Lennox Lewis out at HBO Sports
by Scott Christ on May 7, 2010 7:35 PM EDT
in Boxing News Analysis
Email
Print
Former world heavyweight champion and often-ridiculed HBO boxing commentator Lennox Lewis has worked his last fight as a ringside analyst for the cable giant, according to Dan Rafael.
In an HBO press release, the company said that Lewis will be focusing on fundraising efforts for his international training academy, which is what The Ring's blurb focused on.
But Rafael goes beyond the company line (which is attributed to Lewis' handlers) and says there's more to it than Lewis wanting to go do other things:
Multiple sources with knowledge of the situation told ESPN.com that leaving was not Lewis' decision and the network did not want him back. Lewis, who was heavily criticized for his on-air style, was informed of the decision late last week.
There is no getting around the fact that most boxing fans had little use for Lewis' commentary. Look, he's a great guy. He's a class act, a gentleman, and he always conducted himself with professionalism, in and out of the ring. Lewis was a marvelous fighter, a Hall of Famer, and in theory he should have added a lot to HBO broadcasts.
He just rarely ever added much at all. A typical exchange might go like this:
Bob Papa: "Lennox, do you think he needs to use the jab more?"
Lennox Lewis: "Yeah, absolutely! He maybe needs to use his jab more. Maybe double up the jab."
But I see no need to dance on the man's grave, so to speak. He's out, I'm happy about it so long as he's replaced with some good, and I hope -- though wildly unlikely -- that this means HBO is hearing the fans and is considering the idea that their commentary teams are stale and too often, detract from the action in the ring.
A couple of my favorite Lennoxisms were:
- "There are no nightclubs in Las Vegas." Lewis offered this gem when talking about Zab Judah, who had moved to Vegas from New York. Lewis figured that in Las Vegas, there would be no distractions for Judah, such as nightclubs. Anyone who has ever read Zab Judah's Twitter must surely be aware that there are, in fact, some nightclubs in Las Vegas.
- During the terrifyingly awful Andre Dirrell-Curtis Stevens fight a couple years ago, Lewis expressed great admiration of Dirrell's legitimate running, comparing the performance to Muhammad Ali. This one was so ridiculous it seemed to stop even his broadcast partners dead in their tracks.
Do you have any favorite Lennox Lewis as commentator moments? Share them!
50 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Ha hahah. You don’t mean to be “dancing on the grave” but, yeah, I’m sure there aren’t a ton of tears being shed right now in TV land.
It’s hard to pin down the Best Lennox Moments. For the most part, you try desperately to tune him out. One thing I recall in recent years was a certain fixation Lennox had with northy-southy footwork. I don’t recall the specific fight right this moment, but it seemed like Lennox was suddenly mesmerized with the idea of one guy trying to keep his foot outside of his opponents, to an almost scary degree. There were five or six intermittent bouts of silence between long run-on sentences repeating that this was a good idea. Sort of like someone saying “See when he sticks his hand out like that, and uses it to hit the other guy in the face, that’s a punch. That’s what he wants to be doing.” And then saying that over and over. Darnit, now I wish I could remember the fight.
Anyway, all respect to ATG Lennox Lewis, but as far as HBO’s current “Dream Team” goes, that is one-down, three to go.
"My God, kids today think that the laces are for tying up the gloves."
-- Fritzie Zivic
I would pay extra money
To have the ability to just mute out Manny Steward during HBO PPV broadcasts.
Lexis sucked at commentating, but at least he was fairly harmless. He didn’t add anything, but he didn’t subtract either,
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
*Lewis
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Oh yeah, and its hysterically funny that they threw Lennox under the bus, but are keeping Lampley and Merchant. That’s show business for ya.
"My God, kids today think that the laces are for tying up the gloves."
-- Fritzie Zivic
I think it’s contract length more than anything. I’ve got to believe that the current contract Merchant has is his last, too.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
Agreed
He’s almost been kicke dout before, now it seems more likely than ever.
"All the time he's boxing, he's thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him." - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on May 7, 2010 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions
They tried to get rid of Merchant a couple years back
And there was a ridiculous amount of backlash against HBO for it. I have no idea why.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Maybe he has a big family
"All the time he's boxing, he's thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him." - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on May 8, 2010 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Really who they going to find better than Merchant? Larry’s the man.
If a man ain't found something worth dying for. He ain't fit to live.
by Violent Demise on May 8, 2010 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Wonder if HBO
Is in the process of poaching Tarver to replace him.
by The Boxer Rebellion on May 7, 2010 8:19 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I doubt it’s possible immediately, but there’s no way they’re noticing that Lewis is heavily criticized while Tarver keeps getting more and more praise.
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
*no way they're not noticing
Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."
And it KILLS me
To admit that he’s good since I’ve hated him for what he did to my favorite fighter of all time. Tarver truly, truly, Forgot.
by The Boxer Rebellion on May 7, 2010 9:36 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Effin' B.S.
