A tribute to Setanta and the Boxing hour.

[AK1]

Thanks for all the support and everything written on here gents. Simply I am genuinely touched to read so many nice things about what we did and the programmes we produced. So a genuine heart felt Thank you to everyone who supported us. and thanks to everyone who knocked us too...it made us better and stronger. I've told Bunce privately but publically I want to thank him too. Legend to work with ( and hard work too when he gets on my case every week before we got on air!!) Not to mention everyone behind the scenes at on the Bunce hour and the Setanta live boxing team. Jim, Rob and Big Chris in particlular All awsome people.

I haven't got a clue whats next, for me the only date in my diary now is July 11th, Kensington Town Hall for the return of Choi, and for me a return to MC duties. (I have always been a licensed MC with the boxing board but haven't done much since the Setanta bandwagon started rolling!), But if the sheer will of everyone here is anything to go by maybe we haven't seen the last of the Bunce Hour.



Thanks everyone.

Andy Kerr

It's Not how hard you hit. It's how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.

[Asterix]

Great to hear from both of you, Steve and Andy. I really hope something comes up for you both that you enjoy.

[stujones]

Andy,

Have to say you were a legend using Rocky's big speach in Rocky 6 to close one of the last live bills! I loved it, although some of my other mates thought you'd just lost it.

Good luck, I am sure you will be back on our screens soon.

[rhino222]

the great thing about bunceys boxing hour is that they covered every fight and interviewed every fighter, no matter what promoter or what channel the fights were on, this was brilliant and perhaps a first for british tv. i cant see any other channel putting up with this, perhaps channel 5 or something would be suitable, i would hate to hear buncey and kerr having to lick a particular promoters arse because they were on that particular channel.

[Jon Saxon]

Thanks and thanks.
More to follow on ways that we can save the show.
Everybody here has been brilliant - even the people that wanted to cut my gonads off with a blunt axe. I thank you all.

Adios.

i think C5 would be a good place for the boxing hour as i'm sure they would give you some freedom. Maybe it would have to be a late night slot. I dont know if you remember the Danny Kelly C4 show "under the moon" a decade ago but it proves if you have a cult following people will watch no matter the hour. The trouble of course with a late slot is getting the guests although phoning the USA would be easier but for me the show has to be live for it to work to its max.

I agree Mark, I was thinking C5 might be a good one also.

Best of luck Steve & Andy.

[This is Gonna Hurt]

Yep the uncertainty is very sad, but i'm sure we shall see the big man and the kerrminator duo on our screens again soon.

What you guys done for british boxing over the past 18 months is astounding!

[Spud]

Thanks for all the support and everything written on here gents. Simply I am genuinely touched to read so many nice things about what we did and the programmes we produced. So a genuine heart felt Thank you to everyone who supported us. and thanks to everyone who knocked us too...it made us better and stronger. I've told Bunce privately but publically I want to thank him too. Legend to work with ( and hard work too when he gets on my case every week before we got on air!!) Not to mention everyone behind the scenes at on the Bunce hour and the Setanta live boxing team. Jim, Rob and Big Chris in particlular All awsome people.

I haven't got a clue whats next, for me the only date in my diary now is July 11th, Kensington Town Hall for the return of Choi, and for me a return to MC duties. (I have always been a licensed MC with the boxing board but haven't done much since the Setanta bandwagon started rolling!), But if the sheer will of everyone here is anything to go by maybe we haven't seen the last of the Bunce Hour.

Thanks everyone.

Andy Kerr

It's Not how hard you hit. It's how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.

Top Post!!!

Remember meeting you at Haye/Barrett!!!

It was good to see some old faces there including "Big" Buncey of course!!!

Jim Bentley is a top man who knows his stuff and the lass who was in charge of all the PR - met her at first in Vegas at Hatton/Castillo - Katie was her name - top lady who also knew how to be totally professional!!!

So many top top people at Setanta - I am positive - there will be TV companies phoning you all in the morning asking for you to work for them!!

Great people - sad day!!

[Goz]

Just to add my own tuppence worth, a great show and just what boxing needed for such a short time. Buncey will be ok, he gets other work with the papers and BBC etc...

But we need to bombard Sky with e-mails telling the feckers to get this show back on guys.

Spread the message across the other boards!

Waddya say, are you with me?!!!!

Seriously though it might be an idea...

[Spud]

But we need to bombard Sky with e-mails telling the feckers to get this show back on guys.

Spread the message across the other boards!

Yep!!!

If enough people create a noise about Buncey and his crew - and for a change the various forums get together on this and all bombard Sky etc etc then perhaps we will get somewhere!!

[brian13]

best bits

Frank Maloney on the germans

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SQDpTs0HRY

Bunce vs hopkins

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwzjtJu9wA4

Bunce on max kellerman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYjcEH1MylQ

The best bit by an absolute mile was when Gomez was being questioned about the Oliver Harrison rumor before the Khan fight and the presenter on that show not getting it .

[Khaosai-Galaxy]

Good riddence, to bad rubbish.



