Larry Merchant on Which Boxers Intimidate Him and the Ali vs Liston Fight
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- čas přidán 25. 07. 2024
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Larry Merchant answers fan's Twitter questions with UCN's Steve Kim, including his top rated bouts of all time, who the best up and coming fighters are, if he's ever been intimidated by a fighter during his incredible career, and being part of that iconic Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston photo in Lewiston, Maine.
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I still watch all three Frazier-Ali fights like they just happened. Those two guys were the ultimate competitors you could ever ask for. To go through 15 full rounds of beating and never giving up is just amazing. Only 1 round was left to the imagination due to Frazier's eyes being completely closed up.
the same here
Thank you!! Great interview! This is a boxing fans dream job! Mr. Merchant, thank you!
How do u go to an interview with larry in your flipflops?
I miss Larry Merchant. HBO in the 80s and 90s couldn't have had a better man. Mr. Merchant knows Boxing as well as anyone. I grew up watching him. God bless you Larry you will never be forgotten.
larry merchant is the best.he told boxing fans the truth of every fighter
that was great stuff. man, I hope he gets around to writing his memoirs, that would be a must read.
Larry always kept it 100.
He vented his opinions and never held back.
Unofficial Official I thought that was called tourettes or autism, no keeping it 100 . . .
Randy Marsh False, Ali wasn't friendly with racists
Marcello Mazzocco ali wasn't friends with the old bag
Great insightful three part interview! Steve, I think people are now beginning to appreciate what Larry Merchant's unique perspective meant and can understand and appreciate his invaluable insight from a whole different perspective thanks to these interviews!! This is very much appreciated!! Keep doing your thing!!!!!Larry, you mean and have meant so much to this sport and we cannot thank you enough!
Larry Merchant was blessed with a career that I have to believe is very rare. He continually had a "bird's eye view" of international boxing history arguably at its peak (and not) and developed individual rapports with many of the sport's stars, Liston, Ali, Frazier, Hagler and the list goes on. To live an experience like that and get paid for it (very well I'm sure) is nothing short of a dream come true.
LARRY MERCHANT OF A POS.
Yep exactly
Very cool interview!
More merchant interviews! While he's still alive 😞
exisco, merchant is going to be with us another 20 years, so don't you worry.
Sunday - sure hope so! Peace
Why?
I always admired Larry for his honesty.
Great interview Steve
"I can listen to Larry Merchant talk boxing for 3 straight days"! (Anyone that has followed larry & boxing knows where that line came from).
Soxfan73
Chavez-Taylor before the opening gong?
Yep
Soxfan73
The Chavez-Taylor fight before the opening bell?
I love Larry Merchant's wit. Miss him at ringside, as he was never afraid to speak his mind.
I’ve been an avid boxing fan all my life and I’m pushing 60 now. I’ve also done a bit of amateur boxing and kickboxing myself and I can’t help but be amused when I hear so called experts commenting on boxing because most of them, merchant included, don’t know shit. I’m not talking about commenting on the state of the game, etc, but rather when they start talking about the fundamentals of the sport itself, analyzing fighters and predicting who would defeat who, they have no bloody idea what they are talking about, again Larry Merchant included, and the commentator who is the worst in my opinion is Max Kellerman. He doesn’t know jack shit about boxing or any other sport he comments on. Kellerman is a classic example of a guy who got a break because he must have been someone’s son or nephew at the network.
You are my hero.......I have thought and said exactly what you wrote.
One of the best boxing commentators I've heard through the years.
Just looking a pictures of Sonny Scare. Watching videos of that long, brutal left jab is frightening.
I never knew Merchant was in that photo.
A question to my mind comes, why two great heavyweights sonny Liston and Rocky Marciano never fought each other, and if they had who would have won?
They never fought because by the time Marciano retired, Liston wasn’t even a ranked contender.
@@johnd.597 you are right, and how much Rocky Marciano was fortunate not to have met Liston
@@SardarShamimDoncasteruk yeah, Marciano would’ve been crushed. I love both fighters, but Liston jab, power, and strength was too much.
A lot of people hate this guy. I think he's great for boxing and wish he was still there.
LEGEND!
Larry's still with it
The difference between Lampley and Merchant is that Jim always respected the fighters whereas Larry dealt with them with an air of patronization and condescension.
Best boxing expert today
The last of a dying breed. Now guys are afraid to speak their minds. Bunch of yes-men on the air now.
