By Ryan Burton

Prior to Andre Ward's (31-0, 15 KOs) narrow unanimous decision victory over Sergey Kovalev (30-1, 26 KOs) on November 19th, Kovalev's promoter Kathy Duva revealed that if Ward were to win the fight, they had the opportunity to exercise an immediate rematch clause.

At the post fight press conference, Duva made it known that they were planning to exercise that clause to get Ward right back in the ring. Dates in April and June have been mentioned as possibilities for the second fight.

There have been conflicting reports from Ward and his promoter, Roc Nation, as to the validity of the rematch clause.  Ward has also stated that if he doesn't get an offer to his liking, he may retire instead.

WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson (28-1) does not believe that a Ward-Kovalev rematch is likely to happen.  He doesn't think a second fight is economically feasible.

"I think now Andre Ward needs more money to fight Kovalev and I don't know who is going to give it to him. I know the game and I see that Andre Ward is going to need more money and I don't know if it is going to happen," Stevenson told BoxingScene.com.

"Ward wants more money and we don't know if it will happen. You see the pay-per-view numbers. Who is going to pay Andre Ward to make that fight? His promoter lost money on that fight and I don't think they want to lose money again."

Stevenson referenced the low pay-per-view numbers which have been reported to be around the 160,000 buy mark.  Stevenson does not believe that a rematch will generate enough pay-per-view buys to pay a financial figure that would satisfy Ward.

"He made $5 million [the first time], so logically he needs more money in a rematch. He needs 8 or 9 or 10 million and who is going to give that to him? You can say they have a rematch clause and bullsh*t like that - but this guy needs to get paid. That is why I don't think it will happen.  That's the only reason. Andre Ward is not scared. That's bullsh*t. It's just the money. If the money is on the table any fighter will fight anyone," Stevenson explained.