who you rekon is the best HBO commentator??

[OumaFan]

Lampley makes everything sound so easy, as far as just a pure announcer goes he's great. He just adds something to a fight. But he's a cheerleader for some fighters, without question, and that gets annoying. Lamps gets really excited when Jermain Taylor misses a right hand or lands one on the gloves.

I actually liked Roy Jones, I mean his ego is so big its comical, but when he wasn't fondling himself he was pretty good. Had a way of seeing some things before they happened.

[TheBESTP4P]

one time awwwww man i cant quite remember the exact fight, RJJ told Larry to STFU cuz he never boxed before and Larry was like i dont need to box to know what im saying ahahahha

[Wacko3205]

I like Lampley overall, although I think he consistently shows bias in favor of specific fighters, notably De La Hoya and Barrera.

Lamps tends to call things that don't connect...that's my issue with him. He's a good mouthpiece & honestly...as stupid as this might sound...he gives it a bit of a sophistacated spin on it.

Merchant was once a great analyst, now you're lucky to get one or two sentences out of him in between rounds. He's still worth having around just for the unintentional comedy.

Agreed...again. It's the booze talkin when Merchant's on now.

I think Steward does a very good job. I always thought Foreman had no clue what he was talking about.

Here I disagree...I often catch Steward back tracking on his lines & this & that.

Fran Charles is beyond horrible.

Agreed. I hate, hate, hate Fran Charles...& I hate to say that.

I like Kellerman, sometimes his voice can kinda get to me because he yells more than talks. But overall he does a good job, he was great on ESPN FNF, and I assume he's being groomed to take Merchant's spot someday.

Completely down with Kellerman...& yeah...I think that he'll replace Merchant...theyr'e just trying him out on BAD...I hope.

I don't think Lennox is anything special. Like someone said earlier, he just states the obvious most of the time. But I think they should keep him around, he certainly sounds like a bright guy, he could improve if he gets more comfortable.

Disagree. I like Lewis & think that he'll pan out. He's been warming up with each match.

I've always thought Brian Kenny would be a great addition to the HBO team, it would be great to see him take Fran Charles' spot, but I assume as long as he's at ESPN that's not going to happen.

Nope. Now that is one man that I can not deal with...him or Atlas. ESPN can keep their commentators.

[Preme]

look on the bright sid,e not matter how bad you think any of your guys are, you don't have to listen to the sh*t jim watts comes out with on sky, you lucky bastards.

[SweetPea]

Wacko, what don't you like about Kenny? He knows the sport. I think his delivery is smooth. He's the best Sportscenter/ESPNews anchor right now IMO.
What specifically do you think his faults are?

[Wacko3205]

Wacko, what don't you like about Kenny? He knows the sport. I think his delivery is smooth. He's the best Sportscenter/ESPNews anchor right now IMO.
What specifically do you think his faults are?

Honestly...I don't dig on the way he comes off.

I hate HATE to see him "mock sparring" with the guest hosts.

For some reason...I've never been able to click with him...always felt like he was second fiddle to Kellerman. It's not that he has faults...I just don't really feel his energy...as crystal wearing tree huggerish as that sounded.

Know what I mean? Not that you agree...just that you see what I'm saying.

[OumaFan]

To me, Kenny is the only thing ESPN 2's got going for them, I like him. Other than him they've got Tessitore, bad, and Atlas, worse.

[Wacko3205]

To me, Kenny is the only thing ESPN 2's got going for them, I like him. Other than him they've got Tessitore, bad, and Atlas, worse.

True...but they went to pot when Kellerman bailed...don't you think?

[OumaFan]

Yeah, I liked Max. Sometimes it depends on the guest, sometimes they have a good guest and its allright. Then sometimes they have Oleg Maskaev.

I actually liked the guy who used to do Tessitore's job. What was his name, Bob Papa I don't know, he was allright, I always got the sense that he wanted to tell Teddy to shut the fuck up. Maybe that's why I liked him.

[boozeboxer]

Everyone should jus tbe thankful that Dick Vitalle doesn't announce boxing....BABY!. ha ha ha

[shza]

Lampley makes everything sound so easy, as far as just a pure announcer goes he's great. He just adds something to a fight. But he's a cheerleader for some fighters, without question, and that gets annoying. Lamps gets really excited when Jermain Taylor misses a right hand or lands one on the gloves.

I actually liked Roy Jones, I mean his ego is so big its comical, but when he wasn't fondling himself he was pretty good. Had a way of seeing some things before they happened.

I agree with this completely. I also have to totally disagree with everyone who's saying that Lennox Lewis is anything other than intolerable and needs to be fired immediately. I don't think he's improved a lick since starting. He doesn't talk at all unless specifically provoked to, and then he either (a) says something completely obvious, as THEBESTP4P perfectly characterized, or, since he's ignored everything that's been said before he ends up either (b) repeating what someone else has already said, or--more often, and more awkwardly--directly contradicting something Max just said, which is obviously right. And don't let the accent fool you--the guy is not smart.

