Bring Back Ian Darke!
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Frostieballs
- Featherweight
- Posts: 2027
- Joined: 15 Aug 2020, 17:38
Bring Back Ian Darke!
Just watching the Europa League final with Ian Darke on the mic.
Didn’t appreciate him at the time when he was Sky’s #1 Boxing man, but he’s a different mustard to most guys around now.
Didn’t appreciate him at the time when he was Sky’s #1 Boxing man, but he’s a different mustard to most guys around now.
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ThereByTheGrace
- Cruiserweight
- Posts: 4016
- Joined: 04 Sep 2010, 05:22
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
Yeah he was good back in the day. Get a bit of the retro feel. I prefer big ron mcintosh hes the best though
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Frostieballs
- Featherweight
- Posts: 2027
- Joined: 15 Aug 2020, 17:38
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
Another under rated commentator is Mike Costello. He’s the don.
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
After the Richie Woodhall podcast with Tris D I’ve revised my dream team to Roy Jones and Richie Woodhall. They’re both good analysis and both got history and are apparently buddies. Did they ever cover the same show?
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
Him and glen mcrory best duo ever
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bigjack
- Heavyweight

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Matt Teague
- Heavyweight

- Posts: 321
- Joined: 16 Aug 2004, 16:19
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ShadrachSimmo
- Cruiserweight
- Posts: 4738
- Joined: 20 Oct 2010, 05:42
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
He wont get back as long as Adam Smith is lurking around 
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MarkMcBurney
- Super Middleweight
- Posts: 1670
- Joined: 18 Nov 2012, 07:47
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
Darke was the Don. Costello is the doyen of radio.
Ron MacIntosh sucks balls with his overcomplicated phrases. Describing rounds as stanzas FFS.
Ron MacIntosh sucks balls with his overcomplicated phrases. Describing rounds as stanzas FFS.
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
A victim of his own successMatt Teague wrote: ↑22 Aug 2020, 02:49I've never understood why Ian darke was taken from commentary... Imo he the best there's been in the UK
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
Ian Darke wiped the floor with Mike Costello as a radio commentator. With Costello you don't even know if a boxer is still knocked down, getting up, what punches are being thrown etc....pretty essential for radio 
He's very good at presenting, but is nowhere near quick enough describing the live action.
John Rawlings is possibly the best around at the moment. I like Ron McInstosh and Dave Farrar too.
Apart from Skysports being generally sh1t anyway, they have way, way too many mouths spouting off. It's incredibly distracting and their commentary along with almost all American commentarys are the ones I have to hit the mute button.
He's very good at presenting, but is nowhere near quick enough describing the live action.
John Rawlings is possibly the best around at the moment. I like Ron McInstosh and Dave Farrar too.
Apart from Skysports being generally sh1t anyway, they have way, way too many mouths spouting off. It's incredibly distracting and their commentary along with almost all American commentarys are the ones I have to hit the mute button.
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
I didn’t mind Glenn but he didn’t really have a lot to say. It was more an Everyman foil for darke to bounce off.
I thought he left of his own accord anyway to do the football, which he was already doing.
I thought he left of his own accord anyway to do the football, which he was already doing.
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Spud
- Heavyweight

Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
I think Costello is very goodFrostieballs wrote: ↑21 Aug 2020, 16:09 Another under rated commentator is Mike Costello. He’s the don.
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
Darke really captures any sport well, the sign of a true pro. He's got such a measured voice that holds the attention.
Someone like Andy Clarke just grates in comparison, he speaks with manufactued over-enthusiasm just like a youtuber.
Can't say I'm a big fan of Macklin either, he struggles to even read out his own ways to win. Clarke/Macklin is dumbed down coverage for yoof, such a world away from the leather armchair/glass of whiskey style of Darke/Watt
Someone like Andy Clarke just grates in comparison, he speaks with manufactued over-enthusiasm just like a youtuber.
Can't say I'm a big fan of Macklin either, he struggles to even read out his own ways to win. Clarke/Macklin is dumbed down coverage for yoof, such a world away from the leather armchair/glass of whiskey style of Darke/Watt
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
Ian Darke is much better than Darren Fletcher on the BT football let alone being far, far better than Adam Smith on the boxing.
He's wasted doing the second choice football
He's wasted doing the second choice football
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
Darke is quality. John Rawlings is good too. As for co-commentators and pundits then Richie Woodhall, Barry Jones, Andy Lee and Paulie are decent. Like David Haye too.
Bellew, Macklin, Adam Smith etc - basically all of the Sky lot, are terrible.
Bellew, Macklin, Adam Smith etc - basically all of the Sky lot, are terrible.
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Terminator666
- Heavyweight

