Rewatched Froch v Groves, Sky commentary just ridiculous

[hurlock]

Watt was deffo rooting for groves in some way! There was a point were groves hit froch on the back of the head when break was called & then froch followed up & watt said the best punches froch landed was illegal so groves wins that round ha !
Watt was saying stupid comments like froch don't like getting hit!! Who does!!

[whiskey]

Jim Watt has been absolutely appalling every fight Carl's ever had on Sky.

On Friday fight night 7 years ago it was no different. The shift he put in for Froch vs Magee bordered on slander. Slagging Carl when Magee was even on the deck at one point.

People said it's a shame Carl isn't on Sky during the prinetime years, I said picture quality aside nobody misses Jim Watt. BBC did a much better job of things.

I heard he was even briefed ahead of one fight to book his ideas up with regards his dour, glass half-empty approach.

He's done it with a few of our fighters. There's been a few I ended up muting in the last 12 months or turning down quiet just so I can hear crowd.

Sky should zone-out the commentary via red button. Or offer fan zone commentary. I've said it since the glory nights of Hatton.

Much prefer Bernstein who concentrates on the good stuff than amplify constant negativity.

Watt's ignorance and haphazard version of things when Groves blatantly bashing the back of Froch's head in is one of a multitude of cock ups.

The entire audience at ringside were remonstrating but Watt falls silent.

[DMA1987]

Jim Watt has been absolutely appalling every fight Carl's ever had on Sky.

On Friday fight night 7 years ago it was no different. The shift he put in for Froch vs Magee bordered on slander. Slagging Carl when Magee was even on the deck at one point.

People said it's a shame Carl isn't on Sky during the prinetime years, I said picture quality aside nobody misses Jim Watt. BBC did a much better job of things.

I heard he was even briefed ahead of one fight to book his ideas up with regards his dour, glass half-empty approach.

He's done it with a few of our fighters. There's been a few I ended up muting in the last 12 months or turning down quiet just so I can hear crowd.

Sky should zone-out the commentary via red button. Or offer fan zone commentary. I've said it since the glory nights of Hatton.

Much prefer Bernstein who concentrates on the good stuff than amplify constant negativity.

Watt's ignorance and haphazard version of things when Groves blatantly bashing the back of Froch's head in is one of a multitude of cock ups.

The entire audience at ringside were remonstrating but Watt falls silent.

The way Watt went after Froch when he retaliated to the double back of the head punch from Groves pretty much summed him up that night.

[palooka]

All things considered; if you wanted Froch to win going in then you look for Groves to be doing wrong and be coming off the worst; if you wanted Groves to win going in then Froch has a terrible time of it and was gifted a stoppage.

No one from either camp will be brought across and will argue until everyone else in the world has died of boredom.

[lefty]

Jim Watt has been absolutely appalling every fight Carl's ever had on Sky.

On Friday fight night 7 years ago it was no different. The shift he put in for Froch vs Magee bordered on slander. Slagging Carl when Magee was even on the deck at one point.

People said it's a shame Carl isn't on Sky during the prinetime years, I said picture quality aside nobody misses Jim Watt. BBC did a much better job of things.

I heard he was even briefed ahead of one fight to book his ideas up with regards his dour, glass half-empty approach.

He's done it with a few of our fighters. There's been a few I ended up muting in the last 12 months or turning down quiet just so I can hear crowd.

Sky should zone-out the commentary via red button. Or offer fan zone commentary. I've said it since the glory nights of Hatton.

Much prefer Bernstein who concentrates on the good stuff than amplify constant negativity.

Watt's ignorance and haphazard version of things when Groves blatantly bashing the back of Froch's head in is one of a multitude of cock ups.

The entire audience at ringside were remonstrating but Watt falls silent.

I said that awhile back.

[whiskey]

If it was a red button triple choice of Watt, Rawlings or Mike Tyson raping a promoter on loop - then I'll take the latter thanks.

[DMA1987]

All things considered; if you wanted Froch to win going in then you look for Groves to be doing wrong and be coming off the worst; if you wanted Groves to win going in then Froch has a terrible time of it and was gifted a stoppage.

No one from either camp will be brought across and will argue until everyone else in the world has died of boredom.