I think Manny takes way too much heat on this board too. I think I actually like him best. I preferred RJJ and Foreman--and I'm almost positive I'd prefer B-Hop as a commentator--but put him up against Lennox in the same position, and you see how far he is from bad. He's often over-sure of something and sometimes turns out to be wrong (see JMM vs. Jaca), but he's definitely right way more than half the time. Seriously, he's the only guy on there now who will consistently call out that a guy who appears to be winning or at least competitive is making some mistake that's going to be his downfall 3-4 rounds before the guy gets the shit beat out of him and KO'd. I just appreciate the conviction too.

I do like Kellerman. I just wish he would go back to talking faster. HBO obviously coached him big time on slowing down and it just seems a bit awkward and not-him in the pre-game. Knowledge-wise he's excellent though--and well spoken. They really need to clean up the rest of that team though, because I agree Fran Charles is terrible (witness the difference when Lampley subs in), and as I said, Lennox is too (witness the difference when Manny subs in).

[Wacko3205]

I preferred RJJ and Foreman--and I'm almost positive I'd prefer B-Hop as a commentator--but put him up against Lennox in the same position, and you see how far he is from bad.

I've heard Hopkins commentate several times...ESPN2 in fact & he's also done some voice over (I think that's what you call it) on old championship fights. He's good...thing about the Nard is that he NEVER shuts the fwock up...he's a bit over powering & when he disagree's with the other commentators...he makes it known.

I do like Kellerman. I just wish he would go back to talking faster. HBO obviously coached him big time on slowing down and it just seems a bit awkward and not-him in the pre-game. Knowledge-wise he's excellent though--and well spoken. They really need to clean up the rest of that team though, because I agree Fran Charles is terrible (witness the difference when Lampley subs in), and as I said, Lennox is too (witness the difference when Manny subs in).

Agreed...but when he get's into it & it's a good fight...he cranks out the old Kellerman again...the kid's got the goods.

Yes...Fran is more than flushable.

[TheBESTP4P]

I preferred RJJ and Foreman--and I'm almost positive I'd prefer B-Hop as a commentator--but put him up against Lennox in the same position, and you see how far he is from bad.

I've heard Hopkins commentate several times...ESPN2 in fact & he's also done some voice over (I think that's what you call it) on old championship fights. He's good...thing about the Nard is that he NEVER shuts the fwock up...he's a bit over powering & when he disagree's with the other commentators...he makes it known.

I do like Kellerman. I just wish he would go back to talking faster. HBO obviously coached him big time on slowing down and it just seems a bit awkward and not-him in the pre-game. Knowledge-wise he's excellent though--and well spoken. They really need to clean up the rest of that team though, because I agree Fran Charles is terrible (witness the difference when Lampley subs in), and as I said, Lennox is too (witness the difference when Manny subs in).

Agreed...but when he get's into it & it's a good fight...he cranks out the old Kellerman again...the kid's got the goods.

Yes...Fran is more than flushable.

actually more and more recently i am impressed with the way B-Hop carried himself. I like how when Tarver was talking mad ishhh in the pre conferences B-Hop was calm yet clear on what was gonna go down. It was almost like seeing confidence in his eyes instead of insecurity.

[Wacko3205]

I preferred RJJ and Foreman--and I'm almost positive I'd prefer B-Hop as a commentator--but put him up against Lennox in the same position, and you see how far he is from bad.

I've heard Hopkins commentate several times...ESPN2 in fact & he's also done some voice over (I think that's what you call it) on old championship fights. He's good...thing about the Nard is that he NEVER shuts the fwock up...he's a bit over powering & when he disagree's with the other commentators...he makes it known.

I do like Kellerman. I just wish he would go back to talking faster. HBO obviously coached him big time on slowing down and it just seems a bit awkward and not-him in the pre-game. Knowledge-wise he's excellent though--and well spoken. They really need to clean up the rest of that team though, because I agree Fran Charles is terrible (witness the difference when Lampley subs in), and as I said, Lennox is too (witness the difference when Manny subs in).

Agreed...but when he get's into it & it's a good fight...he cranks out the old Kellerman again...the kid's got the goods.

Yes...Fran is more than flushable.

actually more and more recently i am impressed with the way B-Hop carried himself. I like how when Tarver was talking mad ishhh in the pre conferences B-Hop was calm yet clear on what was gonna go down. It was almost like seeing confidence in his eyes instead of insecurity.

Agreed.

Complete & utter discipline.

No doubt.

[El Gamo]

Merchant may not be as good as he used to be but he raises interesting questions at times,which get me thinking too and after the fight,if it's been a contraversial one,he picks the brains of the fighter. Lampley is good...if it does not involve someone he loves,then he tends to become a bit too biased. Anything with Oscar for example,watch teh B Hop fight,Oscar throws a pitter patter combo,NONE of which land and Lampley is like gushing wow,what handspeed,what a combo,and I'm sitting there thinking WTF,he missed!!!?!