The boxing hour was amateurish tripe with that bewildered presenter flapping his gums for no real reason about subjects he knew nothing whatsoever about, and a drunk Steve Bunce being given far too long a leash.


It was embarasing

[lirva]

Good riddence, to bad rubbish.



The boxing hour was amateurish tripe with that bewildered presenter flapping his gums for no real reason about subjects he knew nothing whatsoever about, and a drunk Steve Bunce being given far too long a leash.


It was embarasing

You may be joking but you are absolutely correct. Some of Bunces shite was horrific. Ranting on about Max Kellerman, (who knows 100x more about the game than he does) was embarrassing. Kellerman is a lead analyst for HBO and doesn't talk shite like Bunce. I could bump a thread I made back in 2004 when Bunce was working for BBC and licking the arse of Audley Harrison saying he would be undisputed champion by 2005 (Remember that Stevieboy?), so he has no right to criticize anyone in my opinion.

Talks too much shite for me and his predictable "rants" are tiresome.

[Quixall]

Absolutely gutted. The only current show on TV I watched religiously.

A great double act too.

Best sports fan's show since fantasy Football League.

I feel the same way Emerson......

Enjoyed Setanta's coverage and loved to watch Buncey in full flow.

This channel will be sorely missed by boxing fans. I just hope someone gives Buncey a bigger platform than his newspaper articles and the odd spot on radio 5 live.

[stujones]

In an ironic way, I wonder if Setanta's demise could in some weird way turn be boxings gain.

I would be very interested in there was some analysis that compared the ratings for the boxing with football in comparison to the cost they were to get the rights. I have a sneeky suspicion that boxing was pulling in more figures than the SPL and costing far last.

I'm just hoping some entrapineur will analyse Setanta's books, and note what really put them in the shitter. Which was paying way over the odds for the SPL (which lets be honest, was never a priority with Sky - often showcased on Sky Scottish when that channel was around), paying way over the odds for the England games - given the nature of the teams in the group. Possibly the easiest group I have ever seen, and paying over the odds for the premiership without knowing if they'll get the figures... new presenters, pundits etc (generally poor pundits).

Boxing might be a minority sport, but I would be surprised if something like Falkirk vs Inverness Cali Thistle beat Cotto vs Clottey in the rating.

[Quixall]

Thanks for all the support and everything written on here gents. Simply I am genuinely touched to read so many nice things about what we did and the programmes we produced. So a genuine heart felt Thank you to everyone who supported us. and thanks to everyone who knocked us too...it made us better and stronger. I've told Bunce privately but publically I want to thank him too. Legend to work with ( and hard work too when he gets on my case every week before we got on air!!) Not to mention everyone behind the scenes at on the Bunce hour and the Setanta live boxing team. Jim, Rob and Big Chris in particlular All awsome people.

I haven't got a clue whats next, for me the only date in my diary now is July 11th, Kensington Town Hall for the return of Choi, and for me a return to MC duties. (I have always been a licensed MC with the boxing board but haven't done much since the Setanta bandwagon started rolling!), But if the sheer will of everyone here is anything to go by maybe we haven't seen the last of the Bunce Hour.



Thanks everyone.

Andy Kerr

It's Not how hard you hit. It's how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.

All the best Andy and i sincerely hope that another channel picks up your good self and Mr.Bunce, because you produced a fabulous programme and it was enjoyed and appreciated by many people.

Thanks also for the occasional pm's that you sent, with odd bits of interesting information. You are a class guy Andy and a terrific tv presenter and if we have anything to do with things, then you will be back on air, keeping the Bunce man in line very soon. Good luck with the MC duties and keep in touch !!

Cheers mate,

Quix

[Quixall]

Good riddence, to bad rubbish.



The boxing hour was amateurish tripe with that bewildered presenter flapping his gums for no real reason about subjects he knew nothing whatsoever about, and a drunk Steve Bunce being given far too long a leash.


It was embarasing

You may be joking but you are absolutely correct. Some of Bunces shite was horrific. Ranting on about Max Kellerman, (who knows 100x more about the game than he does) was embarrassing. Kellerman is a lead analyst for HBO and doesn't talk shite like Bunce. I could bump a thread I made back in 2004 when Bunce was working for BBC and licking the arse of Audley Harrison saying he would be undisputed champion by 2005 (Remember that Stevieboy?), so he has no right to criticize anyone in my opinion.

Talks too much shite for me and his predictable "rants" are tiresome.

Most boxing analysts talk shite at times, whether it's here or over the duck pond, but in the main, the show was good for boxing. Also, at the time that Bunce was supportive of Audley Harrison, most people thought that he could go all the way, primarily based on his achievements at the Olympics. It was only after his first defeat that opinions on Audley started to change and we can all see much clearer with hindsight.

[adamwillan]

My girlfriend came home concerned and asked me what is wrong. Obviously when i showed her a blank setanta screen she said oh my god what are you going to do without bunces boxing hour on thursdays and she hates boxing.

