BoxRec

I have been watching the Best of British on ESPN Classic hosted by Buncey.

It`s great being able to watch the fights with a proper commentator like Harry Carpenter. There can go 30 seconds without a word from him, only making comments when needed.

Todays commentators could learn a lot from old Harry. These days it`s a barrage of comments and useless information that does nothing but detract from the action.

Someone should tell them sometimes less is more.

There was a moment last night during the Finnegan v Frankham fight when Harry went silent for about a minute - it was cool being left with just the crowd and the smoke and two great professionals in the ring.
It's Charlie Magri tonight.
Adios.

Harry was a truly amazing commentator. With Harry and Reg we had it all and didn't even know it.

The era of professional commentators is sadly gone. Carpenter and Gutteridge in boxing; Dan Maskell in tennis; David Coleman in athletics; John Arlott in cricket; Clive Everton in snooker - all these people were craftsman of their trade. Now they are replaced by ex sportsman who don't know what to say, when to say it, and most of all when to let the action in front of them do the talking.

levi billups wrote:The era of professional commentators is sadly gone. Carpenter and Gutteridge in boxing; Dan Maskell in tennis; David Coleman in athletics; John Arlott in cricket; Clive Everton in snooker - all these people were craftsman of their trade. Now they are replaced by ex sportsman who don't know what to say, when to say it, and most of all when to let the action in front of them do the talking.

Richie Benaud is another. He approached the BBC himself when he wanted to get into broadcasting. His first weeks as a broadcaster involved him following Peter O'Sullevan round, and saying nothing. A trait that served him well throughout his career as a TV commentator.

When Steve Cram was screaming "Go on, Kelly!" over and over again as she headed to one of her gold medals, you just knew the day of the sober, neutral, concise commentator was almost over.

The power of silence.

We get 42 inch, full colour, some HD, some 3d television but commentators still think we cannot see.

And furthermore, believe we know NOTHING about the sport.

Ian Darke heard one bar of MY WAY as HOPKINS ring walk music and spoke over the entire entrance completely defusing any semblance of drama, expectation.

Who does he think are watching at 4.30am versus Howard Eastman (*insert opponent) other than boxing anoracks, I dont need anyoen to introduce Hopkins and his background to me.

Carpenter and Reg were brilliant, Darkie is very good of course...but they all talk too much the modern day ones. Stop telling me its a great atmosphere and let me hear it!

MachoMan09 wrote:As unpatriotic as it may be to say so, Howard Cosell smoked the lot of them.

What was the story with Howard, i may be mistaken but did he commentate on Holmes vs Tex Cobb,and stopped commentating near the end of the fight because it was such a bad mismatch,or am i thinking about someone else.

bigjack wrote:

MachoMan09 wrote:As unpatriotic as it may be to say so, Howard Cosell smoked the lot of them.

What was the story with Howard, i may be mistaken but did he commentate on Holmes vs Tex Cobb,and stopped commentating near the end of the fight because it was such a bad mismatch,or am i thinking about someone else.

He didn't stop commentating but he kept stating that the fight should be stopped and, when it wasn't, retired in disgust, prompting the usual hilarious quotes from Cobb about doing the sport a favour, etc. It was a sickeningly one-sided fight, in Howard's defence.

forcefraser wrote:I have been watching the Best of British on ESPN Classic hosted by Buncey.

It`s great being able to watch the fights with a proper commentator like Harry Carpenter. There can go 30 seconds without a word from him, only making comments when needed.

Todays commentators could learn a lot from old Harry. These days it`s a barrage of comments and useless information that does nothing but detract from the action.

Someone should tell them sometimes less is more.

I agree with you 100% - the old school guys like Carpenter had it down to a fine art.

I like Ian Darke and Jim Watt too, but I'd lean more towards Carpetner with a guy like Watt to chip in with his expert analysis.

Have you ever listened to HBO broadcasts? Christ almighty Jim Lampley is the most verbose man I have ever heard. On and on he witters, his points often running right over a minute. With Max Kellerman beside him now the fights are just a torrent of noise & words. Awful.

bennie wrote:

bigjack wrote:

MachoMan09 wrote:As unpatriotic as it may be to say so, Howard Cosell smoked the lot of them.

What was the story with Howard, i may be mistaken but did he commentate on Holmes vs Tex Cobb,and stopped commentating near the end of the fight because it was such a bad mismatch,or am i thinking about someone else.

He didn't stop commentating but he kept stating that the fight should be stopped and, when it wasn't, retired in disgust, prompting the usual hilarious quotes from Cobb about doing the sport a favour, etc. It was a sickeningly one-sided fight, in Howard's defence.

Cosell said he was disgusted with the sleaze of boxing & walked away. He was totally correct about the sleaz, but Holmes-Cobb was hardly a disgrace - Cobb was a world class hardnut & he was only widely outboxed. He was never staggered or battered in any way, just made to chase Holmes to no avail.

overhand_right wrote:

bennie wrote:

bigjack wrote:
What was the story with Howard, i may be mistaken but did he commentate on Holmes vs Tex Cobb,and stopped commentating near the end of the fight because it was such a bad mismatch,or am i thinking about someone else.

