BoxRec

anybody know the time the fight is due to start

the Primetime show starts at 7.30pm so it should be at a reasonable hour

from Primetime site although it's debatable how accurate this might be . . .

Fightcard:

18.15 – 19.30 Froch vs Abraham Preview (includes Super Six – The Story So Far and the latest edition of Fightcamp 360)
19.30 – 19.45 Froch vs Abraham Freeview – Live analysis from Andy Kerr and guests Enzo Macarinelli, Darren Barker & Niall Hickman
19.45 – 20.20 Green vs Johnson Highlights
20.20 – 21.25 Piispanen vs Rasilla Live European Light Welterweight title fight
21.25 – 22.15 Helenius vs Levin Live European Heavyweight title fight
22.15 – 22.30 Froch vs Abraham Freeview – Live analysis from Andy Kerr & guests Enzo Macarinelli, Darren Barker & Niall Hickman
22.30 – 00.00 Froch vs Abraham Live WBC Super Middleweight title fight (Ringwalks from 22.30. Fight at 22.40 approx)
01.00 – 02.00 Ward vs Bika Preview
02.00 – 05.30 Ward vs Bika Live WBA Super Middleweight title fight (includes Froch vs Abraham highlights)

Thanks, now I know it's not worth tuning in before 20.20 and to make a cup of tea between 22.15 and 22.30 — that studio line up does flat nothing for me.

Why the hell can't they just show the Showtime broadcast, it would be vastly superior and cost them less. This 'give a Brit a job' thing irritates me bigtime. Just because there's a British fighter in the main event doesn't mean we need British 'analysts'. Nationality doesn't matter, quality does. Anyone know who is commentating? And whether they will actually be in Helsinki or doing it from a studio in Britain?

Also live on Radio 5 live :

SUPER SIX WORLD BOXING CLASSIC - WBC super-middleweight title
Venue: Helsinki, Finland Date: 27 November
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live from 2230 GMT


From the BBC WEBSITE:

We'll start with the obvious. It's cold, very cold. A cold like no other cold I've ever felt. No, not even at Stoke City on a Tuesday night in January.

With the windchill added on, temperatures in Helsinki today were scheduled to fall to -22C. Out of the wind, a mere -8C. I've watched the inlet of water outside of the hotel freeze over today. Even Stoke City supporters might add an extra layer.

What it does mean is that you don't spend too much time out of the hotel - a 20-minute walk this morning was about as much as I could manage, before heading for the warmth of the hotel.

It's also restricted Carl Froch a little in the build-up to Saturday's fight. When he might usually think about a light jog early in the week, that has not been an option for him in Helsinki. A 20-minute walk yesterday was repeated today.


I spoke to Carl around lunchtime today and recorded an interview with him. What struck me afterwards was how relaxed he was, happy to chat for around half an hour afterwards about all sorts of things.

From the defeat to Mikkel Kessler, how he could beat Arthur Abraham, and what I made of the ending to the film 'Inception' with Leonardo Di Caprio. He was halfway through watching it, and wondered if it was worth sticking with it through to the end. I told him it probably was, on the basis that you wouldn't have to go outside in the cold again.

Watching films is a good way to pass the time. There's an awful lot of time spent hanging around the hotel, trying to find things to do.

He'll want to make sure he's in the best possible shape for the weekend - have plenty of sleep, be relaxed, unflustered. So films are a good way to kill a couple of hours - because he can't do the things that you or I would tend to do if we were holed up in a hotel - eat lots, drink coffee, and maybe once in a while go mad in the gym.

Froch is usually at his happiest when his family are around him, and they'll be here on Friday in time for the weigh-in. But the early indications are that he's in a good frame of mind, and is using the defeat to Kessler as motivation to beat Abraham.

Robin Chipperfield is in Helsinki covering Froch's fight for BBC Radio Nottingham.

Glyn Leach wrote:Thanks, now I know it's not worth tuning in before 20.20 and to make a cup of tea between 22.15 and 22.30 — that studio line up does flat nothing for me.

Why the hell can't they just show the Showtime broadcast, it would be vastly superior and cost them less. This 'give a Brit a job' thing irritates me bigtime. Just because there's a British fighter in the main event doesn't mean we need British 'analysts'. Nationality doesn't matter, quality does. Anyone know who is commentating? And whether they will actually be in Helsinki or doing it from a studio in Britain?

Glyn you are going to love this. Ron Macintosh and Spencer Oliver.

punchers chance wrote:

Glyn Leach wrote:Thanks, now I know it's not worth tuning in before 20.20 and to make a cup of tea between 22.15 and 22.30 — that studio line up does flat nothing for me.

Why the hell can't they just show the Showtime broadcast, it would be vastly superior and cost them less. This 'give a Brit a job' thing irritates me bigtime. Just because there's a British fighter in the main event doesn't mean we need British 'analysts'. Nationality doesn't matter, quality does. Anyone know who is commentating? And whether they will actually be in Helsinki or doing it from a studio in Britain?

Glyn you are going to love this. Ron Macintosh and Spencer Oliver.

Oh my God ... What on earth are they thinking? Absolutely no problem with Spenny, but having seen the GBs on BBC's red button, McIntosh just doesn't work in my opinion. My question in all this is: How much money are Primetime paying four studio talking heads and two 'ringside' (about as ringside as us watching at home) commentators? Christ, just take the Showtime feed, save that money and put it towards buying more fights.

