Was Larry Merchant's question to Mayweather "too painful"?

After the Ortiz fight, Larry asked Floyd the question that every fan watching wanted to know. He asked what Floyd thought about the way the fight ended, and whether or not he thought it was a sucker-punch. Mayweather went on a tirade, saying that Merchant doesn't know anything about boxing, and that HBO sports has it out for him. He said that he never gets a fair "shake" with HBO. After that he proclaimed that HBO needs to fire Merchant.

Merchant is little bit different announcer. Too many announcers in sports want to be friends with all of the athletes. They constantly try to get the players' adoration. His question to FM was though but hardly rude at all. Mayweather, like politicians generally, loves media and hype but not if media asks some though questions. That's the way i want media of sport to stay.

Fuckin A!!!

Mayweather spat the dummy out, plain and simple.

I personally think he believes he was unfair and just tried to change the subject, from his shady victory, to something everybody would go "Ooooh" over. It worked.

And probably also to avoid the inevitable "Is Pacquiao next?" question. Again, it worked!

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Originally Posted by Vendettos

Mayweather spat the dummy out, plain and simple.

I personally think he believes he was unfair and just tried to change the subject, from his shady victory, to something everybody would go "Ooooh" over. It worked.

And probably also to avoid the inevitable "Is Pacquiao next?" question. Again, it worked!

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I think that's the biggest thing he was trying to avoid. Make a scene and hurry up and get out of there.

Larry Merchant is an arsehole. He's never laced a pair of gloves on himself and he makes a living out of hauling his fat ass into rings criticising fighters. He has a really irritating slow delivery and has never really done what I'd call a good interview.

He has criticised Mayweather for years, though I don't think Floyd covered himself in glory by ranting at him on live TV

Considering the circumstances of Floyd's victory it would have been unbelievable had the interviewer not questioned him on it.

Boo's were ringing out around the arena , cries of disgust everywhere, what would it say about the pathetic weakness of an interviewer were he to be so sycophantic as to wimp out of challenging Floyd on that? They would look like as silly as Tony Blair cosying up to Gadaffi.

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Originally Posted by X

He's never laced a pair of gloves on himself and he makes a living out of hauling his fat ass into rings criticising fighters.

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Oh please, anybody who's ever watched a boxing match, has criticized a boxer at some stage.

Your statement is essentially that ANYBODY who has NEVER laced up for a fight, should not be allowed an opinion of a boxer?

That's like saying Jose Murinho shouldn't be allowed to be a manager because he never played the game.

Utter Non-sense!

I think the problem is on how Larry was acting like such a troll. Asking questions in a way that were just out of line with the truth just to make the question 'tougher' than normal.

The key point for me, is that Larry was trying to get Floyd to comment on an 'unfair advantage' that in the cold light of day really wasn't unfair at all... So obviously Floyd went into victim mode and went all teenager on Larry.

I mean Larry is proper grown-up-funny but he definately is biased and has a prick mentality to boot.

...EDIT...Of course Floyd is a prick too but at the end of the day it was his fight, not Larry's and as I said before, it's a shame that Larry decided to voice the opinion of the ill informed.

We all have that!

I agree with him, I hate Mayweather so does 50% off most people! He'll retire the most unliked undefeated champion ever!

Just because his attitude is that of a jack ass. How was Larry acting any different from how Mweather always acts?

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Originally Posted by Vendettos

We all have that!

I agree with him, I hate Mayweather so does 50% off most people! He'll retire the most unliked undefeated champion ever!

Just because his attitude is that of a jack ass. How was Larry acting any different from how Mweather always acts?

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The difference is Floyd asks his questions in the ring.

Touche

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Originally Posted by Jimanuel Boogustus

I think the problem is on how Larry was acting like such a troll. Asking questions in a way that were just out of line with the truth just to make the question 'tougher' than normal.

The key point for me, is that Larry was trying to get Floyd to comment on an 'unfair advantage' that in the cold light of day really wasn't unfair at all... So obviously Floyd went into victim mode and went all teenager on Larry.

I mean Larry is proper grown-up-funny but he definately is biased and has a prick mentality to boot.

...EDIT...Of course Floyd is a prick too but at the end of the day it was his fight, not Larry's and as I said before, it's a shame that Larry decided to voice the opinion of the ill informed.

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That is why it's up to Mayweather to provide the proper answer to educate the ill informed.

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Originally Posted by Jimanuel Boogustus

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Originally Posted by Vendettos

We all have that!

