HOW YOU WOULD CHANGE THE WAY BOXING IS PRESENTED ON TV

[overhand_right]

1. Make commentary sensible again by bringing back Ian Darke
(ideally with an exhumed and reanimated Gary Mason as colour but if this isn't possible Jim Watt)

2. Paul Dempsey as host, with all analysis done in a studio
(having pundits trying to critique the fights while standing in a crowd shouting over music is farcical TV production)

3. Unbiased commentary and presentation
(achieved by employing Darke and Dempsey)

4. No women on the mike or in the ring
(except round card girls obviously)

5. No music between rounds or fights
(why was this ever allowed to happen)

6. No elaborate ring walks
(Ronnie O'Sullivan doesn't fly into the York Barbican on a giant snooker cue. No flying carpets, pedestals, lights, fire works, rappers - no mikes on boxers, EVER, I'm looking at you Roy Jones - or any other pizazz, just walk to the god damn ring like fighters used to)

7. Ring announcers to understand that we didn't ask them for the boxer's life story
(it's 5 in the morning. everyone just wants to see the fight. please just give us the records and get out of the ring. see any 70s or 80s announcers for reference)

8. Post fight interviews performed by a Jim Gray type who will pick up the boxer on any bullshit, and also embarrass them when they act like morons
(takes some balls to do this, I'm not putting myself forward)

9. No adverts in a PPV
(this actually used to be a rule)

10. Pay bonuses to any boxers who don't have tattoos
(sorry anyone who has tattoos)

[Boxerbeetle]

I have no issues with tattoos. Otherwise, I agree 100% with all of those suggestions. Dempsey and Darke were fvcking quality.

[MasterG]

I agree with no advert breaks. I have bought ppv in the past and was a bit cheesed off that I was paying to watch adverts.

[kbackup408]

Out of respect to overhand_right and his cruiserweight status I shall agree (minus the tattoos haha)

[overhand_right]

I got to 10 and realised I needed something contentious

[oogiebe]

I got to 10 and realised I needed something contentious

LOL! Good list! Back to basics.

[overhand_right]

LOL! Good list! Back to basics.

It's incredible how dignified an affair a night of TV boxing was, until some time in the 90s. Then something went horribly wrong.

[jamamb]

id get tuan jim on commentary

[oogiebe]

It's incredible how dignified an affair a night of TV boxing was, until some time in the 90s. Then something went horribly wrong.

Remember Anthony Hembrick?! LMAO!

[overhand_right]

Remember Anthony Hembrick?! LMAO!

I remember him missing his Olympics bout because he couldn't tell the time. Did he do something similarly stupid later on? I don't get the reference but assume it will be hilarious

[Boxerbeetle]

id get tuan jim on commentary

[Coco]

So really what your saying is get rid of Adam Smith?

[oogiebe]

I remember him missing his Olympics bout because he couldn't tell the time. Did he do something similarly stupid later on? I don't get the reference but assume it will be hilarious

His first loss. The coverage from before the fight through the end is priceless and dovetails perfectly with your thread!!!

[oogiebe]

[chad]

No national anthems.

[handsofstone]

Dempsey would need to get that barnet sorted as well, deal breaker

[Cholo_cws]

Drop Adam smith he is awful

On his head preferably


though I do not condone violence and I'm scared the king of the cobbles will come after me

[bradinho]

Just simply call it as they see it... No bias ... No favourites ... call the action .... No opinion. None.

[bradinho]

I’m sure they used to do that in the old days . You remember when sky would only ever report on sky fighters. Weird

I'm pretty sure that still happens ... I have to go on sky website to find out certain fights and BBC for others

[Nightmare Roy]

That ref nearly got him killed

[fizzjambo]

Throw Adam Smith off a bridge. Everything else will follow

[banjo]

I'd do away with the whole pundit bollocks.

Commentator, co-commentator and a post fight interviewer is all that is necessary. No need for a string of ex-boxers either ringside or in a studio to talk about what we've just seen ourselves.

The main commentator can also act as the presenter like Jim Lampley.

[Coco]

I'd do away with the whole pundit bollocks.

Commentator, co-commentator and a post fight interviewer is all that is necessary. No need for a string of ex-boxers either ringside or in a studio to talk about what we've just seen ourselves.

The main commentator can also act as the presenter like Jim Lampley.

Which is why the likes of Dickie Davies, Jim Rosenthal, Gutteridge, Carpenter, Darke, McCrory worked so well.
Add to that Watt and McKenzie, no one was looking to hog the limelight or talk about their careers and no one played the company man card.

[Coco]

Of course Dempsey too, I also remember the blonde guy when SKY first started. Ed Robinson fits this as well, and I don't get why he is not doing it anymore. The guy at the moment, Andy someone is doing a good job.

[banjo]

Which is why the likes of Dickie Davies, Jim Rosenthal, Gutteridge, Carpenter, Darke, McCrory worked so well.
Add to that Watt and McKenzie, no one was looking to hog the limelight or talk about their careers and no one played the company man card.

Yep, Sky are obviously allocated a budget for each event so why waste so much of it having a bunch of ex-pros when the money could be better spent on better quality fights.