Harry Carpenter - Stories/Anecdotes about him?

[TheLeprechaun]

I was just watching a Bruno video and Harry was doing a lot of commentary work and covering Brunos entire career pretty much. His commentary is quite good and he's usually commentating on his own. He's just got a great voice for commentary and knows when to be dramatic and when not to be. A true fan of the sport I suppose. He's just a perfect commentator isn't he. I was wondering if any of the older members who actually remember Harry had any stories about him. He seemed like a straight forward guy where what you see is what you get so I wouldn't expect too many stories. He certainly enjoyed following Brunos career. He was showing respect to fighters like Bugner too. I only remember seeing him on BBC for the Lewis Rahman 1 fight where he was a bit reserved and thankful to just be there in the punditry seat. That might have been his last bit of work on TV with regards to boxing.

[stujones]

I was just watching a Bruno video and Harry was doing a lot of commentary work and covering Brunos entire career pretty much. His commentary is quite good and he's usually commentating on his own. He's just got a great voice for commentary and knows when to be dramatic and when not to be. A true fan of the sport I suppose. He's just a perfect commentator isn't he. I was wondering if any of the older members who actually remember Harry had any stories about him. He seemed like a straight forward guy where what you see is what you get so I wouldn't expect too many stories. He certainly enjoyed following Brunos career. He was showing respect to fighters like Bugner too. I only remember seeing him on BBC for the Lewis Rahman 1 fight where he was a bit reserved and thankful to just be there in the punditry seat. That might have been his last bit of work on TV with regards to boxing.

Harry was a great commentator. I have no anecdotes, but remember he retired, but came back for a few of The Bbcs return to boxing, also saw through one or two of Audleys pro fight as a pundit.

Also the face of Wimbledon for many years and grandstand

[forcefraser]

Classy guy, proper old school.

"Get in there Frank" was a beauty

[SeanBrennan]

his Rumble in the Jungle commentary gives me goosebumps when I listen to it. Incomparable.

[stujones]

Classy guy, proper old school.

"Get in there Frank" was a beauty

I think it says a lot about Harry that he always regretted that but of commentary, saying he should have remained professional and neutral.

I see Harry in a similar mode to the likes of Des Lynam and Jim Rosenthal. Presenter/Journo first boxing fan second…. Reg Gutteridge I saw the other way around.

In saying that I preferred Harry to Reg.

[deadpan]

Is it sacrilege that I don't particularly revere him? He was overly dramatic (anybody who lost, their career was 'in tatters') and he never displayed any understanding of tactics or technique. I appreciate his position as a figurehead of a golden free-to-view era, but I think punters would be a lot more critical of him if he was working today.

[funso banjo baby]

harry was a legend.

His book `pictorial history of boxing` really kick started my love of the sport. I was amazed by the photos as a 10 year old. The narrative was simple but enthralling.

The interview he did with the young Mike Tyson is a gem. They sit together and watch old videos. Harry is genuinely surprised by Tyson's knowledge of the history.

Check YouTube out for his commentary of the small hall debut of Darren dyer v Trevor grant. It's great fun.

[THEBUTCH]

Harry was excellent, for the most part.

The preview of Bruno v Tyson 1 that Harry & Des Lynam presented on BBC1 was brilliant

Christ, we had Harry & Des back then fronting boxing...fast forward 20/30 years and we were left scraping the bottom of the barrel with Adam Smith & Johnny Nelson !!

[THEBUTCH]

Almost forgot....when I lived in Catford one of my neighbours knew either Harry Carpenter or Reg Gutteridge from working for one of the newspapers. They were both held in high regard.

It's hardly a story, but my family used to see Harry Carpenter in the Italian restuarant under Eros House in Catford !

[SeanBrennan]

Almost forgot....when I lived in Catford one of my neighbours knew either Harry Carpenter or Reg Gutteridge from working for one of the newspapers. They were both held in high regard.

It's hardly a story, but my family used to see Harry Carpenter in the Italian restuarant under Eros House in Catford !

definitely a story worth sharing Butch that's ace.

[THEBUTCH]

We'd also occasionally see Trevor Hughroy Currie on his bicycle !

[cormack]

he was commentating on tyson v bruno and during the fight was saying something along the lines of " its incredible to see that tysons outworking Frank in all areas and even beating him to the jab , as franks renowned for his jab - from time to time " as he immediately remembered that wasnt strictly true .

it was very funny at the time and widely spoken about - today it would have been a meme or whatever .

after the fight which he lost by a hard stoppage him and bruno had an interview and it was very touching how Harry was geeing him up saying the nation loves him etc .

[CaptainSpacerod]

One of the greats, just hearing his voice instantly takes me back to my childhood. Found this great little video with some fantastic archive footage on it

[orbtastic]

I was watching some old abas the other day on YouTube then of course my algorithm went nuts so I watched a bunch of other fights. Carpenter featured highly and I always scroll down on videos to read the comments and was surprised to see people saying he was useless. I have heard criticism before of some bias and of course the get in there frank but never useless? He was a respected journalist who covered boxing for decades. Useless? Watching some of the old fights it’s funny to realise now what are cupboard commentary fights and what were clearly live.

[MasterG]

Harry was excellent, for the most part.

The preview of Bruno v Tyson 1 that Harry & Des Lynam presented on BBC1 was brilliant

Christ, we had Harry & Des back then fronting boxing...fast forward 20/30 years and we were left scraping the bottom of the barrel with Adam Smith & Johnny Nelson !!

I still have the full preview on tape. They did it like a western movie.

[MasterG]

Didn't reg gutteridge have a leg amputated?

[paultom]

Didn't reg gutteridge have a leg amputated?

Yes,war injury

[JamesPhilips]

Didn't reg gutteridge have a leg amputated?

Yes,war injury

There’s the famous Sonny Liston story where he stabs his wooden leg with a fork or something

[The Docker]

Loved Harry, and possibly deemed sacrilege saying his actual boxing knowledge was limited, but how I see it. Always thought he was boxings answer to Murray Walker.

[SeanBrennan]

his knowledge was not bad, he was full time on it for over 30 ears and wrote 3 books on the sport.

[THEBUTCH]

Harry would come out with comments that stick in your mind for years.

When Bruno walloped Mike Jamieson (which was an impressive result) in America, Harry said something similar to "and Bruno has just shown the American public what he can do with a punch". Carpenter was class !

[forcefraser]

I remember when Bruno took that horrendous shellcking by Bonecrusher Smith, Harry said "I fear we are seeing the end of the Bruno story"

How wrong he was

[tony1234]

Not just Harry Carpenter but Reg Gutteridge and other great commentators in other sports like Peter O'Sullevan, David Coleman etc spoilt us. Now it is just shouting and growling and trying get social media clip likes

[TheLeprechaun]

Harry would come out with comments that stick in your mind for years.

When Bruno walloped Mike Jamieson (which was an impressive result) in America, Harry said something similar to "and Bruno has just shown the American public what he can do with a punch". Carpenter was class !

I noticed that comment from the Bruno video I watched. I link here to Harry saying that specific comment. Perhaps this video might be of enjoyment to Bruno and Harry fans, although one thing I found offputting was the amount of bums Bruno fought. My word he fought some overmatched opposition. He must have gotten chinned already in sparring or before turning pro because they certainly took very few chances with the matchmaking.

[orbtastic]

Weren't they concerned about his eye early on? I know he had issues in 91 and again in 96 but I could swear they flew him out to Panama or somewhere for an operation in the early 80s.