RIP Harry Carpenter

[Bricks]

Short, succinct, accurate comments from a man who knew and loved his subject.

"He's given it to Joe Bugner.........How in the world can you take away a mans three titles like that?"

"Ugh... and I've just been struck on the head by a bottle"

"He's up at about three, Clay, he still doesn't know where he is, they're working furiously on him in the corner"

"He's the champion of the world... Champagne Charlie is me name"

He's been missed on the big stage since the use of screaming over reacting celebrity commentators have been steadily replacing the old style oxbridge set of broadcasters.

Never a better commentator.

God bless Harry.

very well said

[demolitiondaley]

RIP Harry "No what I mean" :(

[Rocky Balboa]

"A man has come to work in the place he understands best!" - Harry's comment as Tyson warmed up for Bruno.

No doubt we all have many nice memories of Harry. Someone has commented how he was so well-liked that Tyson sat with him ringside for a few rounds. Well, i can only emphasize how well like he was, especially in respect of Tyson.

Harry interviewed Tyson while he was deep into training for the first Ruddock fight. At the end of the interview Tyson says: "Its always great talking to you, Harry. Your a very nice man & a dear friend!"

I wonder if Bruno & Tyson know of this sad news?

Great ambassador for Boxing, such passion & enthusiasm!

RIP Harry!

[J]

RIP....you will be missed

[craigstephen]

Harry Carpenter was one of the last of an all but disappeared breed of commentators, along with the likes of Richie Benaud, Peter O'Sullivan, Brian Johnston, Dan Maskell, and Peter Aliss, who could convey drama and tension and excitement through superb diction, timbre and conjuring the perfect turn of phrase for the moment. They didn't have to spend the whole match screeching like a Brazilian football commentator to hold the attention. And because they were so understated, when they did get excited, it actually had impact.

"Get in there, Frank" seems so tame by today's standards, but it still sends a tingle down my spine to think about, because Carpenter was doing what we were all doing: losing our cool and imploring Bruno on. But it wouldn't have had that effect, wouldn't have generated such empathy, if he hadn't been such an understated, reserved commentator.

Carpenter, like Benaud, seemed to intrinsically understand two things: first, that one should engage one's brain before saying anything, because saying nothing is better than saying something inane, and second, that this was TV, not radio. Viewers didn't need you to say, "There's a left jab, and then a right, and it's countered with a left hook, and now he goes to the body," because we could see all that. They mostly added to the visuals, rather than describing them, and were quite comfortable in silence -- a commentary paradigm, which, as I said, is now sadly disappearing, as viewers are constantly insulted by being told what they are seeing in the most vapid way imaginable. ("Yeah, so, he makes some room, whips in an early ball, the big man's taken a gamble on the near post and nods it in.")

And not only was Carpenter a brilliant boxing commentator who became the "voice" of his sport, but he actually transcended the sport, becoming a star and gaining respect from the sport among the general public.

Beyond that, without knowing him, he seemed like a lovely man.

I would say that he'll be missed, and I'm sure for his family he will; but for me, he was missed as soon as he retired from boxing commentary.

Rest in peace.

Just what that man said

God Bless, Harry.

[Manc_Red]

Came across a decent man & had a great era defining voice that will always be remembered.

R.I.P - A true great.

[alectrifyingalex]

R.I.p

[funso banjo baby]

Harry's Pictorial History of Boxing was my bible and inspiration as a boy.

Harry was a nice guy and a true gentleman ....the greatest boxing commentator of all time.

'get in there Frank' was a moment in time that will never be eclipsed

the world is very empty tonight




Thanks Harry

[n1ebf]

Harry Carpenter was one of the last of an all but disappeared breed of commentators, along with the likes of Richie Benaud, Peter O'Sullivan, Brian Johnston, Dan Maskell, and Peter Aliss, who could convey drama and tension and excitement through superb diction, timbre and conjuring the perfect turn of phrase for the moment. They didn't have to spend the whole match screeching like a Brazilian football commentator to hold the attention. And because they were so understated, when they did get excited, it actually had impact.

"Get in there, Frank" seems so tame by today's standards, but it still sends a tingle down my spine to think about, because Carpenter was doing what we were all doing: losing our cool and imploring Bruno on. But it wouldn't have had that effect, wouldn't have generated such empathy, if he hadn't been such an understated, reserved commentator.

Carpenter, like Benaud, seemed to intrinsically understand two things: first, that one should engage one's brain before saying anything, because saying nothing is better than saying something inane, and second, that this was TV, not radio. Viewers didn't need you to say, "There's a left jab, and then a right, and it's countered with a left hook, and now he goes to the body," because we could see all that. They mostly added to the visuals, rather than describing them, and were quite comfortable in silence -- a commentary paradigm, which, as I said, is now sadly disappearing, as viewers are constantly insulted by being told what they are seeing in the most vapid way imaginable. ("Yeah, so, he makes some room, whips in an early ball, the big man's taken a gamble on the near post and nods it in.")

And not only was Carpenter a brilliant boxing commentator who became the "voice" of his sport, but he actually transcended the sport, becoming a star and gaining respect from the sport among the general public.

