Harry Carpenter: a legend to me

Paul Foley pays tribute to a friend and teacher he never met yet from whom he learned lots...

It has now been just over a week since the sad news of boxing commentator Harry Carpenter’s death came through my TV screen.

There has been much said and much more written about a man that I and so many others had come to know and enjoy at a time when there wasn’t a satellite in sight and pay per view was never heard of. All I paid was the TV licence fee. (Well my dad paid it really!)

I owe a huge thank you to Harry for introducing me to the love relationship of this great noble art, and despite many attempts to take me away from it I’m glad to say I’ve still got my eyes fixed.

During the eighties Carpenter entered my living room week after week when Sportsnight caused me to be having a late night even if school was in the morning.

While I may have been a little bleary-eyed in the morning at least I had something to talk about. Names like Duke McKenzie, Dave McAuley, Barry McGuigan, Frank Bruno, Kirkland Laing and Lloyd Honeyghan were the subject of my early teen years’ revision.

It was Harry who helped my early boxing studies by rolling off the facts and figures that up until this day I am still finding so useful. (Unlike all of that algebra stuff!)

Carpenter was loved by many of the fighters. Several years ago while walking along an East London Street at night I bumped into one that had fond memories of the Beeb’s main ring man.

Former British welterweight stylist Kirkland Laing told me “Harry Carpenter called me the gifted one.” Like on so many other occasions Harry called it right.

In my twenty five years (and more) of ring observation Harry was always (and probably still is) my favourite commentator. While ITV’s Reg Gutteridge hosted many big fight nights I always put him in the unfair position of comparison to Harry, and because Harry was my man I didn’t give Reg much of a look in. In hindsight I realise that was a little unfair but nothing personal, just a preference.

Harry possessed a wealth of expertise, yet was thankfully poor on arrogance.  I can never recall him being rude or ever causing me to become annoyed with his attitude or opinion.

I probably adopted the stance that if Harry says it then that’s enough said. It is at times like these that I regret letting old tapes of his commentary fall by the way side. There is hope though for me watching once again through the good old means of youtube.

After Harry departed from the BBC in 1994 ITV and Sky were on hand to take over. While Harry lived on for another sixteen years Boxing on the BBC died, unless of course you count the quick fling with Audley Harrison at the start of the last decade.

Before everyone reminds me I am fully aware there were also a few good fights shown on Sunday nights but they were at a time when most working adults were tucked up.

And today apart from the odd mention of Haye or Pacquiao, BBC screens buried boxing long ago.

Carpenter was in his prime during a time when research and getting to know someone involved a little more than a quick google search. In addition to sitting ringside on fight night Harry displayed his passion and professionalism by giving viewers an inside look at the world of the fighter.

I recall him visiting gyms to catch a few clues to what made someone tick. How different to that of writers today who make judgements and give opinions on people they know nothing about.

The smiling and friendly pugilist proclaimer will be buried soon, but thankfully the memories I have of him will live on with me until like Harry I say goodbye.

Harry called it as he saw it. He wouldn’t allow any fighter or promoter to intimidate or muzzle him. (Sounds like my editor!)

So Carpenter has set the trend for the boxing media. If Harry were in my corner I think he would be telling me to practice what he so beautifully preached.

And I think I’ll take his advice!