Replies

[Jack 1000]

To start, my thoughts on Jim Lamply:

I have to say in Jim's defense that when he was at HBO 20 years ago, he did not play up to certain fighters like he does now. His illustrations and delivery where articulate, to the point, and focused more on unbiased commentary. Jim tries very hard to generate exciting fights, and when a fight is exciting, he was, and remains a joy to hear.

I wonder if the powers that be at the time, such as Kerry Davis and Ross Greenberg encouraged pom-poming of the fighters that HBO had under contract? Larry Merchant in contrast, told it like it was, most of the time. However, you may recall that he got banned from a telecast once for saying that "Delahoya's entrance music, sucked."

I think when Roy Jones and especially Delahoya came on the scene, the powers that be behind the scenes might have insisted that the name fighter was bigger than the event itself, and I recall that when Lou Dibella was matchmaker, he put on some of the BEST boxing for HBO! Lou was the brain-trust behind the original Boxing After Dark, and the development of brining Gatti to the network with classic wars, just like Erik Morales, Marco Barrera, and Kennedy McKinney. A far cry in contrast of today, when HBO BAD is used as a marketing tool to build up fighters for PPV paydays. House guys like Delahoya still gave shit some of the time, (Campas) and Jones, (Frazier.) and I remember Lou apologizing for the Jones-Frazier shit but said there wasn't anything they could do, because they had to show Roy's fights because he was under contract, regardless of opponent.

Showtime seems to think that quality fights are more important than cheer-leading for a popular name. Don't build up a "future star" with mediocre competition. Just give the fans great two-sided fights. HBO commentary should be exciting more the fights that have two-sided action in the ring, with a good hint of doubt as to who will win before the fight takes place. The problem is, guys like Lamps would OHHH and Ahhh one fighter against a bum, just because it's Delahoya or just because it's Jones.

I also appreciate the effort that HBO commentary and Showtime can be objective when a house fighter gets a decision that they don't deserve. (Williams-Laura-HBO, Cloud-Campillo-Showtime.) This shows that they can be objective when they work at it and the opportunity presents itself.

Jack

[Cshel86]

I don't know if theres a thread already for it so I figured I'd ask here. I thought it was cool.

Nope, there isn't one open...have at it. I totally missed that shit...hope it's uploaded on youtube by now.

I don't think these people realize how much they impact the casual fans minds. And as sports events become bigger, and casual fans use it as red carpet venues, those fans opinions are being brought to the forefront while the die hard, knowledgeable fans and sitting home wondering WTF theyre talking about.

I agree with you and Professor on this matter, but I also agree with Box's point as well. It is their job to build up the next best thing, even if the "next best thing" is one step closer to the shitter (as us hardcore fans can see from a mile away).

They are supposed to make Manny's phantom punches look like Killer Instinct combos (anybody remember that game? Lol), they're supposed to make Sergio look like he makes mid-fight adjustments when in fact, his opponent is simply tired, they're supposed to make Khan look like he's ready for Mayweather, though he still fights like an amateur.

Again, it's the HBO commentators' job to build these fighters up (under false pretenses). You dont hear all of the nuthugging on Showtime, because their roster isn't as stacked as HBO's. You have Mayweather, Pacquiao, Martinez, Donaire, Chavez Jr., Rios, Margarito, Cotto, Berto, Ortiz, Morales, Hopkins, De La Hoya (used to have him), Mosley, just to name a few. Some of these fighters have fought on Showtime, but they seem to cling to HBO for more exposure.

Showtime on the other end, has pretty good fighters who put on great performances, but the network has to always take the back seat to HBO. Sometimes, they're able to get some of these HBO fighters to fight on the network, depending on open dates and so forth. Right now, HBO seems to have he "megafight" in the bag (if it ever happens), so it would be in their best interest to build as many fighters as they can while the spotlight is still on them.

[daprofessor]

Nope, there isn't one open...have at it. I totally missed that shit...hope it's uploaded on youtube by now.


I agree with you and Professor on this matter, but I also agree with Box's point as well. It is their job to build up the next best thing, even if the "next best thing" is one step closer to the shitter (as us hardcore fans can see from a mile away).

They are supposed to make Manny's phantom punches look like Killer Instinct combos (anybody remember that game? Lol), they're supposed to make Sergio look like he makes mid-fight adjustments when in fact, his opponent is simply tired, they're supposed to make Khan look like he's ready for Mayweather, though he still fights like an amateur.

Again, it's the HBO commentators' job to build these fighters up (under false pretenses). You dont hear all of the nuthugging on Showtime, because their roster isn't as stacked as HBO's. You have Mayweather, Pacquiao, Martinez, Donaire, Chavez Jr., Rios, Margarito, Cotto, Berto, Ortiz, Morales, Hopkins, De La Hoya (used to have him), Mosley, just to name a few. Some of these fighters have fought on Showtime, but they seem to cling to HBO for more exposure.

Showtime on the other end, has pretty good fighters who put on great performances, but the network has to always take the back seat to HBO. Sometimes, they're able to get some of these HBO fighters to fight on the network, depending on open dates and so forth. Right now, HBO seems to have he "megafight" in the bag (if it ever happens), so it would be in their best interest to build as many fighters as they can while the spotlight is still on them.

typically...showtime doesn't sign any fighters so they have no vested interest in them. it's why i believe they are the home of the upset. they're more inclined to make a compelling match up rather than a favorable one. showtime is how boxing should be done and it's the reason they have been my favorite network for quite some time.

hbo on the other hand reeks of corruption and everything wrong with the sport. it's not very often that u see a bad decision on showtime....but on hbo...it's typical. the commentators don't help either.

[Cshel86]

hbo on the other hand reeks of corruption and everything wrong with the sport. it's not very often that u see a bad decision on showtime....but on hbo...it's typical. the commentators don't help either.

Showtime has had it's share of bad decisions recently:
- Cloud/Campillo
- Mares/Agbeko 1
- Lopez/Salido 2 (terrible scorecard before the stoppage)

Well now that I think about it, you're right...its not that often that it happens on Showtime. The above listed, just happened this year. HBO has blown them away, thus far, this year...

[Jack 1000]

Showtime has had it's share of bad decisions recently:
- Cloud/Campillo
- Mares/Agbeko 1
- Lopez/Salido 2 (terrible scorecard before the stoppage)

Well now that I think about it, you're right...its not that often that it happens on Showtime. The above listed, just happened this year. HBO has blown them away, thus far, this year...

Yea,

But at least the scoring in Mares-Agbeko I was fair. It was Russell Mora's hideous bias, corruption, or idiocy, that he allowed Abner to throw anywhere from 60-80 low blow punches with no penalty. At least I have not seen Mora in a lot of big fights since.

Jack

[Cshel86]

Yea,

But at least the scoring in Mares-Agbeko I was fair. It was Russell Mora's hideous bias, corruption, or idiocy, that he allowed Abner to throw anywhere from 60-80 low blow punches with no penalty. At least I have not seen Mora in a lot of big fights since.

Ha! Gotta love it when Jack goes off! You do make great points, and I can only hope to be dialed in to some of this sanctioning body stuff that you know about.

[Jack 1000]

Ha! Gotta love it when Jack goes off! You do make great points, and I can only hope to be dialed in to some of this sanctioning body stuff that you know about.

LOL! Oh yea! Some good shit there! (at the sanctioning bodies.) Hahaha! I mean that to be funny and literal too!

Jack