Paulie malinagi, max kellermen ismt
@GRap TheGOAT why lol
"Telling people what they're seeing" quite the admission Larry! you are one snarky guy.
Joe frazier beat Ali. And was unbeaten World champion. His next fight was against foreman and he got destroyed, credit to foreman.
Frazier didn't fight prime Mohammed Ali. He wouldn't have any chance before Ali's lay off.
I Beg To Differ With You Ali Once Said Frazier Was The Toughest…Fights He Had !! He Brought The Best In Him Forman Never Beat Ali In Their 3rd Fight The Thrilla In Manila Ali Almost Quit In The Last Round…Cept Joe Frazier Manger Threw In The Towel Seconds Before Wow !! Frazier Would Have Won !!
Larry Merchant could of gave the sport and World Champions more respect that they deserved.
From what I heard on another video Liston did not train at all for the first Clay fight. Maybe that was a factor in his decision to not come out after round 6? Once it was determined that there was going to be a rematch between Liston and Clay I would assume that Liston and his team would MASSIVELY TRAIN to avenge his loss? Curious as to what well versed fight fans think?
I have mixed emotions about Kaufman. He crossed the line many times but there is no denying his credentials. I would have loved to have had his access to the fights he has been a part of.
And I agree with everybody else on this board "Larry write the book"!!!
cant believe no one asked him who he takes in a Liston Foreman / Liston Young Mike Tyson match
I really wish I could sit down with Larry to discuss a particular fight. The fight I'm referring to needs to be 'resolved',... and Larry is the right guy to discuss this with. I'd have to preface our talk by assuring him that I have much respect for him, and for all elders alike.
I felt the need to say that because Larry is Larry and i'd be addressing a fight that we would not be in agreement about ,........at least initially. That's the basis of the desire to talk with him in person. A large screen computer and we'd be ready to go at it. The fight in question; Miami, 1964,............. Sonny Liston vs Cassius Clay.
I was 9 years old, my dad had a huge old console stereo so we turned the dial back and forth trying to get the fight tuned in. When I heard the commentators, it was like magic the way they described this guy named Cassius Clay. I remember very well that they kept saying,...........'Cassius Clay is bobbing and weaving,....bobbing and weaving'. Those words,..... and the name Cassius Clay really stuck with me and somehow made an impression . When Cassius Clay was announced the winner, I was elated. To this day I've never heard a boxer's name that I liked better than 'Cassius Clay'. I fully understand the reason, but I was disappointed that his name was changed to Muhammad Ali. At the time, it didn't sound like a boxer's name. It's different now of course,...... after adjusting to it and knowing who he is/was.
I was too young so I had no idea who Cassius Clay was, nor did I understand the term 'bobbing and weaving'. It sounded poetic and very fitting, I can say that. I understood boxing and at 9,...........I was already enamored with sports. Mickey Mantle was my 'hero' I guess you could say,..........and others like Roger Maris, Willie Mays, Sandy Koufax and Roberto Clemente were loved by all young boys at that time. Those names meant something,........... and they still do. It was a different time, something you hear people say occasionally, but it really was a different time.
Despite being smaller than most my age, my great love for sports drove me to becoming a very good athlete. Some have said professional level in the 3 major sports was within reason. I mention this because I also had a unique ability to watch sporting events and see everything in great detail at full game speed. When I saw that others couldn't see things like I could, it wasn't a big deal, no more than being a good athlete. I assumed my athletic ability included a unique skill that I would call athletic eye/brain coordination.
Retired 4 years now, I've caught up on a lot of things, especially the boxing that I had missed through the years. For the first time I watched what I could only listen to back in 1964. After watching only one round of that memorable fight,........my jaw dropped to the floor. I simply couldn't believe my eyes. This profound childhood memory and all of the talk about this iconic fight,............ and some 50 years after the fact, I had to accept that this fight was fixed. Let me say that again; the 1st fight between Cassius Clay and Charles Sonny Liston, one of the greatest fights in history,..........contested in Miami Florida in 1964,...............was not a real fight.
I'm not sure about Larry Merchant,....... but some still believe that the 2nd fight between Liston and Ali was a real fight. Boxing insiders, reporters, former champions and others, some saw the fight in person that day in Lewiston Maine,..................and are still convinced that Liston was knocked out in the 1st round. I really hope that Larry doesn't believe that. If he does, and if I ever get the opportunity to talk with him,........ I;ll have an uphill battle convincing him that both fights were fixed.. That may be too much to accomplish; Larry isn't a soft touch regarding what he believes, and I've had virtually no success trying to convince others that the 1st fight was fixed.
