Review of Boxing Classics: Series 2 (Box Set)

Introduction

I should make it clear from the outset that I`m not a boxing fan, same as I`m not a UFC or WWE fan either. This will clearly influence my review, although I swear to be as impartial as I can by sticking to the facts rather than an opinion on the sport itself.

This disc is part of a boxset called ESPN Boxing Classics, and is clearly a transfer to DVD of two programmes in the series. Each lasts around 35 to 40 minutes, which would have made them about an hour long for their original broadcast on commercial TV. This is the only disc from the set I have received, and so I can only judge the quality of the complete set by what I have been given.

This disc brings together both a full-length fight and a career retrospective.

The first feature is the 15 round fight between Carlos Monzon and Emile Griffith on 2 June 1973. Staged in Monte Carlo (not that you`d notice), this fight was for the World Middleweight Title.

The second feature is a career retrospective for Joey Giardello and features highlights from the following fights:

Joey Giardello vs. Garth Panter, New York, 8 January 1954
Joey Giardello vs. Walter Cartier, New York, 5 February 1954
Joey Giardello vs. Willie Troy, New York, 19 March 1954
Gene Fullmer vs. Joey Giardello, Bozeman, Montana, 20 April 1960 (NBA World Middleweight Title)
Dick Tiger vs. Joey Giardello, Atlantic City, 7 December 1963 (World Middleweight Title)

Video

Screened initially by ESPN in 2000, the intro and credit footage is good enough for TV broadcast. The fight footage is not DVD standard though. Footage of the original fights dates from the 50`s and early 60`s up to 1973, and is all quite grainy, soft focused and faded. In some respects the earlier black and white footage is of better quality, purely because you can see more detail in the harsh black and white of the early transmissions. Print damage is particularly noticeable on the earlier stuff, but that`s understandable.

Audio

Dolby Stereo 2.0 soundtrack, although it`s clearly a Mono soundtrack through both channels when it comes to the fight commentary as it comes across as rather flat and lifeless.

The original commentary for each of the fights is used and this is where you can see the main differences between the two different broadcasting eras. The Giardello commentary is of a newsreel style, and is added after the fact with pointers of upcoming actions from the fighters. ABC World Of Sport mainstay Howard Cosell commentates for the Monzon fight, and I actually found my mind wandering to John Cusack`s Better Off Dead film, and the Chinese brothers, whilst listening to him talk. Sorry Howard. What was a bit weird was the appearance of Jackie Stewart in the commentary box talking about getting pole position in the Monte Carlo Grand Prix to the be raced the following day.

Features

A couple of commentaries on both Conzon and Giardello by our `enry, each lasting just short of 5 minutes, and both effectively a short biography of the lives and careers of both fighters. It is clear `enry is reading a script rather than talking on the fly, but even as a non-fan, I found them both interesting.

Conclusion

For me the presentation of this disc was a bit of a disappointment. The fact I don`t know much about boxing shouldn`t have stopped me from appreciating this disc but I come away thinking it`s a bit of a sloppy release.

Here`s why. The footage used for the bulk of the features needs cleaning up. Maybe true fight fans will appreciate the footage in its original state, but I just feel that some effort could and should have been made to tidy it up. For a TV programme, there are clearly budgetary restraints but that excuse doesn`t fly for a DVD release. The soundtrack is something I have less of a problem with, although there are no subtitles, which limits the audience even more.

The worst thing though in my book is that this is a straight to DVD transfer of a flawed programme in the first place. `enry Cooper (in best Walford accent) introduces each programme in around half a minute and then we go straight into the action and original commentary. The only modern additions before the credits are a couple of on-screen graphics reminding you of each of the fighters. There is no summation to either of the programmes. When the last piece of footage finishes, the programme moves straight into the credits, which to me smacks of wasted opportunity and bad programme making. In the introduction to the Giardello programme, `enry explains that we are about to see highlights of Giardello`s controversial career. Well, nothing in the programme, not even `enry, explained what was so controversial about this fighter. It was only listening to `enry`s commentary for this programme where this was finally cleared up.

I`m guessing this is geared towards boxing die-hards who may not be too bothered about the shortfalls I mention. Indeed said fans will also probably have prior knowledge of the two fighters in focus. These people will probably buy this regardless. If you want a no frills DVD focusing on two fighters, then this may well do for you. Don`t expect any miracles with picture or sound though.