Sorry, but I don't see what those six British wagepackets can add to this broadcast, particularly when Showtime have an experienced (and experienced in working together) crew, great preview material at their disposal, and a cohesive broadcast package for fights in Super Six, which is THEIR tournament, after all. This is a total nonsense.

If Primetime's broadcast isn't a mess I'll happily eat my words, but I'll be surprised if I have to.

I can understand them having a UK studio based anchor in case the US studio people go off topic or have these extra ad breaks, so perhaps Andy Kerr + 1 is justified but agree it would be preferable to take the showtime live coverage of the bout itself.

It's a no brainer for me PC. The choice is between a Showtime team that has worked together for years and has worked every Super Six fight or a thrown together bunch of B/C listers - by which I mean no offence, but the Brits in question are not TV first choices.

Particularly irritating given that Primetime will happily show the US feed for any other Super Six fight, but as soon as a Brit (Frochy) comes into play, they revert to a second rate format believing it is better than what they would normally do for a Super Six show.

It's a tournament FFS Primetime, and it's Showtime's tournament so show their feed. You seem to think we can't understand Americans or something, get real. For any tournament to work, the format must be standardised, you can't have different kinds of shows within one framework. This is common sense. At times I despair for some of the people behind televised boxing in this country, I really do. They're stuck in the 70s and seem incapable of breaking out.

http://news.boxrec.com/news/2010/all-pr ... -v-abraham

Bit more info. Our lad Brendan broke the McIntosh-Spencer news a couple of weeks ago but no one picked up on the enormity of it. Unfortunately neither will be mugging to camera - they've missed a comedy opportunity there.

Fair play Brendan, I missed that. Just as well though, I've been suicidal since finding out yesterday and I doubt I'd have made it through two weeks without doing an Ian Curtis dangle had I discovered earlier

I just heard the studio line-up has slightly changed. It is Duke McKensie, George Groves and Darren Barker.

OK, that's a bit better. Would still prefer the Showtime feed though.

Oh shut up moaning Leach, just turn the bloody sound down

I see where you are coming from Glyn - they could actually save themselves some dosh by just taking the showtime feed - like will do with the Ward-Bika fight - and it is their tourney. The first presentation with Rosenthal and Buncey was really poor - especially Rosenthal who had a long face on him through out the show.

I must say I have a soft spot for wee Andy Kerr - I got so used to him on Setanta and like to see him pop up on the odd boxing presentation.

Agree it's a waste of money with the UK studio back up, when you consider they could have used the cash and bought JMM/Katsidis instead - a classic matchup and surely not too much dosh to buy.

I've bought it as there's no pubs showing it off course ( it got a small paragraph in the Times, with a larger piece on......yes, Audley bloody Harrison.)

Off to the pub and back to watch it at the house 10.30.

MightyWarrior wrote:Agree it's a waste of money with the UK studio back up, when you consider they could have used the cash and bought JMM/Katsidis instead - a classic matchup and surely not too much dosh to buy.

Would they have to pay extra for the Showtime commentary and presenters?

Do the general public prefer British presenters to American ones?

There must be some reason they have chosen to do their own commentary and presentation.

Horse wrote:There must be some reason they have chosen to do their own commentary and presentation.

Can only be because there's a Brit in the fight Horse. Always the Showtime feed for other fights in the Super Six tournament. I'm sure Primetime think they're giving a bit extra by having a studio and a British commentary (from a British TV studio, not ringside) for Froch's Super Six fights, but my argument is they are actually detracting from the tournament.

Showtime's broadcasts are themed on the tournament, whereas when the British studio and commentators get involved it just becomes A. N. Other fight with a Brit in it, it isn't consistent with the tournament theme, which is important - that's why these people are fighting each other, after all.

The classic case of the Brits missing the point was the Jim Rosenthal broadcast mentioned above. Ridiculous, 40 years-plus a pro but the man couldn't break out of his limited little box - 'But this is what I always do - I don't understand!'

Good line up, good to see Andy Kerr back

alexpaterson wrote:Good line up, good to see Andy Kerr back

If you rearranged the words to something like 'Line up, good to see the back of Andy Kerr', I'd be with you all the way Alex

Glyn Leach wrote:

alexpaterson wrote:Good line up, good to see Andy Kerr back

If you rearranged the words to something like 'Line up, good to see the back of Andy Kerr', I'd be with you all the way Alex

Haha

Gotta love Duke McKenzie "Abraham is one of the best middleweights in history" - he doesnt care just says whatever shit enters his head

No Showtime feed available because they aren't showing the fight till 2am.

/end thread

Actually, fair play, the first seven minutes of chat didn't offend me too much, the brick I have primed to be hurled at the telly has been put down for the moment - Groves really needs to sort his wardrobe out though

chrisfinch wrote:No Showtime feed available because they aren't showing the fight till 2am.

/end thread

It's still there to be bought though, isn't it? Depends whether or not you think it's worth buying I suppose.

Glyn Leach wrote:

chrisfinch wrote:No Showtime feed available because they aren't showing the fight till 2am.

/end thread

It's still there to be bought though, isn't it? Depends whether or not you think it's worth buying I suppose.

They are showing the Showtime version at 2am before Ward v Bika. IF a showtime feed is available live, which I'm not entirely sure it is it would be incredibly raw. The commentary would start when they walked to the ring, and the coverage would end right afterwards-as Showtime will slot that in to their programme at 2am, and have all the build-up and post-fight stuff then.

Confusing, but do you get what I mean?