BoxRec

I have re-watched fights that I have previously scored live for one fighter, then watched with the sound off (due to either girlfriend asleep or an inability to tolerate Jim Watt) and scored for the other or just slightly differently.

Do you believe that you can be influenced in your scoring by listening to commentary?

Yes.I have fallen prey to the live analysis.Some times all the bias they show wears you down.

If you're not adept @ the personal biases of the commentators or listen to much to them during the fight, sure I could see it. Over the decades I've been watching boxing I've not been very impressed with very many commentators so I usually am auto-ignoring them anyway as they seldom bring up anything interesting about the fight outside of being up one guys ass too much or in an honestly helpful way they are able to discuss what happened with instant replays which in certain situations are invaluable.

Yes. It's hard not to be influenced in some way, which is partially why I turn the sound off when I score fights.

I think one recent example of people being influenced by commentary is Froch-Groves II. In particular, having watched the fight three times to be confident of my opinion, I believe that the common assertion made by Jim Watt and echoed by several others that Froch was controlling things with his jab or that his jab was a crucial factor in his win is utter nonsense. I can't see how so many people would believe that had someone not put it in their ear, nor can I see how a fairly sizable minority would have scores like 5-2 Froch. I also think biased commentary played a large role in what I believe was unjustified outrage over the Valuev-Holyfield result.

That's not to say that everyone is swayed by the commentary they hear, but many are in my view, especially casuals and those who haven't seen much boxing.

Commentary has no effect on me. If the fight is sufficiently compelling, then I'm probably completely shutting out the commentary. Also, I generally don't trust other peoples' opinions above my own, so I'm not likely to care what their opinion of the fight is. I prefer to keep the sound on so that I can hear how much noise the punches make.

On a note related to the sound of punches, I recently had a neat idea that they should put a squeaky toy in the jock strap. That way, when a fighter actually gets hit low, it makes a squeaky noise and notifies the referee.

I find that it's generally difficult to hear the sound of punches even with sound on. To me it doesn't make much difference.

Lackeos wrote:I recently had a neat idea that they should put a squeaky toy in the jock strap. That way, when a fighter actually gets hit low, it makes a squeaky noise and notifies the referee.

If the rubber ducky didn't quack, you didn't get hit in the sack.

crusader wrote:I find that it's generally difficult to hear the sound of punches even with sound on. To me it doesn't make much difference.

I can hear Golovkin's body shots even with the sound off, it's amazing

ReggieDiggs wrote:If the rubber ducky didn't quack, you didn't get hit in the sack.

Priceless foreshadowing to something we will hear in a post-fight one day.

Yes but this only affects the amateur eye. Which happens to be a lot of people. I watch with the sound on but don't let it sway me. I guess because tho I hear them I'm not really listening. I'm watching.

diddy wrote:Yes but this only affects the amateur eye. Which happens to be a lot of people. I watch with the sound on but don't let it sway me. I guess because tho I hear them I'm not really listening. I'm watching.

The amateur eye.You are a little condescending aren't you?I have heard pro's say that they were swayed
scoring fights on tv because of commentators.

Taffa wrote:I have re-watched fights that I have previously scored live for one fighter, then watched with the sound off (due to either girlfriend asleep or an inability to tolerate Jim Watt) and scored for the other or just slightly differently.

Do you believe that you can be influenced in your scoring by listening to commentary?

Me No

Others Yes

On the other hand let me think it over

People are easily distracted watching fights. Sometimes there's other crap going on and amidst that they tend to lean on announcer commentary to fill in the blanks. Me on the other hand, usually has a bet of some sort in play so my focus is a little sharper than some.

I think the ears are important to score a fight especially when guys with a high guard like Abraham fight. A punch that is blocked from a glove sounds different from a punch to the head.

diddy wrote:Yes but this only affects the amateur eye. Which happens to be a lot of people. I watch with the sound on but don't let it sway me. I guess because tho I hear them I'm not really listening. I'm watching.

Ignorance is bliss.

There has been times when I am going completely against the commentary team even commenting on what rubbish they are talking but because of this, if I believed a round was very close I have instantly given it to the guy the commentators have been arse licking.

I'm happy to listen with the commentary on, its really not a big deal, just have to listen to some crap now and then. The idea that I know better than everyone else seems a little bit too self indulgent for me, so I'm happy to listen to other peoples opinions and thoughts on how they are seeing a fight. Sometimes they have a point, sometimes they don't, but it doesn't hurt to listen.

Yes, definitely. Particularly if I'm watching more passively. Though I rarely score fights, so ultimately it doesn't matter.
I watched the Froch Groves 2 fight in a pub, didn't hear a word. I was surprised how differently I viewed it to the commentators on finding out that they had Froch far ahead.

Definitely

And to be honest, unless someone really 'zones out' and doesn't listen to the commentary at all, I don't think anyone can be too sure that they haven't been influenced one way or the other (even trying to counter the commentators cheerleading means it affected your thinking).

Commentating probably influences the majority of those watching with volume. It would be better for me to watch with the volume down, but I have grown so accustomed to hearing the crowd and commentators for so long, taking it off would downplay the experience as a whole for me.

And Lackeos, I absolutely love the rubber ducky idea.

ponch wrote:Definitely

And to be honest, unless someone really 'zones out' and doesn't listen to the commentary at all, I don't think anyone can be too sure that they haven't been influenced one way or the other (even trying to counter the commentators cheerleading means it affected your thinking).

x2

Just read an article by Harold Lederman on aleet boxing.
Even the great Lederman gets swayed by Crowd noise and commentators when watching fights
from home.
Gee he must be a real amateur too Compared to so many experts we seem to have here at boxrec