He didn't stop commentating but he kept stating that the fight should be stopped and, when it wasn't, retired in disgust, prompting the usual hilarious quotes from Cobb about doing the sport a favour, etc. It was a sickeningly one-sided fight, in Howard's defence.

Cosell said he was disgusted with the sleaze of boxing & walked away. He was totally correct about the sleaz, but Holmes-Cobb was hardly a disgrace - Cobb was a world class hardnut & he was only widely outboxed. He was never staggered or battered in any way, just made to chase Holmes to no avail.

You know your heavyweight boxing but, having lived through the Larry Holmes era, Holmes-Cobb was horrendously one-sided. Holmes, probably right at his peak in his first fight after Cooney, just stood there and teed off on Tex. It was 15 rounds of Hell for Cobb and the viewers, and Cosell.

DavidPayne wrote:The power of silence.

We get 42 inch, full colour, some HD, some 3d television but commentators still think we cannot see.

And furthermore, believe we know NOTHING about the sport.

Ian Darke heard one bar of MY WAY as HOPKINS ring walk music and spoke over the entire entrance completely defusing any semblance of drama, expectation.

Who does he think are watching at 4.30am versus Howard Eastman (*insert opponent) other than boxing anoracks, I dont need anyoen to introduce Hopkins and his background to me.

Carpenter and Reg were brilliant, Darkie is very good of course...but they all talk too much the modern day ones. Stop telling me its a great atmosphere and let me hear it!

Do you think Harry Carpenters role as a tennis commentator helped in this regard. He knew that 'less is more' and you don;t have to speak over all the action.

I loved listening to him and Reg Gutterige - they were like two kindly uncles.

Carlos-Wigan wrote:

DavidPayne wrote:The power of silence.

We get 42 inch, full colour, some HD, some 3d television but commentators still think we cannot see.

And furthermore, believe we know NOTHING about the sport.

Ian Darke heard one bar of MY WAY as HOPKINS ring walk music and spoke over the entire entrance completely defusing any semblance of drama, expectation.

Who does he think are watching at 4.30am versus Howard Eastman (*insert opponent) other than boxing anoracks, I dont need anyoen to introduce Hopkins and his background to me.

Carpenter and Reg were brilliant, Darkie is very good of course...but they all talk too much the modern day ones. Stop telling me its a great atmosphere and let me hear it!

Do you think Harry Carpenters role as a tennis commentator helped in this regard. He knew that 'less is more' and you don;t have to speak over all the action.

I loved listening to him and Reg Gutterige - they were like two kindly uncles.

Danish promoter Mogens Palle still plays the tape of Jorgen Hansen-Dave Green whenever he is down because, he says, Reg's commentary lifts him. Reg's commentary in the Leonard-Kalule fight is unbelievable. "Leonard is shaking his head, he says Kalule's shots are not hurting, but I tell you what, they are scoring."

bennie wrote:

Carlos-Wigan wrote:

DavidPayne wrote:The power of silence.

We get 42 inch, full colour, some HD, some 3d television but commentators still think we cannot see.

And furthermore, believe we know NOTHING about the sport.

Ian Darke heard one bar of MY WAY as HOPKINS ring walk music and spoke over the entire entrance completely defusing any semblance of drama, expectation.

Who does he think are watching at 4.30am versus Howard Eastman (*insert opponent) other than boxing anoracks, I dont need anyoen to introduce Hopkins and his background to me.

Carpenter and Reg were brilliant, Darkie is very good of course...but they all talk too much the modern day ones. Stop telling me its a great atmosphere and let me hear it!

Do you think Harry Carpenters role as a tennis commentator helped in this regard. He knew that 'less is more' and you don;t have to speak over all the action.

I loved listening to him and Reg Gutterige - they were like two kindly uncles.

Danish promoter Mogens Palle still plays the tape of Jorgen Hansen-Dave Green whenever he is down because, he says, Reg's commentary lifts him. Reg's commentary in the Leonard-Kalule fight is unbelievable. "Leonard is shaking his head, he says Kalule's shots are not hurting, but I tell you what, they are scoring."

I think Jorgen Hansen causing that big an upset must lift Mogens Palle every time he thinks about that fight.

Aye, and Green mouthing "I'm all right," as the referee, who has just stopped it, holds him up remains etched in the memory. Denmark is a hard place in which to win, as Froch found out recently.

bennie wrote: Denmark is a hard place in which to win, as Froch found out recently.

Pah, for some British supermiddles, maybe. Calzaghe had no problems seeing off the great Will 'Ceasefire' McIntyre over there.

states wrote:

bennie wrote: Denmark is a hard place in which to win, as Froch found out recently.

Pah, for some British supermiddles, maybe. Calzaghe had no problems seeing off the great Will 'Ceasefire' McIntyre over there.

Joe never bottled out of going to Germany either.....