Former HBO boxing commentator Larry Merchant doesn’t view mixed martial arts (MMA) as having technical fighting. Merchant has long been a boxing analyst, so he’s heard of the Aug. 26 “super fight” between Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight title holder Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather. The two are due for massive paydays after their showdown, […]
Former HBO boxing commentator Larry Merchant doesn’t view mixed martial arts (MMA) as having technical fighting. Merchant has long been a boxing analyst, so he’s heard of the Aug. 26 “super fight” between Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight title holder Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather. The two are due for massive paydays after their showdown, […]
Anyone who ever complains about the growing number of MMA fanboys with URL’s and podcasts claiming to be journalists needs to listen to the clip above of two dudes, who are obvious fans of Floyd Mayweather, feeding the boxing champ softball questions. In fact, some of the questions aren’t actually questions at all, but at least we sort of get to hear what Floyd has to say about a few things.
One of the interviewers is a DJ by the name of “DJ Whoo Kid” and the other seems to be DJ WK’s hype man and FMJ’s biggest fan, given his numerous nuthugging statements like “Ortiz got exactly what he deserved after that headbutt.” He obviously wasn’t listening during the first half of the interview as he continually asks the exact same questions as Whoo Kid.
As a public service for those readers who can’t (or won’t) sit through the interview, check out the key points after the jump.
(Video courtesy of RadioPlanet.tv/KRSP/Shade 45)
Anyone who ever complains about the growing number of MMA fanboys with URL’s and podcasts claiming to be journalists needs to listen to the clip above of two dudes, who are obvious fans of Floyd Mayweather, feeding the boxing champ softball questions. In fact, some of the questions aren’t actually questions at all, but on the bright side, at least we sort of get to hear what Floyd has to say about a few things.
One of the interviewers is a DJ by the name of “DJ Whoo Kid” and the other seems to be DJ WK’s hype man and FMJ’s biggest fan, given his numerous nuthugging statements like “Ortiz got exactly what he deserved after that headbutt.” He obviously wasn’t listening during the first half of the interview as he continually asks the exact same questions as Whoo Kid.
As a public service for those readers who can’t (or won’t) sit through the interview, check out the key points:
• Floyd says Pacquiao is irrelevant and can fight his leftovers
• He doesn’t know who or when he’s fighting next, but he’s downplaying a fight with Pacquiao even though the fans want to see it
• He knew Larry Merchant wouldn’t give up pestering him about the “cheap shot” he hit Ortiz with
• Mayweather has no preference between Merchant and Max Kellerman because they’re “pretty much the same” and neither want to give him his credit
• He would prefer to see Lennox Lewis do post-fight interviews
• He believes that Emmanuel Steward, Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley want to find a fighter to beat him, but he says they would need to bring in a robot to get the job done
• Floyd isn’t worried about Merchant’s claim that he’d kick his ass if he was 50 years younger
• He blames Ortiz for the controversy since “somebody started it and [he] finished it”
• He says the ref called “time-in” and all of the kissing and hugging is unnecessary and is supposed to be reserved for after the fight
(You know who’s lucky I don’t have a time machine? Those damn kids with their skateboards on my sidewalks!)
When he’s not harassing fighters inside the ring or making up false claims about MMA promotions paying him 5 million dollars to attend an event, I’d like to imagine that Larry Merchant is playing Parcheesi in Boca Vista somewhere, just enjoying the fact that time travel doesn’t exist so he wouldn’t have to follow through on some of his outrageous claims. Well, I would be wrong in that assessment, because it turns out Merchant is far too busy talking out his ass at every possible opportunity to even have time for table based games of mental aptitude. In a recent interview with Boxing Scene, Merchant responded to Dana White’s claims that he was “senile” and “an embarrassment to HBO” with the following statement, which I can only assume took a fortnight to spit out:
(You know who’s lucky I don’t have a time machine? Those damn kids with their skateboards on my sidewalks!)