What I need that will help me to convince Larry,...... or any skeptic, is to view the fight together with the person. I'm very confident that I can convince anyone that the fight was fixed,........ if I can show them what I see while we watch the fight together. I realize that I'll probably never sit down with Mr. Merchant,...............but if you happen to see this Larry,................I know you're up for this and are as stubborn as I am......., so let's see who's right......................if that's not possible,...........God bless you sir,.........Mark
MrMarco855 well tell me then. Why do you think the first fight is fix??
MrMarco855
If the fight was fixed then WHY did Sonny Liston go after Clay so hard in round (6 or 7?) when he knew or sensed that Clay was temporarily blinded by ointment Liston had rubbed into his gloves by his chief second? If it was fixed then WHY would he come at him like that?
Hav Risen, first fight I don't believe was fixed.....but Liston quit because he knew he was going to be humiliated if the fight continued. The second fight wasn't "fixed", per se, as in Ali knew anything about it.....but Liston took a dive, because he believed that either he or his family would be killed if he won. Even Ali, in the 20-30 seconds after Liston went down, didn't believe he knocked him out....he was screaming at Liston to get up, nobody's gonna believe this.
hahaha... the monster didn't stand up after the 5th round... they told him to go down in the sixth... he was stubborn and impredictable... he just didn't stand up. Liston was not a money machine, while a young golden boy Ali was a promise for a rain of millions of dollars... Don King was smart enough to know that
Cedric Palmer, you are right "smart" man: wasn't Don King the promoter of that match but William B. MacDonald Jr. together with Chris Dundee who was a brother of Angelo Dundee corner man of Clay. Both are even worst than Don King, so Clay the money machine was appealing to them as much as it would have been to Don King. The fix remains. Remember that Clay was 7 to 1 underdog ... good deal, wasn't it?
I became a fan of Larry's after he told Floyd (punk) Mayweather if he was younger he'd kick his ass. Awesome!
Moondog9322 lmao you poor soul
big slim aka fat prick, - Merchant during one (of many) commentaries praised Floyd in a way an ignorant fuck like wouldn't understand, - he compared Floyds genius to "Oscar Peterson wearing boxing gloves" go figure nigga.
@@augustineriley5582 I don't get that one. Sounds more like an insult. Oscar Peterson was a genius but wouldn't play like one wearing boxing gloves.
@@rickrick5041 I can't remember the fight, but maybe 8 or 9 years ago when Merchant made that quote, but I clearly remember the tone and context of the commentary, - its memorable as Merchant was actually praising Mayweather in a way he didn't usually. The views of Merchant re Floyds boxing style are no secret, - we all know he didn't like that style, - it got to flashpoints between the two that we all saw. But there was no ambiguity in my mind that night re Merchant actually complimenting Floyd for doing what he did so well, i.e. at the highest level, - and to me as a Peterson fanatic, the quotes meaning, (as I understood it?) if not the fight itself is very memorable, - it surprised me he said it given his views on Floyds style etc.
But he did stress the particular genius of Floyd in a favourable comparison of his artistry to Peterson's total control of a keyboard and jazz, - I didn't detect any insult or sarcasm. It didn't have the vitriol of the idiots who posted above, that's for sure. Merchant had his mean spiritedness and petulance at times, - like I say, it was surprising and therefor memorable to make a nod towards the possibly finest technical jazz piano player since Tatum, - I understood it along the lines of Floyd was so good it wood be like Peterson playing piano in boxing gloves at the level he did, - odds defying in other words. Peace.
Augustine Riley Augustine Riley Tatum the best ever. They used to say “G-d just entered the room.”
Shots fired at Max Kellerman 7:40
The iconic photo came after the phantom punch. No one knew the "whole" story except Liston. Certainly not Merchant.
I always felt that this guy thought people tuned in to hear his opinion, not to watch the fight.
Good interview.....Larry at least voiced HIS opinions.
Sonny Liston was fucken intimidating!
Thank you 🙏🏾 for everything Larry merchant I’m glad my generation was able to witness your commentary skills and I will be sure to pass down to the next generation of your mastery .
Larry if you can read this it behooves you to write the story from your perspective of that night you were there when then Cassius Clay knocked out Sonny Liston.
Good to see Larry. He has provided so much analysis over the years and has entertained us with his boxing acumen.
Still waiting on mayweather vs merchant
Is that Merchent's personal library?
