BoxRec

olij999 wrote: ↑18 Jun 2024, 05:43

Coco wrote: ↑11 Jun 2024, 04:04 Steve Holdsworth never got taken on, on the bigger channels because he was too honest

Good bloke is Steve

He used to do pretty much everything but fight at some shows. I bought a VHS from him of Kirkland Laing fighting Dave Maj many years ago - there was a lovely bit when Steve was doing commentary for the tape, the fight had just finished, and Steve started filling a little as you could tell he was waiting for the MC to get into the ring to announce the result. Steve then evidently realises that he himself is the MC, utters a minor oath, puts the mike down, hot-foots it to the ring, and gives the announcement.

Steve boxed profesionaly,albeit it briefly

Bercli wrote: ↑21 Apr 2025, 16:07

olij999 wrote: ↑18 Jun 2024, 05:43

Coco wrote: ↑11 Jun 2024, 04:04 Steve Holdsworth never got taken on, on the bigger channels because he was too honest

Good bloke is Steve

He used to do pretty much everything but fight at some shows. I bought a VHS from him of Kirkland Laing fighting Dave Maj many years ago - there was a lovely bit when Steve was doing commentary for the tape, the fight had just finished, and Steve started filling a little as you could tell he was waiting for the MC to get into the ring to announce the result. Steve then evidently realises that he himself is the MC, utters a minor oath, puts the mike down, hot-foots it to the ring, and gives the announcement.

Steve boxed profesionaly,albeit it briefly

12 fights in just 10 months (5-4-3). Some going really.

His Eurosport commentary was good value and somewhat iconic. Used to be loads of fights on there back in the 90s and you could get Eurosport for free as long as you had a dish. RTL too so all the early Klitschko stuff, Michalczewski, etc free to air. Eurosport had Cedric Kushner's Heavyweight Explosion series too. TNT had WCW when it was bigger than WWF for those who liked wrestling, again free and totally legit. We didn't know we were born back then, way more boxing on.

Holdsworth also shared a ring with Cornelius Boza-Edwards in the amateurs (I think it was in the ABA semi-finals).

Occasionally I did unmute to try to listen to cornerwork during the Dalton Smith fight and this moron can't SHUT UP when the camera pans to cornerwork. We hear a couple of sentences from Grant Smith and then "AND GRANT SMITH! GIVING INSTRUCTIONS! TO HIS TALENTED SON! ETC ETC" can you SHUT THE F*CK UP and let us listen to corner work

There’s a lot of hate for Adam Smith here obviously. I’ve always thought he was pretty good as a host, now the host tends to be a young attractive woman. As a commentator tho yes I would prefer someone else.

jameswilson wrote: ↑22 Apr 2025, 04:10 There’s a lot of hate for Adam Smith here obviously. I’ve always thought he was pretty good as a host, now the host tends to be a young attractive woman. As a commentator tho yes I would prefer someone else.

Suppose at the end of the day , someone is paying big wages , so you to an extent have to tow the line , you can express your opinion to an extent , but your gonna find it hard to be comentator on a Shalom / Sky , Hearn / Matchroom , show if you go overboard .

Regards the women well i'm 50/50 the boxing woman attractive with the big glasses who was on the other night , well i'm still not sure , on the one hand i think she's not too bad , does her job , seems reasonably knoladgeble , has a good rapour with Nelson and the other boxers ,, But on the other hand i think , heh she looks OK with the big black secretary / slash porn glasses , Then i think her legs are 50/50 . knobbly knees skinny calves , , look closer and think Errm there not real long either , 8 inch high heels ,

But it does get me studying , given it was a male , say Davies , i would turn it off , so i suppose it pays dividends

I think Smith was fine as a host, interviewer, and I suspect good as a head of department at Sky, and seems like a good guy.

But the one thing he isn't, which by his own admission is what he always wanted to be, is a competent commentator. He just does not know how to read a fight, he just doesn't get it. Even part timers that are more football like Dave Farrar and Darren Fletcher understand what's going on in there. Smith is just incessant white noise, it's utterly excruciating at times. It's not simply a case of Marmite, he's just not capable of calling what is unfolding in the ring.

Grrrrrrrrr, there`s the respect.........

Flump wrote: ↑22 Apr 2025, 07:26 I think Smith was fine as a host, interviewer, and I suspect good as a head of department at Sky, and seems like a good guy.

But the one thing he isn't, which by his own admission is what he always wanted to be, is a competent commentator. He just does not know how to read a fight, he just doesn't get it. Even part timers that are more football like Dave Farrar and Darren Fletcher understand what's going on in there. Smith is just incessant white noise, it's utterly excruciating at times. It's not simply a case of Marmite, he's just not capable of calling what is unfolding in the ring.

I agree he could be better at reading fights but people see different things watching a fight. In the past he’s pushed the home fighter too much. That may be a conscious bias or it could be an unconscious bias (he doesn’t realise he’s doing it but is favouring the fighter he’s spent a lot of time with). He needs a good ex-pro with him to set him right if he is reading a fight wrongly or showing bias to the home fighter.

maverick23 wrote: ↑22 Apr 2025, 11:07

Flump wrote: ↑22 Apr 2025, 07:26 I think Smith was fine as a host, interviewer, and I suspect good as a head of department at Sky, and seems like a good guy.

