory and watt.

stujones · Post by **stujones** » 11 Apr 2004, 16:24

I actually watched "The Best of Enemies" Eubank and Benn, the show with Jonathon Ross and James Toney the other day, and Jim Watt is looking younger now than he did 10 years ago.

The guy is a legend and the best "second commentator" in the business. I like Glenn but would probably prefer a perminant swap. Have Ian and Jim in Ringside and Barry and Glenn in the studio.

I do think they should (like they used to all the time) allow for Barry to do a little analysis say every two rounds.

Reg and Jim was the best of partnership of all time Jim and Ian is the next best. Jim (Rosenthal) and Jim (Watt) was quite a funny partnership, Rosenthal didn't shut up and made Adam Smith sound boring.

Speaking of commentators, I have been scathing of Bob Sheridan in the past based primarly on the recent "Kingvision" promotions we have had on Setanta. I didn't realise it was him who did the classic American comentatory on Foreman vs Ali - I take all what I have said back, he may be getting old - but he was fab that night.

"Ali with a sneaky right hand, another sneaky right hand......"

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 11 Apr 2004, 17:05

HBO's commentary team antics end up being little soap operas in themselves, I'm sure Sky doesn't want this same publicity for it's less egotistical commentators.

Gingoi · Post by **Gingoi** » 12 Apr 2004, 05:19

I prefer Darke/Watt, not because I dislike McCrory, but I think Watt is a bit of a shrewder judge than. McCrory would very often agree with Ian Darke, even in extremely close fights they would have almost identical scorecards and interpretations of the rounds. Jim Watt will make his own views felt!

I think it’s the long term plan to see Darke/Watt in the commentating seats, with McCrory doing studio and fighter interviews a la Adam Smith…….

Coconut · Post by **Coconut** » 12 Apr 2004, 06:38

Gingoi wrote:I prefer Darke/Watt, not because I dislike McCrory, but I think Watt is a bit of a shrewder judge than. McCrory would very often agree with Ian Darke, even in extremely close fights they would have almost identical scorecards and interpretations of the rounds. Jim Watt will make his own views felt!

I think it’s the long term plan to see Darke/Watt in the commentating seats, with McCrory doing studio and fighter interviews a la Adam Smith…….

Agreed. Darke seems to feel a need to raise his game when Watt's there as well. Only takes one Watt to light up the Darke...

And also agreed on the McG point. He's very astute, makes real fighter's observations.

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 12 Apr 2004, 07:09

[quote="stujones"] Reg and Jim was the best of partnership of all time quote]

Very true, I grew up with that partnership and they were an integral part of my love affair with Boxing.

steve689 · Post by **steve689** » 12 Apr 2004, 07:17

Darke-Watt is preferred as far as i am concerned, McCrory for all his fighting experience talks some real rubbish at times and has a habit of repeating Darke's comments, how many times do we hear "That's right Ian". Watt on the other hand is an astute commentator and adds better insight. The HBO commentary team are awful, three idiots blabbering on endlessly about stats and who threw more uppercuts to the body in the beginning of round 3, blah blah

Yawn

KOJOE90 · Post by **KOJOE90** » 12 Apr 2004, 07:24

I've always liked Watt's style of commontating like others have said he's very estute and really knows what he is talking about.

His comments are well timed, accurate and informative, he also usually remains calm and doesn't get too carried away with hype.

kevo · Post by **kevo** » 12 Apr 2004, 13:25

Don't you find it anoying the way he interupts/speaks over people. He used to do it to Barry Mcguigan all the time. I'm suprised he never sparked him.

Shirow · Post by **Shirow** » 12 Apr 2004, 14:16

Gingoi wrote:I prefer Darke/Watt, not because I dislike McCrory, but I think Watt is a bit of a shrewder judge than. McCrory would very often agree with Ian Darke, even in extremely close fights they would have almost identical scorecards and interpretations of the rounds. Jim Watt will make his own views felt!

I think it’s the long term plan to see Darke/Watt in the commentating seats, with McCrory doing studio and fighter interviews a la Adam Smith…….

That's just as i feel too. I think that Darke sees himself as the top dog and feels Glenn is getting above his station when he disagrees with him. Gradually over the past few months Glenn has started to assert himself a bit more. But Ian clearly respects Jim much more and it's a much more even partnership.
Darkie is good for the atmosphere building soundbites (although he does a a good historical knowledge) and Jim is there for the nuts and bolts insights.
Glenn is good though and with a bit of luck Glenn he'll replace Adam.

I think Sky have in Watt & McGuigan the 2 best ex-boxing commentator/analysts in the business. It's clearly not just a nice little earner for them after their fighting days are over. Their enthusiasm, knowledge and lucidity is second to none.

Southpaw Stylist · Post by **Southpaw Stylist** » 12 Apr 2004, 17:02

Kevo wrote:Don't you find it anoying the way he interupts/speaks over people. He used to do it to Barry Mcguigan all the time. I'm suprised he never sparked him.

Lol. I know what you mean.

knockout artist · Post by **knockout artist** » 13 Apr 2004, 04:43

Darke-Watt is much better.

McCrory is very repetetive.