Beyond that, without knowing him, he seemed like a lovely man.

I would say that he'll be missed, and I'm sure for his family he will; but for me, he was missed as soon as he retired from boxing commentary.

Rest in peace.

"Get in there Carbo". Nice post.

[Old bones Ian]

The best boxing commentator ever.

R.I.P Harry

[jonny]

R.I.P Harry

[Boxingnut]

Very sad news this.

Another iconic Harry Carpenter moment:

"And Bobby Wells has done it....<voice breaking> for Britain!" when Bobby Wells won Britain's only boxing medal of the 1984 Olympics.

RIP Harry you will be sorely missed.

[dondada]

It was interesting to hear Tyson talking to Gary Richardson on BBC's Sportsweek recently. He seemed so tired, bored and fed up generally, doing the interview in his sleep.

Richardson then mentioned Harry Carpenter and Tyson perked up immediately 'How is Mr Carpenter? Is he still alive?' There was genuine interest and affection in his voice.

[exittored]

This is very sad news....he was the voice of so many great British fights and its a shame we've lost Reg Gutteridge and now Harry the last year or so.

R.I.P to both of them

[Rocky Balboa]

It was interesting to hear Tyson talking to Gary Richardson on BBC's Sportsweek recently. He seemed so tired, bored and fed up generally, doing the interview in his sleep.

Richardson then mentioned Harry Carpenter and Tyson perked up immediately 'How is Mr Carpenter? Is he still alive?' There was genuine interest and affection in his voice.

Well that shows you that Tyson genuinely liked Harry! Harry was very well-liked indeed. Its a sad day I'm afraid! Boxing has lost a big piece of its history today. Mr Carpenter's legacy will live on through the sport!

[Tommy Gunn13]

R.I.P Harry Carpenter(Legend)

[TerribleTerry]

It was interesting to hear Tyson talking to Gary Richardson on BBC's Sportsweek recently. He seemed so tired, bored and fed up generally, doing the interview in his sleep.

Richardson then mentioned Harry Carpenter and Tyson perked up immediately 'How is Mr Carpenter? Is he still alive?' There was genuine interest and affection in his voice.

Tyson and Harry put together a heavyweight history video in the 80s which was a cornerstone of my early boxing education - Tyson was such an enthusiastic student of the game and relished discussing the great fighters of the past with Harry.

I think it was a 4 part series. Does anyone have the collection available digitally?

[mickey1975]

It was interesting to hear Tyson talking to Gary Richardson on BBC's Sportsweek recently. He seemed so tired, bored and fed up generally, doing the interview in his sleep.

Richardson then mentioned Harry Carpenter and Tyson perked up immediately 'How is Mr Carpenter? Is he still alive?' There was genuine interest and affection in his voice.

Tyson and Harry put together a heavyweight history video in the 80s which was a cornerstone of my early boxing education - Tyson was such an enthusiastic student of the game and relished discussing the great fighters of the past with Harry.

I think it was a 4 part series. Does anyone have the collection available digitally?

Mike Tyson's greatest knockouts?Yes,i watched that too.It involved Tyson looking over old fight films with Harry.Our lives have run along similar lines,Terry.... Same nightclubs,videos,the lot
RIP Harry

[$wifty]

RIP x

[Lorn]

RIP Harry, thanks for all you did, missed isnt a big enough word. x

[dondada]

Let hope the BBC show the respect he deserves - a night of classic SPORTSNIGHTS would be a tribute to his unique commentary..

RIP.

The Beeb did a nice, one-off programme about the late Bill McLaren (voice of rugby) recently and I'm sure they'll do another on Harry. I hope they include his post-fight interview with Kirkland Laing. Harry, nor I at the time, could understand a f**king word Laing was saying apart from the odd 'Ah waz coooooool, maaaaaan!'

Funnily enough, the Beeb showed a bit last night (available on the website) to show how unflappable he was and couldn't have realised how ironic it was. Harry ran out of material and with nothing left to say, simply told the audience 'upstairs' didn't have a clue what was happening and were in a right old panic. Carpenter got absolutely bollocked for that and never did it again.

[stujones]

I think they will certainly do a tribute, he wasn't just the voice of boxing but of so many other sports. I also associate him with fronting Wimbledon for years.

The fight of the century presentation just shows quite how different TV was back in the day. Its been shown regularly on ESPN classic. Harry fronts the show and claims the BBC team out in the USA was just him and a camera man!

[THEBUTCH]

Very sad to hear he passed away, but what what a legacy he left behind. They just don't make them like Harry anymore.

Simply the best. R.I.P.

[black panther]

Very sad to hear he passed away, but what what a legacy he left behind. They just don't make them like Harry anymore.

Simply the best. R.I.P.

Couldn't have said it better . R.I.P Harry Carpenter one of the best in the business.

[Flump]

Sad news, he had a great voice and wasn't afraid to let the action do the talking and summed things up very simply, a couple more random quotes

(on Donnie Long vs Gary Mason) "He calls himself the Master of Disaster, though looking at his recent record it seems more like disaster suffered"

(on Jorge Ahumada vs John Conteh, I think) " He can now hardly make a move without taking a punch"

RIP