I loved the show it was a unbelieveable program for boxing fans getting a build up to the weekends fights, i am really gutted it is the only program i watch religiously every week!

Well done Andy and Buncey it was a great show you put together. Hopefully you can carry on the show in the future and if not hopefully you can find jobs in the near future (especially with the baby).

Thanks for a great year of boxing tv

Adam

[CheckHook]

Great channel, great show. Setanta definatley left its mark on boxing in Britain. At least they went out on a decent fight with Cotto Vs Clottey... I'll miss the late Saturday night/ early Sunday mornings spent laughing at how tired Buncey and Kerr looked while wrapping up the shows.

[Graham Houston]

Living on the West Coast, I used to get up at 6:00 every morning to watch the show live online. It was an entertaining hour that will be sorely missed not just in the U.K. but, I am sure, by boxing fans worldwide.

I think that in years to come the Setanta years will be regarded as a TV Golden Age for British boxing fans.

There was a time when British fans would have thought they had died and gone to heaven to be able to see big fights from America live, on a consistent basis. British fans were able to see a host of European and U.K. fights live, too, with Sky and Setanta in competition. Harold Macmillan's famous "You've never had it so good" line often came to mind.

Now only Sky is left.

The loss of Setanta's boxing coverage (and Bunce's Boxing Hour) leaves a real void in British boxing. We never know how much we will miss something until we no longer have it, and I think, judging by the posts here, that a lot of fans in the U.K. (and Ireland of course), kept distant company by the likes of me living abroad, are beginning to realise just what has been lost with Setanta's demise.

[WOODDDDDDDYA]

I dont know if you remember the Danny Kelly C4 show "under the moon" a decade ago but it proves if you have a cult following people will watch no matter the hour.

God, I used to love that show. Does anyone remember when David Vine walked off the set when Danny brought up the subject of Kirk Stevens taking cocaine. Even Sasha Baron-Cohen came on before his Ali G fame but he was playing a different character though. Gutted about the Buncey hour but hopefully the Big Man has some ideas up his sleeve to make a comeback.

[DavidPayne]

I once compared Setanta to the Alliance, bidding to overcome Empire. Steve had himself down as Hans Solo I think, I suppose as the hired gun he had a point but something got lost in the physical translation there.

You just felt good giving the little guys your money, they fought for boxing fans, they did the right things. They were just earnest and tried to be different.

Star Wars would never have been the mammoth sequence of box-office hits if Lord Vader had clipped Luke's wings before he got to the target in the first installment, and thats how the death of Setanta feels, like an anti-climax, undermining the notion that good always wins in the end.

I'd have paid a tenner a month just for the boxing, at the levels it was at at its peak, I've watched probably 4 PL games in two years and NEVER watched UFC, SPL, Golf or Tennis.

My stomach churns at the impact.

SKY the monopoly. Box office for any fight with a pulse. Ignoring the fighters who DONT feature on SKY. Terrible. Its like a boxing aparthied. Its like watching through a fence while the bad guy makes of with your girl.

I hate SKY.

Lets hope something emerges from ESPN over the next few months to offer an alternative to SKY Sports and equally, the Buncey Boxing Hour is reappears somewhere accessible.

[Buncey]

Woody and Davido and Big Mark... you have all been part of the whole Setanta thing.
I've started to put in the calls - ALL fan pressure works. Honest, trust me.

Adios and thanks.

[DavidPayne]

I really hope you're right Steve.

I hope I'm not standing in a bar in twenty years with an as yet unborn son regaling him with tales of yore, telling him how we used to have a boxing magazine show and it would have corporals from the Irish regiment and then Don King, or Barry Hearn. How we used to watch live bills from America and Germany all for one subscription.

In the way so many remind us of how we used to watch McGuigan for free etc. Or how everyone knew who the heavyweight champ was etc.

[EddieShredder]

If we're talking Under The Moon, I think you're all forgetting the most important part.... a younger, Prime, Lisa Rogers, before she went all Scraphead Challenge I don't like any woman who could potentially fix a car quicker than me, or with more established techniques than hitting it with a hammer and making monkey noises D

Anyway.. to the topic in hand... The show was awesome. Like many others, the only TV show I'd watch religiously (along with Ultimate Talk, but Gareth Davies just doesn't do the big man in a chair thing quite like Buncey).

Buncey and Andy, and all the backroom team, hope you boys find a new home soon - together ideally. Was a great show, and one that'll be sorely missed. Well worth the subscription alone

[Chambers2]

Yeah the Bunce Boxing Hour is by far the best fans magazine I've seen, I pray we haven't seen the last of it. The show has been class since it started, where anoraks like ourselves can get the story from the horses mouth with Buncey probing them for whatever info he can get

If the programme went to Sky there's no way they'd allow Steve and Andy to discuss fights on rival channels, so hopefully someone like channel 5 will pick it up. I'm gutted we're going to miss out on a load of live boxing from Setanta.

Cheers Buncey and Setanta..... it's been emotional!