- Posts: 1665
- Joined: 06 Nov 2007, 10:18
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
I must be the only one who didn’t rate Darke as a boxing commentator. To me it’s only because Adam Smith is so bad that Darke seemed ok
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
Could those saying they like Ron McIntosh please explain what it is they like about his work?
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
I can see how anyone would find him annoying, his tone and the dictionary vomit and all that.
He’s boxed himself a bit (apparently) and he reads fights decently enough, but his research and knowledge is A1. Even on a tricky gig like the Worlds in Russia last year he had a good bit of background info on every fighter.
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
I get what you mean but if that's the case he would be best employed as a researcher for someone with a more polished, able broadcasting style. Ron's whirlwind of verbiage isn't just amateurish; there's something mentally subnormal about it all. It's like he's autistic or in another reality to normal people, the way he goes on. Literally any announcer in history is preferable to him. He's not an announcer!Delta Jay wrote: ↑22 Aug 2020, 11:24I can see how anyone would find him annoying, his tone and the dictionary vomit and all that.
He’s boxed himself a bit (apparently) and he reads fights decently enough, but his research and knowledge is A1. Even on a tricky gig like the Worlds in Russia last year he had a good bit of background info on every fighter.
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
What I get out of big Ron is quoting him verbatim and then laughing hysterically.Onamastus wrote: ↑22 Aug 2020, 12:25I get what you mean but if that's the case he would be best employed as a researcher for someone with a more polished, able broadcasting style. Ron's whirlwind of verbiage isn't just amateurish; there's something mentally subnormal about it all. It's like he's autistic or in another reality to normal people, the way he goes on. Literally any announcer in history is preferable to him. He's not an announcer!Delta Jay wrote: ↑22 Aug 2020, 11:24I can see how anyone would find him annoying, his tone and the dictionary vomit and all that.
He’s boxed himself a bit (apparently) and he reads fights decently enough, but his research and knowledge is A1. Even on a tricky gig like the Worlds in Russia last year he had a good bit of background info on every fighter.
I will never ever ever forget him interviewing some Russian boxer after a Super Series fight, kicking off with an impenetrable minute-long mix of statements and questions, and getting the response "I don't understand. Thank you to God and my family and coach, it was good fight"
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
dookus wrote: ↑22 Aug 2020, 12:44What I get out of big Ron is quoting him verbatim and then laughing hysterically.Onamastus wrote: ↑22 Aug 2020, 12:25I get what you mean but if that's the case he would be best employed as a researcher for someone with a more polished, able broadcasting style. Ron's whirlwind of verbiage isn't just amateurish; there's something mentally subnormal about it all. It's like he's autistic or in another reality to normal people, the way he goes on. Literally any announcer in history is preferable to him. He's not an announcer!Delta Jay wrote: ↑22 Aug 2020, 11:24
I can see how anyone would find him annoying, his tone and the dictionary vomit and all that.
He’s boxed himself a bit (apparently) and he reads fights decently enough, but his research and knowledge is A1. Even on a tricky gig like the Worlds in Russia last year he had a good bit of background info on every fighter.
I will never ever ever forget him interviewing some Russian boxer after a Super Series fight, kicking off with an impenetrable minute-long mix of statements and questions, and getting the response "I don't understand. Thank you to God and my family and coach, it was good fight"
This confirms my suspiciouns about Ron existing in another reality to the rest of us.
I get the ironic appeal, but imagine going back on youtube to watch a classic fight and discovering big Ron's calling it. Now you're not just watching a fight. You're also listening to Ron Oooohhhhhhhhh McIntosh proffering elucidating annotations upon the fist-laden exploits in the square ring canvassed circle of the boxing variety as these two sinewy exponents of the punches arcing explode into action............ etc etc. It's unendurable. He ruins every fight.
Re: Bring Back Ian Darke!
It's where Harry and Reg got it right, often silence is golden, just watch the fight.
These days the commentator wants to be the focus of attention.
These days the commentator wants to be the focus of attention.