I clicked because of the title that included Listion. Click bait.
Great guest but very few concise intelligent questions for Mr. Merchant.
As much as I like Max Kellerman, I sure do miss Larry Merchant
R.i.p larry
Why do people hate Larry Merchant? Is it because he is a bit of a diva? Is it because he always tells the truth about their favorite fighters no matter what? Is it because when he does make a mistake he never apologizes for it? He's knowledge about the sport. He has a deep understanding about the politics of the sport. He knows what sports fans want to see in a fighter. He's arrogant for sure. But if you're not a bit cocky you can't do that job! It always amazes me that on one hand people bash the HBO crew for being fan boys of the fighters they have corporate deals with and then in the same sentence they bash them for having anything negative to say about the same fighters when they don't live up to expectations. I do know this. Every single person that is critical of Merchant can't do his job. You're not smart enough. You're not tough enough. And you're not articulate enough.
Anyone in boxing. Not boxing fans. Anyone in boxing knows Larry “don’t know shit” about the fundamentals of boxing
Larry Merchant talks in generalities when it comes to my grandfather Sonny Liston.
Sonny Liston your grandfather for real?
Liston had no children
4:35 Floyd mayweather 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Larry just knew Toney was going to beat Jones... never came close surprisingly...
All the boxers intimidate him. There. Saved ya a couple minutes
Larry Merchant who hid his Jewish heritage, was a "Yellow Kid", for the Annenberg family who had Sonny Liston on their Blacklist. That was partly responsible for my grandfather not getting any publicity after he beat Floyed Patterson.
Sonny Liston took a dive against Cassius Clay in both fights
@@homebell4866 The second fight, almost certainly. The 1st fight? No.
@@drobson8004 both fights where rigged
Mohamed Ali was used and also knew that the fights where rigged
@@homebell4866 Howard, a boxing historian, you're clearly not. So Liston has an ointment or a liniment put on his gloves, comes at Ali hard because he knows Ali is sight impaired. How does some clearly cheat in an attempt to win take a dive? Furthermore, doctors after the 1st fight verified the severity of the injury to his shoulder. Furthermore, Ali was used. By whom? To what end? He was used to become what; heavyweight champion? You're smoking some good weed brother.
@@drobson8004 THERE IS ONE THING THAT THIS COVID 19 THING HAS DEMONSTRATED
AND THAT IS PEOPLE WILL BELIEVE ANYTHING
A scripted fight
later years it comes out that Ali was friends with Hugh Hef
put on a pair of shoes pal
Like Larry but calling Lomachenko Russian, that's pretty rough.
larry best boxing writer.insightful
haydar H ever heard of bert sugar?
Thank you for your time, I do not believe you are racist, I believe you have powerful enemies. Peace.
Gotta be Floyd
Funny thing is liston was trying to cheat to win the first time but took a dive the second time.
1:55 what about Lennox getting KOed ?
Larry looking old these days, feel sorry for him. His commentary and interviews were always jarring tho
So...what does he know about Ali vs Liston 2?? I always thought the Mafia, who had Liston's contract, put a shitload of money on an early Ali KO. No one can tell me he was KO'd by that not very powerful punch...
saintcruzin I found a post fight Liston interview where he says he got hit clean unexpected and it seemed genuine
l respect Liston for clearing the air about taking a dive in the clay fight in that interview Richard v is referring to!
my opinion is.I saw the right hand land.I believe Liston just got caught.I believe Ali had better punching power than given credit for. since he stopped alot of guys...Liston beat the count.if u look at the film.Liston was never given a count.which isn't fair to Liston...I be
ieve also Liston was older than what he said.he got caught by a surprising punch he didn't c coming.u could c his head snap\jerk as he got hit
IF Liston didn't take a dive--I believe he did--at the very least Jersey Joe SERIOUSLY didn't know what he was doing and totally messed up the "knockout". Liston never really got a count, he was up and they were back to fighting, and Joe looked confused as hell looking ringside for any help he could get. It was a mess.
saintcruzin Larry merchant actually gave his opinion. on Liston Ali II.I believe it was 1987 or 1986.he made an HBO boxing special.that Mike Tyson CO hosted.I can't remember the name of it...but merchant said he believed it was a legit knockout.he said Liston had gotten old.also that his sparring partners were paid extras $ to make Liston look good...Tyson also expressed his opinion that he saw the right hand land
Joe Frazier didn't beat Muhammad Ali in the fight of the century in Mansion Square garden, Muhammad Ali just lost the opinions of the judges scorecards( that's not being beat.)Now the Thrilla in Manila Muhammad Ali beat Joe Frazier because in the third fight Ali was the only man to truly beat the other man without the judges involved.He T.K.O.d Joe.Muhammad Ali beat Joe Frazier but in the first fight nobody beat anybody it was just an opinion.
