Comments Thread For: Larry Merchant Talks Mayweather-Ortiz, Floyd Dispute

[fitefanSHO]

With his ugly verbal assault against HBO's Larry Merchant, Floyd Mayweather effectively closed whatever remained of the gap between boxing's historic civil discourse and the kind of gutter level trash talk that permeates most boxing message boards these days. All that was left for Floyd Jr. to do was call Merchant a Victor Ortiz "nuthugger" and a "*******."

[Mayabang]

Larry did the right thing for the interview. He's a BHOF'mer and you don't get that for nothing. Floyd thinks he's the face of boxing that's why he always acted like this. I hope Pac kick his @$$ before Merchant does it.

[Money Shot]

Larry circa 1965 to KICK HIS ASS!

[The Big Dunn]

he should have acknowledged the head butt first and then ask was floyd frustrated when he took that shot, then asked the rest

Really the best point made. Hate floyd or like him, Merchants 1st question had to be about the head butt. Same thing with Vic. Merchant did everything he could to minimize that butt. He never used the word intentional, which clearly it was.

[bluetuazon]

To be frank Merchant is a disgrace to boxing, i dont give a toss if he is politcally correct or not, the man is a racist fool, There are thousands of people who can do his job twice over, and they would come across articulate and better than this old fool who comes across like a racist, bitter fool.

He has been doing this over and over again with different boxers, He need to learn how to be professional and keep his vile opinion to himself when interviewing a boxer who has just finish fighting after 3 months of training camp, the man is low class in my opinion.

so floyd gets a pass for his racist rants against pacquiao?? in your opinion..is mayweather a low class scumbag??

[Boston_southpaw]

To be frank Merchant is a disgrace to boxing, i dont give a toss if he is politcally correct or not, the man is a racist fool, There are thousands of people who can do his job twice over, and they would come across articulate and better than this old fool who comes across like a racist, bitter fool.

He has been doing this over and over again with different boxers, He need to learn how to be professional and keep his vile opinion to himself when interviewing a boxer who has just finish fighting after 3 months of training camp, the man is low class in my opinion.

I think your analysis is spot on. Times have changed dramatically since the days of Joe Louis, Ali, etc. Larry's mind set seems to be stuck in that era. Perhaps his post fight interviews had value in the 80's, but now he's become so complacent that he's forgotten how to remain objective. People tend to think that just because someone's been doing something for decades, it qualifies them to be forever competent. In Larrys case, people are just so accustomed to seeing him there, they're not ready to accept a change. After Sat nights interview, I sayhis time has expired.

[The Big Dunn]

To be frank Merchant is a disgrace to boxing, i dont give a toss if he is politcally correct or not, the man is a racist fool, There are thousands of people who can do his job twice over, and they would come across articulate and better than this old fool who comes across like a racist, bitter fool.

He has been doing this over and over again with different boxers, He need to learn how to be professional and keep his vile opinion to himself when interviewing a boxer who has just finish fighting after 3 months of training camp, the man is low class in my opinion.

Larry was the same way with roy jones jr. He seems to dislike black men who claim to be the best ever like they are personally disrespecting him. NO matter if you love or hate floyd, the 1st question as an ethical objective journalist is what about the butt. Old bastard never even called it intentional or illegal, just like it was accidental.

That said, floyd kept looking at schaffer during the interview. Usually floyd lets larry diss him then responds in kind, but he was on offense in the interview. Soon as schaffer gave him the go he went at larry hard.

Very strange.

[*El Prieto*]

Larry did the right thing for the interview. He's a BHOF'mer and you don't get that for nothing. Floyd thinks he's the face of boxing that's why he always acted like this. I hope Pac kick his @$$ before Merchant does it.

I know, and how completely fucked up is that???

[Main Source]

Good article and I respect Merchant's view and opinion on the matter. I still think he's a douche most of the time though. He could've handled the interview in a more professional manner.

Actually, I didn't understand his 180 turn after the fight was over. He gave Floyd a lot of praise for that fight. Something I haven't heard from Larry since Mayweahter fought Judah. Then, he suddenly decides to push Floyd into a corner.

I've also read that some individuals here believe that Floyd took the easy way out. I don't believe that, not at all. The look in Floyd's eyes and facial expression when he landed those two shots had "mean intention" written all over them. He was upset and even more upset and frustrated at how the fight ended. The unfairness of Merchant's interview was the tipping point. I've never seen Floyd this angry. With Max, he seemed annoyed. This time he was boiling over.

Anyway.

Max is fresh but Lampley, Merchant and even Steward are either putting people completely off by talking about something entirely else when a fight is going on or just being plain bias.
When Floyd was landing clean shots on Ortiz' forehead, and the crowd were screaming and standing up, Lampley went on about Ortiz' upbringing (again). I thought already covered that - more than enough on 24/7. Steward's mind seemed to be somewhere else too. He sounded uninspiring.

When Ortiz decided to jump at Floyd with his head first they didn't speak about it. Then they showed the replay and still no comments were made on that assault. There were numerous incidents where Ortiz' head was involved. They took it way to lightly but they didn't hesitate to jump on Floyd for following the rules. Double standards I tell ya.

I suggest that anyone who is still interested in the fight should watch it via Prime Time (UK). I'm sick and tired of HBO's team. SKY, Show, Prime Time and even ESPN have better commentators than HBO.

[wazaa.]

**** off Larry.

Retire already.