Lennox Lewis gets into the Hall. So does Merchant.

[DaxxKahn]

Yeh,well deserved!!!!!!!Well done Lewis,you are truly a legend!!

Agreed...Lennox is a legend...a top 3 maybe top 3 HW of AT.....He deserevs to be there....

Merchant say what you want about him but he has been a solid for many many years...I am sure a lot of you do not remember him from his days at The Philadelphia Daily News and The New York Post...But he was top notch then as well...

Merchant calls it as he sees it even if he is wrong he is honest....

Have to respect him for that.....

Yes, maybe so, but when he was a reporter, he once wrote some of the crulest things I have ever seen written. For example, re Sonny Liston returning to Philadelphia as a champ and nobody meeting him at the airport. Merchant said something to the effect: "What did he expect? A ticker tape parade. The only thing they could have used as confetti was the paper from his rap sheet." Nice guy--all 140 punds of him.

May be so but again...You don't have have to like him but respect him for his honesty...In this sport there are not too many guys who say it how they see it..

[holmcall]

Agreed...Lennox is a legend...a top 3 maybe top 3 HW of AT.....He deserevs to be there....

Merchant say what you want about him but he has been a solid for many many years...I am sure a lot of you do not remember him from his days at The Philadelphia Daily News and The New York Post...But he was top notch then as well...

Merchant calls it as he sees it even if he is wrong he is honest....

Have to respect him for that.....

Yes, maybe so, but when he was a reporter, he once wrote some of the crulest things I have ever seen written. For example, re Sonny Liston returning to Philadelphia as a champ and nobody meeting him at the airport. Merchant said something to the effect: "What did he expect? A ticker tape parade. The only thing they could have used as confetti was the paper from his rap sheet." Nice guy--all 140 punds of him.

May be so but again...You don't have have to like him but respect him for his honesty...In this sport there are not too many guys who say it how they see it..

test

[holmcall]

Point taken on honesty, but---AND I just typed a long reply and somehow lost it so I'll do it later.

[CGM]

Yeh,well deserved!!!!!!!Well done Lewis,you are truly a legend!!

Agreed...Lennox is a legend...a top 3 maybe top 3 HW of AT.....He deserevs to be there....

Merchant say what you want about him but he has been a solid for many many years...I am sure a lot of you do not remember him from his days at The Philadelphia Daily News and The New York Post...But he was top notch then as well...

Merchant calls it as he sees it even if he is wrong he is honest....

Have to respect him for that.....

Funny you would mention having to respect Merchant. I was just thinking that respect is the one thing Merchant could use a lot more of, respect for champion boxers that is.

[holmcall]

Great point on respect. I have always sensed that Larry has a somewhat subconcious dislike for boxers. Whether it derives from his diminutive size or feisty attitude, I don't know, but I do know that he never, ever gives lesser known fighters any props. I doubt he even knows who they are. And Larry is the guy who once said Courage Tshabalala would be the next Tyson. Uh huh.

He also commented about Micky Ward's "lack of courage" when Ward fough against Alfonzo Gonzalez on the Whittiker-De La Hoya undercard. Ward shut him and the rest of the team up when he iced the undefeated Mexcican bomber with twoi lethal shots to his liver. Clearyl, Merchant had done no rseearch on Micky and was Aand did not have a clue as to his MO. In my mind, Larry is somewhat lazy and wings it far too often.

Compared to guys like Farhood and Charles, I like Larry, but should he be inducted into a BOXING hall of fame. Give me a break here.

[CGM]

It seems Larry Merchant is not above disrespecting a great champion to his face. For example, his post-fight interview with Lewis after the Klitschko fight. Not blatant mind you, but Lennox sure didn't seem too pleased.

The problem with guys like Merchant, IMO, is that they get a little too hung up on their own delivery. Too busy trying to sound clever and witty. They start to think they are the show, and not the guys they are talking about. Merchant is as much actor/entertainer as anything else. I don't know that he is that much more knowledgeable than the average boxing fan.

[holmcall]

It seems Larry Merchant is not above disrespecting a great champion to his face. For example, his post-fight interview with Lewis after the Klitschko fight. Not blatant mind you, but Lennox sure didn't seem too pleased.

The problem with guys like Merchant, IMO, is that they get a little too hung up on their own delivery. Too busy trying to sound clever and witty. They start to think they are the show, and not the guys they are talking about. Merchant is as much actor/entertainer as anything else. I don't know that he is that much more knowledgeable than the average boxing fan.

He is not!!!!! Most of the posters here know far more than he does.

[rjj tszyu]

And well deserved too.

[DaxxKahn]

Great point on respect. I have always sensed that Larry has a somewhat subconcious dislike for boxers. Whether it derives from his diminutive size or feisty attitude, I don't know, but I do know that he never, ever gives lesser known fighters any props. I doubt he even knows who they are. And Larry is the guy who once said Courage Tshabalala would be the next Tyson. Uh huh.