Only knock on Larry...he never laced on the gloves...spent his whole life as a reporter and quasi intellectual....he screwed up a few times and never saw it coming because he was not in touch with athletes perspective.
Larry Merchant is lying.
as always... absolute c...t can´t stand that guy.
Larry the Jew slammed Sonny Liston for being a bad person. When Liston beat Patterson Larry said that in the battle between good and evil, evil wins. Pretty sad being that Merchant worked for the newspaper where Liston lived (Philly).
Larry the Jew, why state the Jew, can I kick you in nuts?
MarioMan - some idiots on here not only don't know a damn thing about boxing history, but haven't even heard the term metaphor, ignore em ;)
Liston helped old people and children, - today he would be diagnosed with a Learning Disability, give the guy a break, its the 21st century man.
Clickbait title. No answer. Deceitful.
Poor Larry, i can see the early signs of alzheimer's
again, he's 85, ok?ok!
I know im just saying he has early alzheimer's
even at his age i`m sure he`s smarter than you`ll ever be.
What signs is he showing? I don't see any
i didnt say i disliked him or that he was stupid
Does this guy even take care of himself. Alot of his ringside comments were just so favoritism. He never really knew what the fuck he was talking about in strict boxing terms only who he liked or didnt .GIL CLANCY WAS THE REAL COMMUNICATOR THAT HAD TO BE INVITED BY THESE IDIOTS .CLANCY WAS ALWAYS ON THE MONEY. ATLAS TOO.
You know what makes me mad okay people have job's they do Larry is a commentator never ever boxed a little guy big mouth he has that Napoleon complex loud mouth nobody sonny liston came from nothing no silver spoon in his mouth did what he had to do mob killed him he hates him why Tyson same story except for mob ties mayweather did it better than anyone else he praised gatti good fighter not on mayweather's level praised sugar shane mosley. Because of mosleys style you take too many punches like that look at mosley today blurred speech he doesn't respect perfection in the ring just stand there and take punches sad merchant never sparred never even put on head gear I personally dislike him as much as he hates these fighters who come from the gutter and make something of their lives he's so much of a hater if black guys we're. Taking over mma or UFC he criticize that just stay retired already Larry
Larry Merchant is not even his real name. He was a "Yellow Kid." who went out of his way to discredit my grandfather Sonny Liston.
Liston is your grandpa??
do these 2 knnow what a Russian is they go on to name 2 Ukrainian and 1 Russian
He got old
Nothing about Ali? Bunch of pointless questions
Sonny Liston is modern day fury
HAHHAHAHAHAHA! The only thing they have in common is that they were heavyweight boxers.
Graham M Fury is not in the same league as Liston. Liston was pure class. Great great fighter/boxer.
Fury is very tall and is a big man, however, Liston would go to his body and destroy him. Fury's head would drop and then it would be end of the news.........lights out!
Graham M you mean fury is a modern Liston.
Cygnus Prime some comments are so stupid you can't even think of a good response. But yours was perfect and expressed very well lol
Agreed, in much the same way that Mike Tyson is a modern day George Groves.
larry....retiring. who is the requisite jew to take over, burt sugar, larry, and now who??? I am off to change my name to goldman or shapiro tomorrow. love cameras
N Kel Kellerman is Jewish.
weak interview
He so hates black fighters lol he even hated ali when he was alive.
This guy is the worst interviewer! an interview with Larry Merchan and these are the type of questions he asked?? Also, the old guy in the photo doesn’t look anything like Merchan. 11:45 He’s bald and looks older the Merchan now. Unless that’s not him. If it’s one of the other guys, he should have highlighted him in the photo! And “flip flops!?” 🤨 C’mon man! Get it together, or go back to journalism school 👎🏾
i know this is 7 months old, but merchant isnt the old bloke with the glasses, its the balding brown haired guy, with his mouth agape behind him.
very happy Larry is gone from boxing he annoying and rude to boxers
Merchant was always full of dung, Merchant never ever badmouthed Ali or Leonard. With Leonard there was a lot to bad mouth. Merchant is and has never been a expert in boxing period.