Lewis was no better or worse than all the other 3rd guys’ at ringside…………. In fact, the 3rd guy is just an added expense from HBO on the whole……… The 3rd dude is usually more so a personality than that of a seasoned microphone holder…. I like Lewis, but its no real big loss for HBO………
MR.BILL
Bill Petersen
MR.BILL
Raleigh, N.C.
John Scully needs to step-up.
Scully needs to shine-on ESPN and go where the money is at HBO……… Calling fights for ESPN must suck.?.?
MR.BILL
Bill Petersen
MR.BILL
Raleigh, N.C.
Iceman would be a decent one
Better than Freddie Roach anyway
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
YES
Mosley was great on the show, has a great boxing mind, but most importantly he’s able to communicate it.
Hopkins would be good, too actually.
Vote Quimby
Lampley and Foreman didn't get along
to put it mildly
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
Thank you. It’’s about damn time. The man was without a doubt p4p one of the worst commentators ever. Always had a habit of thinking a fighter wasn’t going to get up from a knock down. Merchant must of noticed it one time.
Lewis: Oh my God. I don’t think he’s going to get up from that
Merchant (in bored voice): He’ll get up.
Fighter got up. Anyways three guys that I think are light years better than him behind the mic are Shannon Briggs, Nate Campbell and Kevin Kelly. Briggs and Campbell did some ESPN shows. While Kelly was the only bright spot from HBO’s long forgotten KO Nation show. But i doubt either one gets the gig.
If a man ain't found something worth dying for. He ain't fit to live.
Most Definitely!
Every fighter has a game plan until he get's punched in the mouth.
-Mike
Can they get rid of Merchant next!!!!
I agree that Lewis was not a good third man, Roy Jones and Foreman were much better in my opinion.
By the way this interview was my best Lewis moment: I think this interview should be reason to fire both of them, Larry Merchant has been rude and just a flat out ass*** most of his career and he thinks he knows more than he does! I can’t stand him. At least you can say that Lewis was just getting out of a fight where he was getting he ass handed to him.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjOEuM6gbbk&feature=related
" Best quote " I don’t know what your talking about Larry look at the state of his face"
Yes I recall that Lennox saying “look at the state of his face” was a little bit of a howler, even among the west indians I was watching the fight with. Lenny didn’t exactly look like Prince Charming himself when he delivered that line, heh.
Still, at least Merchant had looked part of the way sober in that interview. These days we are treated to some real delirious stuff from The Merch.
"My God, kids today think that the laces are for tying up the gloves."
-- Fritzie Zivic
Mario Lopez would be my pick.
I’ve only seen him on one Top Rank PPV, so maybe that’s not enough to go on, but I thought he would irritate me and he was really good. He boxes some and had good insights.
I’m not too bummed about Lennox, he was never my favorite. I can’t remember the exact quote but it was when they were in Canada and he thought they were in the USA.
"Mug an old lady, and if you have the right connections the WBO will rank you seventh." -Steve Farhood
You should excuse yourself for even thinking that Slater should be on HBO Boxing.
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
Slater will never make it on HBO. But i got no problem with him on Top Ranks PPV. He’s pretty much a fan who gets certain perks cuz he’s a name. I would jump at the chance if i was in his situation.
If a man ain't found something worth dying for. He ain't fit to live.
by Violent Demise on May 7, 2010 11:11 PM EDT up reply actions
There needs to be an un-rec button for this.
I almost fucking flagged it as offensive.
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on May 8, 2010 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
He actually said America
Whilst talking about Canada, which is not incorrect.
"All the time he's boxing, he's thinking. All the time he was thinking, I was hitting him." - Jack Dempsey
by Drunken cutman on May 8, 2010 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions
He's awful
Even Benny Ricardo is better.
Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."
HBO can do whatever make over it wants. But under no circumstances should Merchant be allowed to leave. Merchant is the man. He fears no fighter and always speaks his man. I always find it funny how his eyes are clear at the start of the broadcast and blood shot red at the end. Larry must stay.
If a man ain't found something worth dying for. He ain't fit to live.
Talking of Larry M,
Does anyone remeber the time him punched a fan while interviewing Daniel Zaragosa?, that WAS funny!!
by Phill on May 8, 2010 12:14 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
yes Phil
He had the look of a madman when he gave that guy a good push . Funny that .4
ps
Lewis was a crap commentator . "sweet science " this and “sweet science” that . He came over as thick as shit imo .
by Sir Jack Daniels on May 8, 2010 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
don’t know what that"4" is for either .
by Sir Jack Daniels on May 8, 2010 12:34 PM EDT up reply actions
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oK2BLeYprfg
"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."
Yep commentators are commentators.
Boxers are boxers, makes sense to keep it that way, just keep the boxer as an expert opinion.
by Phill on May 8, 2010 12:44 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bad Left Hook
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