When he’s not harassing fighters inside the ring or making up false claims about MMA promotions paying him 5 million dollars to attend an event, I’d like to imagine that Larry Merchant is playing Parcheesi in Boca Vista somewhere, just enjoying the fact that time travel doesn’t exist so he wouldn’t have to follow through on some of his outrageous claims. Well, I would be wrong in that assessment, because it turns out Merchant is far too busy talking out his ass at every possible opportunity to even have time for table based games of mental aptitude. In a recent interview with Boxing Scene, Merchant responded to Dana White’s claims that he was “senile” and “an embarrassment to HBO” with the following statement, which I can only assume took a fortnight to spit out:
“Let’s see, anyone who can make a multimillion dollar business out of street fighting has to be respected. My opinion is that anyone is allowed to put up a tent, put on a show, and invite people to come. And obviously he’s had a lot of success. Good for him. I don’t watch it. I don’t get a so-called sport in which you can have a 6-2 record and be called a world champion. I just don’t appreciate the finer points of MMA. It’s a free country. I’m a commentator, and if I’m commenting and observing on others than how can I not be open to others observing and commenting on me?”
Now, I can understand what Merchant is trying to say here, but to refer to MMA as street fighting immediately after witnessing one of the dirtiest finishes to a high profile boxing match in recent history seems a bit…douchey. Not to mention the fact that this is the same man who threatened to kick the winner of said boxing match’s ass just moments after the fight was over. Stay classy, Larry.
Floyd Mayweather upped his perfect boxing record to 42-0 last night with a fourth-round knockout of Victor Ortiz, a win that earned him the WBC Welterweight World Title — but it wouldn’t be Money May without a little controversy.
Mayweather controlled the majority of the first three rounds with his trademark speed, outlanding his younger opponent. The fourth frame was a back-and-forth slugfest, opening with a furious assault by Floyd. But Ortiz turned the tables and battered Mayweather against the ropes in the final minute. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old let his emotions get the better of him.
As you can see in the video above, Ortiz blatantly head-butts Mayweather with 14 seconds left in the round. The referee spots the foul and immediately separates the fighters. By way of apology, Ortiz walks over to Mayweather to give him a hug and kiss. That’s strike one.
Floyd Mayweather upped his perfect boxing record to 42-0 last night with a fourth-round knockout of Victor Ortiz, a win that earned him the WBC Welterweight World Title — but it wouldn’t be Money May without a little controversy.
Mayweather controlled the majority of the first three rounds with his trademark speed, outlanding his younger opponent. The fourth frame was a back-and-forth slugfest, opening with a furious assault by Floyd. But Ortiz turned the tables and battered Mayweather against the ropes in the final minute. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old let his emotions get the better of him.
As you can see in the video above, Ortiz blatantly head-butts Mayweather with 14 seconds left in the round. The referee spots the foul and immediately separates the fighters. By way of apology, Ortiz walks over to Mayweather to give him a hug and kiss. That’s strike one.
The ref pulls Ortiz away to deduct a point, and Ortiz goes back to a still-pissed Mayweather to give him a “my bad” glove tap. That’s strike two.
The referee separates them again, and calls the action back in. But Ortiz — sweet, simple Ortiz — wants to give Mayweather another apology-hug. Mayweather pushes him off, stuns him with a left hook, and puts him out with a follow-up right straight. Ortiz does his best to get to his feet, but can’t pull it off.
It’s a moment that underscores the “protect yourself at all times” concept inherent in all combat sports. Mayweather knocked out Ortiz at a moment when he was completely within his rights to do so. Just because a fighter wants to hug you in the middle of fight, doesn’t mean you have to let him. But in the post-fight interview, it’s clear that HBO boxing commentator Larry Merchant feels that Mayweather’s actions were unfair, and that Floyd should have respected the “ceremony” of the situation.
When Merchant keeps pressing him on the issue, Mayweather snaps. “You know what I’m gonna do? ‘Cuz you don’t never give me a fair shake. You know that? So I’m gonna go and let you talk to Victor Ortiz, alright? I’m through. Put somebody else up here to give me an interview. You never give me a fair shake! HBO need to fire you, you don’t know shit about boxing! You ain’t shit. You’re not shit!”
“I wish I was 50 years younger and I’d kick your ass,” Merchant replies.