But the commentators should be neutral. Or at least a decent attempt at being. Watt decided in about 30 seconds who his guy was. Watching it again he was so ridiculous I had to laugh.

[palooka]

All things considered; if you wanted Froch to win going in then you look for Groves to be doing wrong and be coming off the worst; if you wanted Groves to win going in then Froch has a terrible time of it and was gifted a stoppage.

No one from either camp will be brought across and will argue until everyone else in the world has died of boredom.

But the commentators should be neutral. Or at least a decent attempt at being. Watt decided in about 30 seconds who his guy was. Watching it again he was so ridiculous I had to laugh.

Yes, I agree with that though I think that Watt said at the final press conference hat he admired how George had dealt with things and how composed and confident he was. You have to bear in mind as well that all the 'flow' of the promotion was pro Froch and the narrative of the bout was that Groves was an upstart out of his depth.

I may try to watch the bout again without sound but have to say from what I remember it is the punches hitting Froch very hard that stay in my mind and no matter how revisionist things get; it goes against the laws of biology and physics for Froch to be hitting as hard in the 9th as in the 3rd; Groves would have got through that.

[daviddee]

agree with everything you say Cobra...it was the worst commentary Ive ever heard. Also completely ignored George sticking the head in and when Groves tagged froch round the back of the head after the break Jim nearly had an orgasm when froch gave him a couple of cheeky ones back. The way he just fell silent for a few seconds every time froch landed anything was the giveaway...there was no way he was going to allow the fight to deviate from the course he had decided after the kd.

"nah hays just pawwing wi'it"

the ref allowed Froch to come through being hurt more than Groves was in the 9th - he seemed to follow the fight plan most seemed to believe.

This is the bit that confuses me. Im hearing people saying Froch was out of it in the 4th and I didn't see it.

The only bit I can think you are referring to is the 1st round Knockdown, which yep Froch was hurt then he got back up and was firing back and took 2 bombs and still just stood there, they literally bounced off him.

At NO point in the fight was Froch in as much sustained trouble as Groves was in that 9th round. Groves was on the ropes and on the end of a barrage of bombs.

Groves never followed up in any of his attacks like Froch did in that 9th, that was the major difference. Maybe if Groves had gone in with a barrage when he had Froch hurt - who knows what might have happened, but when he did start to stand there and trade with Carl in the 8th and 9th he came out second best, that is clear.

I'd like people to state at what point in the fight Froch could have been stopped? The argument doesn't quite stand up to scrutiny.

You speak complete Garbage!! Go watch the 6th round.. Probably a worse beaten than the 1st.. Froch was getting rocked by jabs. You got Rose tinted glasses on "Cobra"?? Or are you Froch in disguise.. And start of 9th round big right hand rocked Froch.. Froch was done if Foster hadn't stepped in he had gassed. Was grabbing and his work was very messy. Five elbows I counter in the 9th by Froch. Not talked to once about it.. Rounds 1-4 none were close.. 5 was close could of gone either way I preferred Groves better quality.. 6 and 7 were Groves... 8 was close again better scoring punches were Groves but again 5 and 8 I can take on a argument for rounds to Froch but don't agree. Round 9 was close up until it seemed Groves was taking a rest.. Let's just say that will be a lesson to stick to his plan.. Shocking stoppage.. 1st good punch Froch landed and Foster was on.. 2 Secs before Froch hit with the big right again. Groves was robbed. Froch and his fans should admit the truth people will respect him more for it.. End of the day he got the win but he took a beating. Most damaging fight so far for Froch's legacy shame

[TheCobra]

You speak complete Garbage!! Go watch the 6th round.. Probably a worse beaten than the 1st.. Froch was getting rocked by jabs. You got Rose tinted glasses on "Cobra"?? Or are you Froch in disguise.. And start of 9th round big right hand rocked Froch.. Froch was done if Foster hadn't stepped in he had gassed. Was grabbing and his work was very messy. Five elbows I counter in the 9th by Froch. Not talked to once about it.. Rounds 1-4 none were close.. 5 was close could of gone either way I preferred Groves better quality.. 6 and 7 were Groves... 8 was close again better scoring punches were Groves but again 5 and 8 I can take on a argument for rounds to Froch but don't agree. Round 9 was close up until it seemed Groves was taking a rest.. Let's just say that will be a lesson to stick to his plan.. Shocking stoppage.. 1st good punch Froch landed and Foster was on.. 2 Secs before Froch hit with the big right again. Groves was robbed. Froch and his fans should admit the truth people will respect him more for it.. End of the day he got the win but he took a beating. Most damaging fight so far for Froch's legacy shame

I couldn't read all that mate. I think the only one here speaking garbage is you, I tend to phase off a post if the person can't write in coherent sentences and paragraphs. Call it my GARBAGE filter if you want?