But the one thing he isn't, which by his own admission is what he always wanted to be, is a competent commentator. He just does not know how to read a fight, he just doesn't get it. Even part timers that are more football like Dave Farrar and Darren Fletcher understand what's going on in there. Smith is just incessant white noise, it's utterly excruciating at times. It's not simply a case of Marmite, he's just not capable of calling what is unfolding in the ring.

I agree he could be better at reading fights but people see different things watching a fight. In the past he’s pushed the home fighter too much. That may be a conscious bias or it could be an unconscious bias (he doesn’t realise he’s doing it but is favouring the fighter he’s spent a lot of time with). He needs a good ex-pro with him to set him right if he is reading a fight wrongly or showing bias to the home fighter.

I disagree mate. He simply needs to not commentate and find a niche he's good at.

Flump wrote: ↑22 Apr 2025, 07:26 I think Smith was fine as a host, interviewer, and I suspect good as a head of department at Sky, and seems like a good guy.

But the one thing he isn't, which by his own admission is what he always wanted to be, is a competent commentator. He just does not know how to read a fight, he just doesn't get it. Even part timers that are more football like Dave Farrar and Darren Fletcher understand what's going on in there. Smith is just incessant white noise, it's utterly excruciating at times. It's not simply a case of Marmite, he's just not capable of calling what is unfolding in the ring.

this a thousand percent

hes been horrific tonight

TheLeprechaun wrote: ↑26 Apr 2025, 16:28 hes been horrific tonight

When has he not been horrific?

This comment thread is truly spectacular, an event not to be missed as one poster comments, then another, then another, in a series of comments for all to read! Everyone has given their most poignant insights and we can all read them, taking in the thoughts of each! Surely this comment thread will be read by many, and the comments contained within will be pondered on until everyone has come to their own conclusions, but surely, it has been a fantastic comment thread!

Bobbyptsd wrote: ↑26 Apr 2025, 16:55 This comment thread is truly spectacular, an event not to be missed as one poster comments, then another, then another, in a series of comments for all to read! Everyone has given their most poignant insights and we can all read them, taking in the thoughts of each! Surely this comment thread will be read by many, and the comments contained within will be pondered on until everyone has come to their own conclusions, but surely, it has been a fantastic comment thread!

You ok mate ?

It’s gotten really, really bad with me. I’m starting to despise him on a level where it’s getting weird and I’ve never met him.

I honestly think I’d say something if I saw him hahahahahah

rd350lc wrote: ↑26 Apr 2025, 17:00

Bobbyptsd wrote: ↑26 Apr 2025, 16:55 This comment thread is truly spectacular, an event not to be missed as one poster comments, then another, then another, in a series of comments for all to read! Everyone has given their most poignant insights and we can all read them, taking in the thoughts of each! Surely this comment thread will be read by many, and the comments contained within will be pondered on until everyone has come to their own conclusions, but surely, it has been a fantastic comment thread!

You ok mate ?

I was trying to channel Smith commenting in his own thread.

Bobbyptsd wrote: ↑26 Apr 2025, 16:55 This comment thread is truly spectacular, an event not to be missed as one poster comments, then another, then another, in a series of comments for all to read! Everyone has given their most poignant insights and we can all read them, taking in the thoughts of each! Surely this comment thread will be read by many, and the comments contained within will be pondered on until everyone has come to their own conclusions, but surely, it has been a fantastic comment thread!

A spine tingling comment there! Really ramping up the excitement as the members of the forum tune in and read the thread! A tasty post and a great orderve for the action to come as Benn and Eubank get it on! I'm an absolute plum!!!!

I got the Sky stream up.

No smith haha.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 Apr 2025, 17:39 I got the Sky stream up.

No smith haha.

Smith is so bad tonight

Smith had to

any commentator who didnt make a ' will benn be a tough egg to crack' / 'well eubank has crack that egg' comment failed

Smith's greatest moment was the virtue-signalling masterpiece right before Bellew fought Usyk. Summed him up. A blowhard who just can't shut up.

"The Bomber tattooed on his back is of course a reference to his punching power..."

In case you were thinking that Bell-end Bellew got it to mock the Manchester Arena bombing

How he ever sat pre-fight and thought that would be a good line is beyond me. Trying to be clever.

steve689 wrote: ↑26 Apr 2025, 19:33 Smith's greatest moment was the virtue-signalling masterpiece right before Bellew fought Usyk. Summed him up. A blowhard who just can't shut up.

"The Bomber tattooed on his back is of course a reference to his punching power..."

In case you were thinking that Bell-end Bellew got it to mock the Manchester Arena bombing

How he ever sat pre-fight and thought that would be a good line is beyond me. Trying to be clever.

Had he not said anything, I don’t think anyone would have even thought about the tattoo.

At a time when DAZN have just taken a virtual monopoly on UK televised boxing the hiring of Smith as lead commentator is a kick in the teeth for real boxing fans who now face the prospect of this clown ruining fights with his non stop over the top nonsense.

The long and short of it is that he’s an annoying pudendum. Why’s he been hired then ? Because his faux excitement and growling and shouting is essentially an aggressive sales pitch aimed at convincing casuals that what they’re watching is the most exciting thing ever … “and there’s more to come next week LIVE ON DAZN”