I agree with him, I hate Mayweather so does 50% off most people! He'll retire the most unliked undefeated champion ever!

Just because his attitude is that of a jack ass. How was Larry acting any different from how Mweather always acts?

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The difference is Floyd asks his questions in the ring.

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But so far, Floyd has avoided asking his questions to the right person in the ring.

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Originally Posted by Vendettos

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Originally Posted by X

He's never laced a pair of gloves on himself and he makes a living out of hauling his fat ass into rings criticising fighters.

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Oh please, anybody who's ever watched a boxing match, has criticized a boxer at some stage.

Your statement is essentially that ANYBODY who has NEVER laced up for a fight, should not be allowed an opinion of a boxer?

That's like saying Jose Murinho shouldn't be allowed to be a manager because he never played the game.

Utter Non-sense!

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Has Larry Merchant ever boxed at any level? A quick search just came up with the expected.

Mourinho was a proffessional footballer (I think, Rio Ave etc may have been semi?) , although he obviously never played at an elite level.
Being good at something and having a brain for it don't always coincide with eachother, but experience has it's part regardless.

We watch boxing, we aren't (key word) proffessional commentator's. Not too long ago it seemed the general opinion was that Larry Merchant was a drunk and should retire, go figure.

Mayweather gets more than enough money and adulation from millions of fans so should expect to take a bit of criticism and get asked uncomfortable tough questions.

I know people have had issues with Merchant in the past but i don't think he was out of order with anything he said the other night. I think a lot of Mayweathers problem stems from the fact he has a huge ego that is massaged by everyone around him and he takes offence if anyone treats him any different.

The fact he fights once a year at most and still wants to be p4p no.1 is leaving himself open to criticism whether he likes it or not.

oh yeah and if he doesn't fight Pac there will always be questions left unanswered when it comes to evaluating his career post retirement especially for new fans in many years to come who ask 'how good was Mayweather really?' Regardless of if Pac will take the tests or not it is PBF who is the one who looks like he is making the fight look less and less like happening fair or not that is what the general public will start believing.

See how painful that is for Mayweather when he is 70 years old and he feels he didn't do everything he possibly could have to be considered the greatest.

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Originally Posted by InTheNeutralCorner

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Originally Posted by Jimanuel Boogustus

I think the problem is on how Larry was acting like such a troll. Asking questions in a way that were just out of line with the truth just to make the question 'tougher' than normal.

The key point for me, is that Larry was trying to get Floyd to comment on an 'unfair advantage' that in the cold light of day really wasn't unfair at all... So obviously Floyd went into victim mode and went all teenager on Larry.

I mean Larry is proper grown-up-funny but he definately is biased and has a prick mentality to boot.

...EDIT...Of course Floyd is a prick too but at the end of the day it was his fight, not Larry's and as I said before, it's a shame that Larry decided to voice the opinion of the ill informed.

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That is why it's up to Mayweather to provide the proper answer to educate the ill informed.

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LOL, yeah alright fella...

Doesn't really work like that though does it? A boxer having to point out the rules & facts of boxing to a long standing and established boxing pundit who is biased and asking silly questions right after violently destroying someone in very sinister and shewed manor all while being booed and jeered?

You cant hold court in those circumstances...

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Originally Posted by Jimanuel Boogustus

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Originally Posted by InTheNeutralCorner

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Originally Posted by Jimanuel Boogustus

I think the problem is on how Larry was acting like such a troll. Asking questions in a way that were just out of line with the truth just to make the question 'tougher' than normal.

The key point for me, is that Larry was trying to get Floyd to comment on an 'unfair advantage' that in the cold light of day really wasn't unfair at all... So obviously Floyd went into victim mode and went all teenager on Larry.

I mean Larry is proper grown-up-funny but he definately is biased and has a prick mentality to boot.

...EDIT...Of course Floyd is a prick too but at the end of the day it was his fight, not Larry's and as I said before, it's a shame that Larry decided to voice the opinion of the ill informed.

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That is why it's up to Mayweather to provide the proper answer to educate the ill informed.

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LOL, yeah alright fella...

Doesn't really work like that though does it? A boxer having to point out the rules & facts of boxing to a long standing and established boxing pundit who is biased and asking silly questions right after violently destroying someone in very sinister and shewed manor all while being booed and jeered?

You cant hold court in those circumstances...

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I don't see where you are coming from. Merchant wasn't asking any sily questions, Mayweather randomly blew up like a balloon it was totally uncalled for. Floyd was 100% in the wrong this time.

