It is this lil ole Chiweenie Sportsphile’s opinion that no network has ever delivered boxing quite like HBO…..as the boxing commentator crew of Barry Tompkins, Sugar Ray Leonard and Larry Merchant were as good as it got during the golden age of boxing….yep, there was Gil Clancy and Tim Ryan at CBS…..Marv Albert and Dr. Ferdie Pacheco at NBC…..Howard Cosell at ABC with Chris Schenkel, Keith Jackson and Al Michaels filling in for Howard…..and there was Don Chevrier and Don Dunphy at USA Network…..but none really measured up to the professionalism, boxing knowledge and commentary of Tompkins, Leonard and Merchant.
When you consider the special profiles of boxers…..special coverage of major title fights…..and the special programs about boxing like this Inside Boxing 1983 special as seen in the video clip herewith….I think you will agree with me that these guys and HBO just flat knew how to deliver.