[TheCobra]

All things considered; if you wanted Froch to win going in then you look for Groves to be doing wrong and be coming off the worst; if you wanted Groves to win going in then Froch has a terrible time of it and was gifted a stoppage.

No one from either camp will be brought across and will argue until everyone else in the world has died of boredom.

But the commentators should be neutral. Or at least a decent attempt at being. Watt decided in about 30 seconds who his guy was. Watching it again he was so ridiculous I had to laugh.

THIS. End of the day the commentators should not have a side, it's not England in the world cup is it!? It's 2 British fighters in a world title fight, bias should go out the window and that commentary was a disgrace.

[Spud]

All things considered; if you wanted Froch to win going in then you look for Groves to be doing wrong and be coming off the worst; if you wanted Groves to win going in then Froch has a terrible time of it and was gifted a stoppage.

No one from either camp will be brought across and will argue until everyone else in the world has died of boredom.

Agree with you.

However I would like to add the criticism and abuse Howard Foster and Carl Froch have had to take is disgusting!! People should hang their heads in shame. Yes have an opinion and stick to it but some comments are bang out of order.

[palooka]

All things considered; if you wanted Froch to win going in then you look for Groves to be doing wrong and be coming off the worst; if you wanted Groves to win going in then Froch has a terrible time of it and was gifted a stoppage.

No one from either camp will be brought across and will argue until everyone else in the world has died of boredom.

Agree with you.

However I would like to add the criticism and abuse Howard Foster and Carl Froch have had to take is disgusting!! People should hang their heads in shame. Yes have an opinion and stick to it but some comments are bang out of order.

Much as I acknowledge that you know what you are on about Spud; Foster made a mistake- he ended the bout early and chose not to do that when Froch was under very heavy fire numerous times in the bout - he could hold his hands up to it; Froch ought to at least say that he understands that he was in a very hard fight, that Groves was far better than he gave him credit for and that because of the stoppage a rematch is a good idea.

That would clear up any abuse and grief either Froch or Foster have been getting - people are bound to feel aggrieved - boxing does look crooked and it is safe to talk about it in Germany etc but when it's a Burns points win or a soft stoppage when the cards are ridiculously close it makes it very difficult to make a case for the sport.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Watts commentary and his pratt sidekick was dreadful. What annoyed me most was when carl landed a four punch combo in the sixth and watt ignored it and continued to comment on something groves did ten seconds before. Watt clearly made a prediction and then adjusted his commentary to reflect what he wanted to happen. Totally maddening.

[jamesmcdonnell]

All things considered; if you wanted Froch to win going in then you look for Groves to be doing wrong and be coming off the worst; if you wanted Groves to win going in then Froch has a terrible time of it and was gifted a stoppage.

No one from either camp will be brought across and will argue until everyone else in the world has died of boredom.

But the commentators should be neutral. Or at least a decent attempt at being. Watt decided in about 30 seconds who his guy was. Watching it again he was so ridiculous I had to laugh.

Yes, I agree with that though I think that Watt said at the final press conference hat he admired how George had dealt with things and how composed and confident he was. You have to bear in mind as well that all the 'flow' of the promotion was pro Froch and the narrative of the bout was that Groves was an upstart out of his depth.

I may try to watch the bout again without sound but have to say from what I remember it is the punches hitting Froch very hard that stay in my mind and no matter how revisionist things get; it goes against the laws of biology and physics for Froch to be hitting as hard in the 9th as in the 3rd; Groves would have got through that.

groves was slowing by the 7th giving carl more time to time him. Carl didnt really land snd flush head shots with power until the 7th...he caught groves with three flush bombs in the ninth whichnprompted the stoppage.

[jameswilson]

Jim Watt has been absolutely appalling every fight Carl's ever had on Sky.