As much as I may root for Floyd, he did evade the question sending shout outs instead of simply answering the question. That's when Larry Merchant confronted him.

Mayweather has already a huge chip on his shoulder when it comes to Merchant. This isn't the first time they've verbally duked it out in post-fight interviews. I think what's really amazing is that HBO keeps sending the old man out there to endure Mayweather's wrath.

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

Mayweather has already a huge chip on his shoulder when it comes to Merchant. This isn't the first time they've verbally duked it out in post-fight interviews. I think what's really amazing is that HBO keeps sending the old man out there to endure Mayweather's wrath.

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Mayweather thinks he can disrespect anyone, it doesn't matter who. It can be violence against women, mocking the poor with his money, dissing his family, sucker punching his opponents, disrespecting the fan with obvious opponent avoidance etc. And yet people want to be annoyed because an old man asks questions that shy away from massaging an already over pampered primma donna's sense of self worth.

Get a grip, you nut jobs. It says it all when a fighter can randomly go off on a respected old commentator like Merchant and have people defending those said actions.

Not calling you out Titofan, I just noticed that I seemed to have quoted you.

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Originally Posted by LukeH

Has Larry Merchant ever boxed at any level? A quick search just came up with the expected.

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Are you seriously still going on about this? I honestly don't understand why you think this is even remotely relevant. He's a journalist. There's almost no correlation between being good at boxing and being good at boxing commentating (see, e.g., Lennox Lewis), much less conducting an interview.

Here's the old boxing scribe with his take of his counter punch on Mayweather JR....

“I’m not second-guessing myself. I don’t think that what I did was a sucker punch, put it that way. It was a counter punch.”


Sports Radio Interviews � Blog Archive � Larry Merchant: “I Don’t Think I Would Have Kicked [Floyd Mayweather's] Butt 50 Years Ago, But I SureWould Have Tried.”

I think that mayweather might be depressed, he can't stand critics anymore although he dissimulates it. They don't like him and don't appreciate his style! They deserve to not watch any pacman-mayweather as a punishment. They all his career have kept him underrated. Etc. They don't know anything about the power of peds and about styles etc.
And he thinks he will lose to pacman because he is too old now. I guess, just guess

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Originally Posted by LukeH

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Originally Posted by Vendettos

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Originally Posted by X

He's never laced a pair of gloves on himself and he makes a living out of hauling his fat ass into rings criticising fighters.

---

Oh please, anybody who's ever watched a boxing match, has criticized a boxer at some stage.

Your statement is essentially that ANYBODY who has NEVER laced up for a fight, should not be allowed an opinion of a boxer?

That's like saying Jose Murinho shouldn't be allowed to be a manager because he never played the game.

Utter Non-sense!

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Has Larry Merchant ever boxed at any level? A quick search just came up with the expected.

Mourinho was a proffessional footballer (I think, Rio Ave etc may have been semi?) , although he obviously never played at an elite level.
Being good at something and having a brain for it don't always coincide with eachother, but experience has it's part regardless.

We watch boxing, we aren't (key word) proffessional commentator's. Not too long ago it seemed the general opinion was that Larry Merchant was a drunk and should retire, go figure.

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Yeah murinho played a hand full of game for a few teams. Now check his level, wow.

I agree with everything you said!

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Originally Posted by miles

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Originally Posted by Jimanuel Boogustus

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Originally Posted by InTheNeutralCorner

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Originally Posted by Jimanuel Boogustus

I think the problem is on how Larry was acting like such a troll. Asking questions in a way that were just out of line with the truth just to make the question 'tougher' than normal.

The key point for me, is that Larry was trying to get Floyd to comment on an 'unfair advantage' that in the cold light of day really wasn't unfair at all... So obviously Floyd went into victim mode and went all teenager on Larry.

I mean Larry is proper grown-up-funny but he definately is biased and has a prick mentality to boot.

...EDIT...Of course Floyd is a prick too but at the end of the day it was his fight, not Larry's and as I said before, it's a shame that Larry decided to voice the opinion of the ill informed.

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That is why it's up to Mayweather to provide the proper answer to educate the ill informed.

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LOL, yeah alright fella...

Doesn't really work like that though does it? A boxer having to point out the rules & facts of boxing to a long standing and established boxing pundit who is biased and asking silly questions right after violently destroying someone in very sinister and shewed manor all while being booed and jeered?

You cant hold court in those circumstances...

