Larry Merchant was a Great Commentator

[Sleepwalker]

He got a lot of flack for his occasional babbling after fights and his unfair criticism for overhyping network favorites during fights (that was 100% Lampley), but during the actual fights he was great to listen to and often saw fights the way the viewer did with very little partiality. For example, I clearly remember him stating that he had Whitaker beating De La Hoya after their fight ended.

I never really had a problem with him, especially considering fact he had to mesh with Lampley's antics

[Manos de Piedra]

I didn't really like him but he did have better scorecards than Howard Ledderman.
'I gotta tell ya Jim...' *MUTE*

[Ron Swanson]

Nope. He couldn't be bothered with the science of the sweet science. If you are going to announce a sport you have to learn to appreciate the nuances of said sport. He was a drunken fool. If that is a reflection of the fan base then what are the rest of us that like more than one style?

[#1FightFan]

Merchant was awesome!! you peeps are crazy. he was funny,witty & was the only one who told Floyd Gayweather off! larry = one of the best ever!

[SugarBoxing]

I would say he was a good interviewer of boxers who liked to poke them.
His commentary were not that insightfull from boxing perspective, but yes he did score bouts quite well.
He was biased in several occassions, but overall I think he was professional enough.

[Ron Swanson]

Merchant was awesome!! you peeps are crazy. he was funny,witty & was the only one who told Floyd Gayweather off! larry = one of the best ever!

Homophobia from a vamp guy, the irony is so sweet it has to be fattening.

[walrus]

Agreed, Merchant was very good. I always liked his voice and take on things. When he said if he was fifty years younger I'd kick your ass to Floyd it was one of the high points of Gayweathers career

[p4pking]

Nah I agree with Ron, he was shitty, at least for the last many years of his career. Way to bloodthirsty and would practically refuse, or wasn't capable of calling the action if a fight wasn't Gatti-Ward. His exchange with Floyd was funny, but how about every other needlessly confrontational interview he would start with just about anyone? Roy Jones is the only good commentator HBO had in my time watching boxing, and Malignaggi is even quite a bit better, he's probably the best I've ever heard in any sport.

[C.J.Rock]

Agreed, Merchant was very good. I always liked his voice and take on things. When he said if he was fifty years younger I'd kick your ass to Floyd it was one of the high points of Gayweathers career

That was awesome Larry sure shut Mayweathers mouth Floyds face was a picture ROFL

[ruthless rocco]

Agreed, Merchant was very good. I always liked his voice and take on things. When he said if he was fifty years younger I'd kick your ass to Floyd it was one of the high points of Gayweathers career

That was awesome Larry sure shut Mayweathers mouth Floyds face was a picture ROFL

Floyd would have beat the living shit out of Merchant. What a fucking jack ass!!!

[goti71]

His supposedly insightful comments fall short sometimes, despite that slow pondering voice he puts on, though it is good to have an old-man character there.

One of his good ones was something like "there are many questions to be answered and many answers to be questioned". That was quite neat but for commentators, I prefer Roy Jones, Foreman, malignaggi, anyone.

[Gandalf]

Larry Merchant was and is fantastic. HBO hasn't been the same without him. Merchant is cantankerous, opinionated and wants to see a fight. I guess a bit like many of us. Much better than bug eyed Kellerman who I have little time for.

[ykdadamaja]

He got a lot of flack for his occasional babbling after fights and his unfair criticism for overhyping network favorites during fights (that was 100% Lampley), but during the actual fights he was great to listen to and often saw fights the way the viewer did with very little partiality. For example, I clearly remember him stating that he had Whitaker beating De La Hoya after their fight ended.

I never really had a problem with him, especially considering fact he had to mesh with Lampley's antics

The Merchant and Foreman prattlings always made me happy to watch the fights. lol...

[ykdadamaja]

Larry Merchant was and is fantastic. HBO hasn't been the same without him. Merchant is cantankerous, opinionated and wants to see a fight. I guess a bit like many of us. Much better than bug eyed Kellerman who I have little time for.

Merchant didn't give a flying fig newton if the fighter was a network guy, like Roy Jones and Floyd Mayweather Jr. He wanted to get the best out of them. Sadly, however, it was his network to blame for most of RJJ's run of bums than it was RJJ or his promoter. lol...

[Beanflicker]

I was a big fan of Larry. He was always entertaining IMO. Of course sometimes he would wax a little too philosophical, and by the time he left HBO (and a few years prior) you could tell he wasn't nearly as sharp as he used to be.