He also commented about Micky Ward's "lack of courage" when Ward fough against Alfonzo Gonzalez on the Whittiker-De La Hoya undercard. Ward shut him and the rest of the team up when he iced the undefeated Mexcican bomber with twoi lethal shots to his liver. Clearyl, Merchant had done no rseearch on Micky and was Aand did not have a clue as to his MO. In my mind, Larry is somewhat lazy and wings it far too often.

Compared to guys like Farhood and Charles, I like Larry, but should he be inducted into a BOXING hall of fame. Give me a break here.

He is a mainstay of the sport...One of the games most recognizable faces as a non participant......

[mrbig1]

I've been around boxing for 44 of my 53 years. I remember when Ali beat Liston. Lennox the lion Lewis is my all time favorite fighter. A Great champion who walked away just at the right time. He retired with all his marbles and money in his pocket.

[holmcall]

Great point on respect. I have always sensed that Larry has a somewhat subconcious dislike for boxers. Whether it derives from his diminutive size or feisty attitude, I don't know, but I do know that he never, ever gives lesser known fighters any props. I doubt he even knows who they are. And Larry is the guy who once said Courage Tshabalala would be the next Tyson. Uh huh.

He also commented about Micky Ward's "lack of courage" when Ward fough against Alfonzo Gonzalez on the Whittiker-De La Hoya undercard. Ward shut him and the rest of the team up when he iced the undefeated Mexcican bomber with twoi lethal shots to his liver. Clearyl, Merchant had done no rseearch on Micky and was Aand did not have a clue as to his MO. In my mind, Larry is somewhat lazy and wings it far too often.

Compared to guys like Farhood and Charles, I like Larry, but should he be inducted into a BOXING hall of fame. Give me a break here.

He is a mainstay of the sport...One of the games most recognizable faces as a non participant......

Come on Daxx, you can give me more than that. Ted Bundy had a recognizable face too. My thing is that the Hall should not have an "Observer" section in it. Just boxers, trainers, referees, and maybe promoters. Let the BWAA give Merchant his awards. I will say this, howevere, the feelings on him are pretty split. Some hate him; other love him. Contraversy is not a bad thing.

[CGM]

I suppose that "let's get ready to rumbllllllllle" guy is going to be in the hall too, if he aint already.

[Kel]

I suppose that "let's get ready to rumbllllllllle" guy is going to be in the hall too, if he aint already.

Buffer should be, along with Jimmy Lennon Jr

[DaxxKahn]

Great point on respect. I have always sensed that Larry has a somewhat subconcious dislike for boxers. Whether it derives from his diminutive size or feisty attitude, I don't know, but I do know that he never, ever gives lesser known fighters any props. I doubt he even knows who they are. And Larry is the guy who once said Courage Tshabalala would be the next Tyson. Uh huh.

He also commented about Micky Ward's "lack of courage" when Ward fough against Alfonzo Gonzalez on the Whittiker-De La Hoya undercard. Ward shut him and the rest of the team up when he iced the undefeated Mexcican bomber with twoi lethal shots to his liver. Clearyl, Merchant had done no rseearch on Micky and was Aand did not have a clue as to his MO. In my mind, Larry is somewhat lazy and wings it far too often.

Compared to guys like Farhood and Charles, I like Larry, but should he be inducted into a BOXING hall of fame. Give me a break here.

He is a mainstay of the sport...One of the games most recognizable faces as a non participant......

Come on Daxx, you can give me more than that. Ted Bundy had a recognizable face too. My thing is that the Hall should not have an "Observer" section in it. Just boxers, trainers, referees, and maybe promoters. Let the BWAA give Merchant his awards. I will say this, howevere, the feelings on him are pretty split. Some hate him; other love him. Contraversy is not a bad thing.

Well c'mon now Your starting to open up other things here...You are now saying that you don't think there should a catagory for non participants such as announcers etc....Which is OK and your opinion...You are not the first person I have heard say that and will not be the last I am sure....

BUT with that being said...

The fact is there is a catagory for those guys and since there is Merchant is someone who fits the bill to be inducted.....

I mean hey I am not a fan of Ryan Seacrest but the guy got a Star on the Walk Of Fame.....Last I knew it was for Movie Stars not a host of 1 fraking singing reality show.....Yet I guess it is "The Walk Of Fame" and the show is probably one of the Highest Rated ever on TV so he is Famous

I know crazy analogy but I think you get the point

[holmcall]

Like I said. Merchant can create heated arguments because he is so contraversial. We shall have to agree to disagree on this one--but I do respect your point of view. And I awlways respect a good debate.