How does Ronald McIntosh keep getting work?

[jamamb]

fighters tend to blow at commentary, actually at a lot of things, a lot of ppl act like them being good pros means they are experts with superior opinions to you and me, but they say some of the dumbest sh!t ive heard when it comes to predictions, commentary, analysis, etc

[keirw]

I am a fan of Ronald, there aren't many commentators i would pick ahead of him.

As for former fighters, Paulie, Macklin, Woodhall and Jones are the only ones I can stomach

[JimStone]

For me he is a very good commentator on television and excellent on the radio. Those who prefer a monosyllabic delivery may well disagree.

[mickey1975]

Woodhall is good technically, but I’ve never seen him not blame a fighter losing on “holding his feet”.

[Coco]

When Woodhall started, with Jim Neilly, I thought he was awful, really wooden.
However he plugged away, learned his trade and for me now is one of the best, really understands the game, reads a fight well and now can deliver the vocals well.

[TheLeprechaun]

I do have to say I like the bloke.

To what extent has he been around the game! Adam Smith is certainly enthusiastic too as are the posters on the forum!
And also knowledge? I'm sure Adam smith could list off all the world champions etc but for me he understands little about boxing. Knowledge is one thing, especially if you have a script! Understanding is quite different.
I do appreciate live tv is very difficult and this is where people often get caught out by their lack of understanding.
Bunce gets caught out all the time by talking nonsense, but this is a guy who has often single handedly fronted a lot of live tv, I forgive him for some of his nonsense, but he doesn't get caught out on his understanding.

We don’t exactly have a high standard of commentary in our sport. For me, Mallinagi is pretty good; Bellew used to be good before his “fame”. Bunce i have always found a bit annoying: I can’t stand Adam Smith and Froch. I think Dave Allen might be a good shout in future... Roy Jones used to be able to read a fight well when he used to commentate. It’s a tricky one, because everybody has an agenda. It’s such an ego driven sport.

Anyway Big Ron is one of the better ones.

Good post. I thought Ian Darke was miles ahead of everyone else in terms of boxing commentary. He was a big loss. Darke and McCrory were pretty good together, Arthur vs Gomez was probably their best night.

The problem with Ron and most other commentators is that they give off the impression that they are just trying way too hard. Andy Scott is the best of the bunch I think. You want a commentator who is passionate but also feels like he's having a normal conversation, asking interesting questions and not being fake. Darke was exceptional at this. Compare him to someone like Adam Smith who growls all the time, and comes across like an absolute plank while commentating. He's so fake that it feels like an affront to your intelligence. Football commentators are talking about the game and talking to themselves and doing it in a relaxed but interesting way. I don't know why boxing commentators have to do this OTT style. It just comes across as an insult to the intelligence of the viewer. Every time I have a fight on where Smith is commentating, some of my casual friends have always pointed out how sh*t he is.

[dookus]

You can't fault Big Ron's enthusiasm and knowledge. But he needs to just shut that big scary mouth of his about 70% more often - at his most verbose he is nigh-on unlistenable. The Gassiev interview will live long in my memory as a perfect example of how not to interview a fighter (especially - like many - a non-native English speaker).

[jamamb]

furious fistic fusilades

[Coco]

You can't fault Big Ron's enthusiasm and knowledge. But he needs to just shut that big scary mouth of his about 70% more often - at his most verbose he is nigh-on unlistenable. The Gassiev interview will live long in my memory as a perfect example of how not to interview a fighter (especially - like many - a non-native English speaker).

The problem is in his interviewing technique is that he likes the sound of his own voice and prose. To one extent it does not matter if the fighter understands him or not as he isn't too interested in what they have to say, he is the star!
That Gassiev interview was painful.

[bigjack]

Wot happened to Glenn macrory?! I always liked him why did they bounce him?

i think it was something to do with drink driving/road rage not sure though

[rhino222]

For me he is a very good commentator on television and excellent on the radio. Those who prefer a monosyllabic delivery may well disagree.

yes

[bigjack]

Wot happened to Glenn macrory?! I always liked him why did they bounce him?

i think it was something to do with drink driving/road rage not sure though

Oh right thanks. I would of thought it would be a bigger story. He just seemed to disappear out of the blu

Well i just checked and apparently he threatened to kill someone.