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I don't see where you are coming from. Merchant wasn't asking any sily questions, Mayweather randomly blew up like a balloon it was totally uncalled for. Floyd was 100% in the wrong this time.

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He blew up in a sort of half preventative half dismissive way because he knew Merchant was on his case about this assumption of the so called 'unfair advantage'.

Then Larry has the cheek to go over to Ortiz and ASK if the head butt was intentional!

I honestly think Larry and a lot of bonehead fans completely missed the actuallity of what happened Saturday Night.

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Originally Posted by Jimanuel Boogustus

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Originally Posted by miles

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Originally Posted by Jimanuel Boogustus

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Originally Posted by InTheNeutralCorner

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Originally Posted by Jimanuel Boogustus

I think the problem is on how Larry was acting like such a troll. Asking questions in a way that were just out of line with the truth just to make the question 'tougher' than normal.

The key point for me, is that Larry was trying to get Floyd to comment on an 'unfair advantage' that in the cold light of day really wasn't unfair at all... So obviously Floyd went into victim mode and went all teenager on Larry.

I mean Larry is proper grown-up-funny but he definately is biased and has a prick mentality to boot.

...EDIT...Of course Floyd is a prick too but at the end of the day it was his fight, not Larry's and as I said before, it's a shame that Larry decided to voice the opinion of the ill informed.

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That is why it's up to Mayweather to provide the proper answer to educate the ill informed.

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LOL, yeah alright fella...

Doesn't really work like that though does it? A boxer having to point out the rules & facts of boxing to a long standing and established boxing pundit who is biased and asking silly questions right after violently destroying someone in very sinister and shewed manor all while being booed and jeered?

You cant hold court in those circumstances...

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I don't see where you are coming from. Merchant wasn't asking any sily questions, Mayweather randomly blew up like a balloon it was totally uncalled for. Floyd was 100% in the wrong this time.

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He blew up in a sort of half preventative half dismissive way because he knew Merchant was on his case about this assumption of the so called 'unfair advantage'.

Then Larry has the cheek to go over to Ortiz and ASK if the head butt was intentional!

I honestly think Larry and a lot of bonehead fans completely missed the actuallity of what happened Saturday Night.

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You talk of pre-emptive, but only one man sucker punched and what happened prior was punished. Floyd was not punished for being a completely opportunistic git.

Maybe you miss the actuality and I spell it better and that is why I live in Korea with my complete lack of respect for the Queen.

Whatever miles. You can spell but you sure can't read.

I said PREVENTATIVE.

You see, it's all too easy to take things OUT of context when your not looking at things from the right perspective.

And don't talk about bankers, the only reason your not a banker is because your not SMART enough.

Think about that ;)

When the fight finished I wanted the question answered. When Floyd avoided the question that really pissed me off but Larry would not take no for an answer. I cant say I like Larry as it takes ages for him to ask any question. But at least he had the guts to ask the question everyone wanted to hear. Also why would Floyd avoid the question. Because he knew what he done.

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Originally Posted by miles

Not calling you out Titofan, I just noticed that I seemed to have quoted you.

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You hurt my feelings, miles. ;D


No bro, seriously... I agree with you. Floyd goes about, thrashing around in life like a bull in a china shop. And he gets defended no matter what. But I still don't like Merchant as an interviewer... I think his time is up. And to avoid these confrontations, HBO should probably send somebody else up there to interview Pretty Boy.

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Originally Posted by TitoFan

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Originally Posted by miles

Not calling you out Titofan, I just noticed that I seemed to have quoted you.

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You hurt my feelings, miles. ;D


No bro, seriously... I agree with you. Floyd goes about, thrashing around in life like a bull in a china shop. And he gets defended no matter what. But I still don't like Merchant as an interviewer... I think his time is up. And to avoid these confrontations, HBO should probably send somebody else up there to interview Pretty Boy.

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Who would they send that would make any difference? Max is the total opposite of Larry in what he appreciates in boxing (loves highly technical boxers and is a huge fan of Floyd's boxing) and he didn't fare much better that time he had to cut the interview short with Mosley getting into the ring and calling out Floyd after the Marquez fight.

And really, say what you want about those two but they are both much better and more knowledgeable than any other commentator besides Al Bernstein. And the other guy that does boxing interviews on a major US boxing channel -- Jim Gray -- is my least favorite sports interviewer in the world (so nervous and awkward -- he would have pissed his pants if Floyd had lost it with him like he did with Larry, whereas Larry got a big adrenaline kick and was kind of loving it).