Has there ever been a stranger performance than Micky Ward-Alphonso Sanchez?

[OumaFan]

When he wasn't talking about himself Roy was the best commentator/fighter HBO's ever had.

One thing I just noticed again, because when I made this thread I didn't watch any of the fight, i'd already seen it a few times, but i went back and looked at the seventh round just now and I had forgotten how Micky Ward spent pretty much the whole fight just slapping his gloves together, another odd bit, like he was frustrated but its a bit odd to be frustrated when you're not even really trying.

[ICB]

When he wasn't talking about himself Roy was the best commentator/fighter HBO's ever had.

One thing I just noticed again, because when I made this thread I didn't watch any of the fight, i'd already seen it a few times, but i went back and looked at the seventh round just now and I had forgotten how Micky Ward spent pretty much the whole fight just slapping his gloves together, another odd bit, like he was frustrated but its a bit odd to be frustrated when you're not even really trying.

Kevin Kelley, Roy Jones, are the best commentators in modern day boxing IMO.

[Fenster]

Ward seemed to be motioning to his right arm/shoulder during the fight and after too.. maybe a niggle was bothering him

[holmcall]

Those of us who lived in the Boston area already knew who Micky was and what he was capable of, but this was his coming out party on HBO. Merchant did no research whatsoever (no surprise there) and even went so far as to imply that Micky was a coward, though Micky did look dreadful early on. But when he iced the guy with that liver shot, I about went through the ceiling.

Fast Forward

Merchant now refers to Micky as that brave warrior. Please pass the puke bucket

[OumaFan]

I think I've argued this before but I don't really blame Merchant. Now I don't remember whether or not he called him a coward, that's a stretch. Still hindsight's twenty twenty but what was he supposed to say, this Micky Ward's got the heart of a lion? He's got to comment on what's in front of him. If there had been a round by round here on that fight it would have been full of this fight is garbage, please please please never put Micky Ward on tv again. And then a few years later everyone would be talking about what a warrior he was, no different from Merchant.

[Fenster]

I think I've argued this before but I don't really blame Merchant. Now I don't remember whether or not he called him a coward, that's a stretch. Still hindsight's twenty twenty but what was he supposed to say, this Micky Ward's got the heart of a lion? He's got to comment on what's in front of him. If there had been a round by round here on that fight it would have been full of this fight is garbage, please please please never put Micky Ward on tv again. And then a few years later everyone would be talking about what a warrior he was, no different from Merchant.

I thought the negative commentary was over the top but without doubt that's because of hindsight. All Ward's epics came after this anyway, no?

Green, Neary, Augustus, Gatti...

[holmcall]

I think I've argued this before but I don't really blame Merchant. Now I don't remember whether or not he called him a coward, that's a stretch. Still hindsight's twenty twenty but what was he supposed to say, this Micky Ward's got the heart of a lion? He's got to comment on what's in front of him. If there had been a round by round here on that fight it would have been full of this fight is garbage, please please please never put Micky Ward on tv again. And then a few years later everyone would be talking about what a warrior he was, no different from Merchant.

Yeah, maybe so, but at least do a little reserach because you would have known that Ward could win a fight at any time with his liver shot. And I'd be willing to bet that LM did call him a "coward." You never call anyone who steps into the ring that, let alone a Ward who has slaughtered .Louis Veader twice before this fight to win the WBU Intercontinenal Light Welterweight Title and who had won 8 in a row. Back in the day, his fights with guys like Johnny Rafuse and David Rivello are still being talked about in the hood.

[OumaFan]

True, coward would be a step too far but just slagging off Ward for basically not even trying to win wasn't that off IMO. Not sure really how his performance was different from Gainer's versus JMM (outside of the one shot ending obviously) and Gainer got ripped ridiculously hard for that and justifiably so.

[Violent Demise]

Those of us who lived in the Boston area already knew who Micky was and what he was capable of, but this was his coming out party on HBO. Merchant did no research whatsoever (no surprise there) and even went so far as to imply that Micky was a coward, though Micky did look dreadful early on. But when he iced the guy with that liver shot, I about went through the ceiling.

Fast Forward

Merchant now refers to Micky as that brave warrior. Please pass the puke bucket

That's what it turned out to be at the end. But originally it was suppose to be Sanchez coming out party. Who was 16-0, 15 KO's coming in.

[holmcall]

Those of us who lived in the Boston area already knew who Micky was and what he was capable of, but this was his coming out party on HBO. Merchant did no research whatsoever (no surprise there) and even went so far as to imply that Micky was a coward, though Micky did look dreadful early on. But when he iced the guy with that liver shot, I about went through the ceiling.

Fast Forward

Merchant now refers to Micky as that brave warrior. Please pass the puke bucket

That's what it turned out to be at the end. But originally it was suppose to be Sanchez coming out party. Who was 16-0, 15 KO's coming in.

Correct.

[ElTerribleMorales]

When he wasn't talking about himself Roy was the best commentator/fighter HBO's ever had.

One thing I just noticed again, because when I made this thread I didn't watch any of the fight, i'd already seen it a few times, but i went back and looked at the seventh round just now and I had forgotten how Micky Ward spent pretty much the whole fight just slapping his gloves together, another odd bit, like he was frustrated but its a bit odd to be frustrated when you're not even really trying.

Kevin Kelley, Roy Jones, are the best commentators in modern day boxing IMO.

Sean O'Grady is ok, and Raul Marquez is pretty good, but yea gotta agree on Kelly and Jones, can't stand Lewis on HBO though

[holmcall]

Well, if Lampley agreed with Merchant, then it must have been so. Ha. Hardly. Merchant is/was one of the laziest reserachers in the business. He acted like he was above having to do the grunt work. That's why Max will be better in the future. He knows his history and does the hard work.

The one thing LM does well is the post fight interview, but it's time he hit the Gentleman's Farm in Westchester County.