BoxRec

Nearly a decade since these two staples of bygone days of boxing commentary passed away. Both an integral part of
a lot of our younger days following this sport.

Who was your preference for? Reg for me. No need to speak for every second of every feckin round.
Ashamed to say, i didn't even know about his one leg until he'd died.
So Reg and the ITV theme tune trumps it for me.

Oh, and Darke was different gravy on the radio.

Gutteridge for me, but Ian Darke on the radio beats them all.

Ref for me. Carpenter talked a load of shite a lot of the time.

Reg for me, Carpenter talked a load of shite most of the time and was very biased.

I probably prefer Reg but then it's stupid to split hairs, both were great

Had the pleasure of meeting Harry after i boxed on a show in Jersey, he was a very nice fella and had some kind words for me, as a commentator though Reg was my fave “the ego has landed” and “ it traveled a long way but he got the message” stick in my mind!

Reg for me.

Harry used to record his audio For some fights when he already knew the result. You can guess he knows the outcome sometimes.

Ian Darke still the best around, Sky should chuck money at him rather than Adam Smith

PredatorHayds wrote: ↑19 Jun 2020, 10:23 Reg for me.

Harry used to record his audio For some fights when he already knew the result. You can guess he knows the outcome sometimes.

Isn't that the same for gutteridge though? I am sure it says something in reg's book about hitting a bell in the studio to make it sound like they were there and totally mis-timing it on one occasion.

Both were professional and I would put David Coleman alongside.

Far better than anything we get these days and like someone said they let the action do the talking and talked when necessary.

Wee Tommy wrote: ↑19 Jun 2020, 09:26 Reg for me, Carpenter talked a load of shite most of the time and was very biased.

Harry was good,Reg was great,early Reg and Jim Watt were superb,Ian Darke though is on a different level to any of them in my opinion.

Roco wrote: ↑19 Jun 2020, 10:53 Both were professional and I would put David Coleman alongside.

Far better than anything we get these days and like someone said they let the action do the talking and talked when necessary.

That's the thing, when you listen now to boxing commentary from back then, it's incredible how little talking there is, there's a bit of a preamble before the fight, some talking in between rounds, but during the action, unless something particularly eventful happens, the commentators largely let the action speak for itself.

I loved reg's commentary on Hagler v Hearns, 'and he's gone down in sections, like a carpenters rule' which I thought was brilliant.

I’d rather not hear much from them tbh, it’s not like we can’t see what’s happening. Largely redundant for me especially nowadays that they all talk hyperbole and bullshit.

I like Don Dunphy.

Both we great, but being a tad controversial I think Reg seemed to be not so good when he had a co-commentator, he seemed to go off more on a tangent - whereas it didn't seem to distract Harry as much. Off course Reg and Jim were fantastic and because Harry didn't seem to have a regular co-commentator they would still be my favourite regular partnership. Although perhaps Harry and Jim might have been possibly the best pairing. Jim with anyone really, he is much missed.

When just doing the job on their own - it was Reg for me. Although Harry did this more often.

In some ways I found Reg a bit like Steve Holdsworth - on his own, informative and insightful. When with Bob Mee, he just seemed to want to spout off info on boxrec and just seemed like a phony and was constantly corrected by Bob who was fantastic.

I agree with the views on Ian Darke - fantastic and much missed on the boxing scene. I miss the Ian and Jim nights and I wish Sky could bring them back for PPVs - it would almost be like the use of Buffer, it is a special night when you here Ian and Jim's tones. I would have loved to have seen Jim's views on Joshua vs Ruiz 1 and would he have noticed Joshua struggling so early.

jamesmcdonnell wrote: ↑19 Jun 2020, 11:18 I loved reg's commentary on Hagler v Hearns, 'and he's gone down in sections, like a carpenters rule' which I thought was brilliant.

I can imagine the Simile King nodding sagely to that one.

I do remember thinking 'I wish I'd said that.'

Not much between them, but I preferred Harry.

I went back and forth on who I preferred while they were still active. Reg's catchphrases (two falls and a submission, south of the equator) got a bit monotonous but they were both fantastic. As others have said they let the action speak for itself unless they had something to offer. One current, self appointed commentator should take note.

Did Harry, Reg or Darke ever say "Oh my, he's exhaling his cheeks like a set of bellows"

Thought not. Ergo, none of them are a patch on big Ron Macintosh.

I doubt they even had the intelligence to say "salvo"

Who do you love more, your mum or your dad?

Darkie was also the best outside of Carpenter and Gutteridge and Watt was always the best Colour Commentator in the game with whoever he worked with. Really miss him

Did Watt work with Carpenter? I can't recall it.

I think my dream team would consist of:

Presenting: Jim Rosenthal

Studio analysts: Gary Mason and Barry Mcguigan

Ringside interviews: Gary Newbon

Main commentator: Gutteridge, Carpentator or Darkie

Colour Commentator: Jim Watt

Coco wrote: ↑19 Jun 2020, 09:40 I probably prefer Reg but then it's stupid to split hairs, both were great

This, Ian Darke is in the same league too

Reg was so calm, nothing phased him. Old army boy wasn't he? McGuigan on Probox was exciting

Both timeless masters, but no one tops Harry Carpenter for my money.

On radio, Ian Darke reigned supreme.

I always enjoyed Jim Rosenthal in commentary too, especially if he got a Thomas Hearns assignment. His coverage of Hearns v Duran and Dennis Andries were terrific.

I also like John Rawling and Ron McIntosh.