Duva: MSG, MGM Want Kovalev vs. Stevenson Clash

By Ryan Burton

Main Events CEO Kathy Duva is very hopeful that the highly anticipated fight between Sergey Kovalev and Adonis Stevenson can be finalized for a HBO pay-per-view date in June.  If the fight is made it will produce an undisputed champion in the light heavyweight division.  Kovalev, who is promoted by Duva, holds the WBA, WBO, and IBF titles while Stevenson, who is managed by boxing power broker Al Haymon, holds the WBC title.

Kovalev first has to defeat Jean Pascal on January 30th and Stevenson will likely have an interim fight as well.

Duva revealed that venues in New York and Las Vegas are the frontrunners to land the fight.

"Madison Square Garden and the new MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas are very interested in the fight.  Wherever we get the best deal is where it would go.  A lot of things go into account besides who bids the most.  June 11th is a date that we have talked about but I want to make it clear that it doesn't have to be on that exact date.  There are other dates in June that could work as well," Duva told BoxingScene.com.

Negotiations between Duva and Stevenson's promoter Yvon Michel have been contentious in the past but the New Jersey based promoter said that she has no problems working with him and that they are both in agreement on how to run the promotion.

"Yvon and I can work together beautifully.  He knows what he is doing.  He knows how to sell and is a very good promoter. I have a lot of respect for his ability as a promoter.  We have had a couple of meetings where we have discussed what we would do with the promotion.  How we would sell it.  What we think we can do to make it move.  What would the story be that we are telling.  We are so totally on the same page on everything that it is a pleasure," Duva told Boxingscene.com.

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