[dookus]

Frock - well I remember when I was training to fight george groves in front of 80000 coked up tosspots at wembley blah blah blah

[Jackson328]

First time I heard Ronald I just thought WTF is this??? But he's grown on me and now I look forward to googling some of his adjectives

I grew up listening to Harry Carpenter and Reg Gutteridge who were both legendary commentators but Ian Darke was the best ever in my opinion, Sky fuCked up massively taking him off the boxing coverage

[sharpei_louis]

Just find the use of the word 'stanza' quite contrived.

[Boxerbeetle]

Just find the use of the word 'stanza' quite contrived.

I don’t mind it occasionally to mix things up a bit, but Ron definitely overuses it.

[paddy chavez]

Just find the use of the word 'stanza' quite contrived.

I don’t mind it occasionally to mix things up a bit, but Ron definitely overuses it.

I even looked it up as it wasn't a word I familiar with even though it was obvious he used instead of round and everything I looked up said it was part of a poem ...

[seanilius]

First time I heard Ronald I just thought WTF is this??? But he's grown on me and now I look forward to googling some of his adjectives

I grew up listening to Harry Carpenter and Reg Gutteridge who were both legendary commentators but Ian Darke was the best ever in my opinion, Sky fuCked up massively taking him off the boxing coverage

Wholly agree in regards to Ian Darke. I remember when he commentated the Hatton comeback and it was a real delight to hear his voice again. A combination of him and Barry Jones would be great IMO.
Darke had that wonderful way of making a fight feel important and cinematic. It always felt like I was watching something significant with him. I enjoy Barry's technical breakdowns on the fly.

I'm sure Ron is a lovely person but so is my Aunty Doris and I wouldn't want to listen to her calling a fight. His commentary is too self aware for me. Interesting to hear from people who enjoy his style and good luck to him.

[TheLeprechaun]

Just find the use of the word 'stanza' quite contrived.

I don’t mind it occasionally to mix things up a bit, but Ron definitely overuses it.

I even looked it up as it wasn't a word I familiar with even though it was obvious he used instead of round and everything I looked up said it was part of a poem ...

Ron is the Séamus Heaney of boxing

[seanilius]

I don’t mind it occasionally to mix things up a bit, but Ron definitely overuses it.

I even looked it up as it wasn't a word I familiar with even though it was obvious he used instead of round and everything I looked up said it was part of a poem ...

Ron is the Séamus Heaney of boxing

In the sense that he's a skeleton, certainly!

[handsofstone]

Anyone else not think Alex Steedman is criminally underrated?, barely gets a mention, I don't mind Rawling with Barry Jones but I think Jones and Steedman are more compatible

[Boxerbeetle]

Anyone else not think Alex Steedman is criminally underrated?, barely gets a mention, I don't mind Rawling with Barry Jones but I think Jones and Steedman are more compatible

Steedman doesn’t do much commentary of the big fights, does he? So it’s a bit difficult to compare. He’s an excellent presenter though.

Remember when Rawling spent about 15 minutes straight checking out the talent in the arena, proper Partridge style? Cringey as fvck.

[Coco]

Wot happened to Glenn macrory?! I always liked him why did they bounce him?

I hope he finds a way back, he is missed

[rd350lc]

Wot happened to Glenn macrory?! I always liked him why did they bounce him?

I hope he finds a way back, he is missed

I agree , he was the original sky 'growler' that bought intensity to commentary and has never been replaced .

[Boxerbeetle]

I hope he finds a way back, he is missed

I agree , he was the original sky 'growler' that bought intensity to commentary and has never been replaced .

Yeah but at least he’s a 6ft 4 ex world champ who boxed Lennox Lewis and spared a peak Tyson so I’m ok with his growling Adam Smith on the other hand couldn’t beat an egg weighs 7 stone when wet and went to public school so its a bit ridiculous him growling

It’s like when Estonians start talking all rude boi it’s just a joke LOL

It’s actually very well known that Adam Smith is pretty legendary when it comes to having a straightener on the cobbles. You’d better hope he didn’t read your post