Hazzard fired!

[Thunder]

Confirmed: Hazzard out in NJ!
Thursday, November 15 2007

Long time New Jersey boxing chief Larry Hazzard Sr. has been ousted as the state's athletic control board commissioner. Hazzard, who has long been considered a top regulator in the sport, was terminated by Attorney General Anne Milgram for undisclosed reasons. Deputy Commissioner Sylvester Cuyler will now become the state's acting boxing commissioner.

[IceTea]

I won't shed any tears here.

[a87star]

Larry Hazzard wasn't all that as a commissioner but to hear HBO talk, he was the greatest boxing official the state of New Jersey has ever had.

[Mad Bomber]

Originally Posted by a87star

Larry Hazzard wasn't all that as a commissioner but to hear HBO talk, he was the greatest boxing official the state of New Jersey has ever had.

See that's the problem, as far to many of us actually listen to what is said on HBO.

G

[a87star]

Originally Posted by Mad Bomber

See that's the problem, as far to many of us actually listen to what is said on HBO.

G

I never take anything uttered on HBO to heart considering who the announcers are. They are good at hyping things up but when it blows up in their faces, they become hypocritical and retract their statements.

[POETICDRINK2U]

I liked Mr. Hazzard. He was a decent and fair man. I meet him quite a few time. I knew his sons.

[mh2365]

I'm obviously one of the few that likes Jim Lampley. He obviously is loyal to his network and has been known to root for guys he likes, but he talks about boxing on every single program he goes on.

That said ... I thought Hazzard was a good guy who had the best interests of the sport as a whole in mind, so I see why he was fired.

[a87star]

Originally Posted by mh2365

I'm obviously one of the few that likes Jim Lampley. He obviously is loyal to his network and has been known to root for guys he likes, but he talks about boxing on every single program he goes on.

Jim Lampley is definitely a homer when it comes to fighters he likes but overall he definitely tries to promote the sport of boxing on any show that he is a guest of. Never really been a big fan of his announcing because of some of his biases and is very egotistical when it comes to his own personal interests.

[mh2365]

Yes he is very egotistical but like I said I will root for any guy who promotes boxing the way he does ... not fond of his politics or his taste in women ... but I have no beef with his views on boxing. I think he truely loves the sport.

[Ric915]

I to thouught Larry Hazzard was ok He was a great Ref. And always seemed fair and very protective of a fighters health He had no problem stoping a fight himself from ringside if he felt the ref was maybe a little slow in a stoppage

[a87star]

Originally Posted by mh2365

Yes he is very egotistical but like I said I will root for any guy who promotes boxing the way he does ... not fond of his politics or his taste in women ... but I have no beef with his views on boxing. I think he truely loves the sport.

I truly believe he loves the sport and anyone who promotes boxing the way Lampley does definitely deserves kudos. Not too many sports journalists are willing to stick their neck out for boxing anymore. Thankfully some of the "old school" afficionados like Bert Sugar are making sure it gets the respect it deserves, even if I don't agree completely where he places some fighters in history.

[Thunder]

According to the Hazzard camp, he was canned for his concern regarding health and safety initiatives that were not being met.

It wouldn't shock me if he were right. What a shame. He was very good for boxing and hopefully he turns up somewhere in the business.

[Cap]

Originally Posted by a87star

I truly believe he loves the sport and anyone who promotes boxing the way Lampley does definitely deserves kudos. Not too many sports journalists are willing to stick their neck out for boxing anymore. Thankfully some of the "old school" afficionados like Bert Sugar are making sure it gets the respect it deserves, even if I don't agree completely where he places some fighters in history.

I'm wid you guys. Lampley and anyone who promotes boxing on telly is ok. As for Sugar, I suppose the sport needs colourful kooks like him. I wouldn't put too much jack on the fighters he picks though. His talent for handicapping a fight ranks down there with Gentleman Jim Corbett's.

Cap

[a87star]

Originally Posted by Thunder

According to the Hazzard camp, he was canned for his concern regarding health and safety initiatives that were not being met.

It wouldn't shock me if he were right. What a shame. He was very good for boxing and hopefully he turns up somewhere in the business.

I heard some stories about where Hazzard would make fighters drive three hours to get their licenses on the day of the fight and how he suspended a few fighters from the ring even though they passed their health checks after their fight.

Take this with a grain a salt. This was a statement that put together by Bobby Dobbs, Stacy Goodson, and Damon Reed over at BoxRec.

[Bam Bam]

Originally Posted by a87star

Jim Lampley is definitely a homer when it comes to fighters he likes but overall he definitely tries to promote the sport of boxing on any show that he is a guest of. Never really been a big fan of his announcing because of some of his biases and is very egotistical when it comes to his own personal interests.

I think he's awesome. Great play by play voice, articulates his words and thoughts to the T, knows when the fight is heating up and how to call it. Has to deal with boneheads like Roy Jones and George Foreman as his on-air partners sometimes, that can't be easy.

And nobody says the word "sensational" quite like Lampley....

[Thunder]

Originally Posted by a87star

I heard some stories about where Hazzard would make fighters drive three hours to get their licenses on the day of the fight and how he suspended a few fighters from the ring even though they passed their health checks after their fight.

Take this with a grain a salt. This was a statement that put together by Bobby Dobbs, Stacy Goodson, and Damon Reed over at BoxRec.

Hazzard's attorney seems to be leveling the "political firing" charge at the state of NJ. I don't really know a whole lot about what he does (of course I know HBO's praise), but if he really got axed for causing someone some extra paperwork or a couple hours drive time in the name of the rules or caution, that's too bad.

[a87star]

Originally Posted by Thunder

Hazzard's attorney seems to be leveling the "political firing" charge at the state of NJ. I don't really know a whole lot about what he does (of course I know HBO's praise), but if he really got axed for causing someone some extra paperwork or a couple hours drive time in the name of the rules or caution, that's too bad.

I think the people that ripped him at BoxRec were mostly upset that fighters they were associated or friends with, were suspended by Larry Hazzard without any real evidence to do so (in their eyes).

Granted I don't know the whole situation but if someone was a head of a boxing commission, their job is to ensure the safety of the fighter and make sure they have the proper paperwork to enter the ring. IMO Larry Hazzard did his job in that regard.