I was gonna say this. It goes way back. He didn't like Junior Witter or Eesham Pickering all the way through their careers either.

[Ally-M1]

I canny stand Jim Watt's commentary.

Never have.

[stevedoc]

i found the commentry ok myself ,and i can't beleive you prefer US commentry they don't even mention the fight in front of them especialy teddy atlas who talks over the fight rather than analysing them , if a boxer gets hurt he doesn't even mention it .

Atlas is probably the worst commentator and "expert" in boxing though!

Bit of a daft thing to say columbo and Steve. Atlas is as sharp as a needle.

you must be joking atlas is as sharp as a brick .....i hate him ,i can't even watch a fight with him in it . he doesn't even talk about the fight he's watching he just rattles off crap to try to make himself sound good as well as slagging off Tyson non stop . watch a fight with atlas as the commentator and see if he talks about the fight happening in front of him .

[domjon]

has anyone got a link to the american broadcast? Just trying to watch it again on skysports 3 and i had to turn it off cos of watt and halling...the more you listen to it the more it seems like a comedy sketch

[Final round]

you must be joking atlas is as sharp as a brick .....i hate him ,i can't even watch a fight with him in it . he doesn't even talk about the fight he's watching he just rattles off crap to try to make himself sound good as well as slagging off Tyson non stop . watch a fight with atlas as the commentator and see if he talks about the fight happening in front of him .

The thing about “William Shatner” Atlas. IS. That, with all his strange stops and inflections, by the time he makes his. Point. The round. Or moment. In question…






May have passed.

Leavingtheco-commentatortheunenviabletaskofspeedilysummarisingwhatTeddy’sjustsaidaswellasgettinghisownbitinthere.

One thing Watt gets stick for is sticking to a point. Judging by the crowd’s reaction last week, and the forum reaction in general, our idea of great commentary would be:

“F*cking hell! That guy’s just landed a clean punch. He’s about to win by stoppage! Hold up, the other guy’s come back, he’s going to KO him! Hang on a second, here’s a bunch of useless stats about a totally different fight that I’ve just pulled off the Internet to make a tenuous point. Shitting hell. They both just landed. This is bound to be a draw. That fighter just pulled a face that smacks of disrespect, I don’t like him. Jesus, then he took that shot well and said something nice in the corner, I actually think he’s great and hate the opponent. I hope someone gets brutally KO’d in this one. I also hope that neither man gets hurt. But I want a war as well so I hope both get knocked down in a non-hurting way and give and take a load of shots without hitting each other too hard. Wow, the final bell just went. That was a really, really close fight, but whoever wins it will be an outright robbery, believe you me. So there’s the decision, I don’t agree that the other guy won that. But I’ve thought about it for less than a second and actually think he did deserve to win it. Sod it, the other one deserved the nod. I’m just glad it was a draw. That’s fair. I hate draws, they’re poo. They’re a pair of fooking bums at any rate.”

Where was the ref during all that?

[palooka]

There's no one can take Atlas in a street fight, no one.

[Kilburn]

Watched the fight in full for the first time just now. Absolutely disgraceful commentary. Truly some of the worst I've witnessed. If I were Froch I'd never speak to Watt again following that shambolic, horribly misleading effort.

I have to say that Groves seems to be "dining out" on the opinion that this was some kind of complete whitewash up to the dodgy 9th round stoppage. It certainly was no whitewash.

[Jeff Thomas]

Jim Watt ruins every fight. He's terrible.

[Final round]

sod the commentary, turn the sound down. The fact is the massive underdog delivered an unexpected shellacking to the champion I don't need a man with a mic to tell me that.
Watt and the other chap were focussing on Groves because he was having his way with Froch for much of the fight and that wasn't in Eddie's or Sky's script. Eddie masterfully bought him over lined up him a couple of fights to look good in ready for the domestic grudge 'clash' PPV wallet topper but he wasn't supposed to smash up the jewel in Eddie's fornicating crown :!:

[jamesmcdonnell]

Commentators should commentated on what is happening, it's ridiculous to only mention what one fighter is doing in the ring, which is precisely what Watt did. He wouldn't credit what Carl was doing, until Groves began to slow, and it left him not much to talk about if he ignored Froch.