Kovalev shouldn't fight Cleverly in the UK, he should wait for B-Hop to vacate title

[The Hammer]

HBO is pushing for a Sergey Kovalev-Nathan Cleverly fight in the UK.

Chris Mannix @ChrisMannixSI
HBO has big plans for Kovalev. Hope is that with his style, personality, he can follow a Golovkin-like path

Chris Mannix @ChrisMannixSI
Kovalev is in a great position, but involvement of @HBOboxing--which wants Kovalev-Cleverly as part of an August card--has been influential


Chris Mannix @ChrisMannixSI 1h
Hearing that Sergey Kovalev will pursue a title shot against Nathan Cleverly, not the IBF-ordered mandatory against @THEREALBHOP.

This isn't a smart move for Kovalev, HBO shouldn't be a matchmaker.

I remember when HBO pushed for Dzinziruk to move up and fight Martinez, instead of defending his WBO title. After the beating from Sergio and the long wait between fights, he wasn't the same.

Then HBO had a fine up-and-coming middleweight Proksa fight Golovkin. After the beating from GGG, Proksa will never be the same.

If he doesn't fight Cleverly, Sergey Kovalev will be fighting for the vacant IBF title after Hopkins vacates. If HBO had his interests in mind, they'd want to televise that fight, especially considering the lower cost of a fight in the US.

And there's a chance that the fight will go the distance and Kovalev will be robbed in Wales.

It's not really a good fight for Cleverly either. There's a good chance he'll get brutally KOed in front of his home crowd, and then he'll never be the same again.

[thuggery]

Unfortunately Schaefer will make sure Hopkins won't ever step in the ring with Kovalev.

[The Hammer]

Unfortunately Schaefer will make sure Hopkins won't ever step in the ring with Kovalev.

True. But then Hopkins will have to vacate.

Then Kovalev as mandatory will fight someone else for the vacant IBF title.

It's the wisest and most profitable route to take.

[Arsene Knows]

Just a few days ago....

Warren would never put Cleverly in with KOvalev.

[The Hammer]

Just a few days ago....

I'm still doubtful, but Chris Mannix says HBO is pushing for this fight to happen.

They are flashing $$$$$ in front of FW, so he may take the bait - especially with the security of the fight being in Wales.

[Arsene Knows]

I'm still doubtful, but Chris Mannix says HBO is pushing for this fight to happen.

They are flashing $$$$$ in front of FW, so he may take the bait - especially with the security of the fight being in Wales.

Warren has signed the fight. It's Main Events/Kovalev who they are waiting for to sign.

Security? I thought his name was "KOvalev"?

[The Hammer]

Warren has signed the fight thicko. It's Main Events/Kovalev who they are waiting for to sign.

Security? I thought his name was "KOvalev"?

Just joined up and already you're trolling and picking fights?

What was the username of your previously banned account?

[Weebler I]

And there's a chance that the fight will go the distance and Kovalev will be robbed in Wales.

It's not really a good fight for Cleverly either. There's a good chance he'll get brutally KOed in front of his home crowd, and then he'll never be the same again.

Last robbery in Wales? Kovalev should take the fight, he will win by knockout or dominate the fight on HBO to such an extent that even a robbery would not be held against him. I believe he would also retain his mandatory position with the IBF?

[BetterCallSaul]

Cleverly is becoming one the the most serially avoided men in boxing.

If Kovalev (the challenger) isn't willing to fly to the UK to fight a powderpuff puncher who many people regard as a terrible boxer, he has no right to fight for a vacant title.

Avoiding Cleverly to fight for a vacant title is probably one of the biggest ***** moves in boxing.

[yoz]