Kovalev doesn't need Hopkins or Stevenson

Do you honestly think Hopkins gives a damn about being a ppv draw?? he is 49 and is just trying to solidify his legacy He wouldn't be proposing a Mayweather fight for any other reason but big money and big numbers. Mayweather is a much smaller fighter and beating him proves nothing. It's a play toward increasing marketability. And, yes, even at age 49.

Yeah, as has been said, he needs one of them at least, to gain real credibility within the division.

He absolutely does if he continues to campaign at 175

has kovalev fought somebody with a pulse yet?

Need has nothing to do with it, it's what Hopkins wants. That's why he suggested a fight with Mayweather, a fight that not only would have been relatively easy for Hopkins to win, but also one that would have suddenly made him a huge PPV draw again. Do you honestly think Hopkins gives a damn about being a ppv draw?? he is 49 and is just trying to solidify his legacy

Kovalev needs at least one of them. If the Bhop/Stevenson fight happens, it will happen for 3 major belts and the distinction of the number one spot at 175. No matter who Kovalev fights (there aren't many names at 175 besides those two anyway) he can't be named the best because the belt for the so called lineal title will belong to either Stevenson/Hopkins......or Fonfara. The belt/belts is meaningless next to public perception.

I'm not gonna get into the ducking accusations...but Kov shouldn't be worrying about any of this, he's still on HBO, and to me has another big fight he could make with Pascal (although i lost track of who manages pascal now). anyway, it's almost as interesting to me as the bout against Stevenson and should be good money I think we will see Kovalev/Pascal.

Why does Hopkins need to be a ppv draw?? he is fvcking 50 Stevenson is damn near 40 all the titles are on showtime Need has nothing to do with it, it's what Hopkins wants. That's why he suggested a fight with Mayweather, a fight that not only would have been relatively easy for Hopkins to win, but also one that would have suddenly made him a huge PPV draw again.

Hopkins gets paid more and does bigger ratings on a network that has less subscribers Pay is sort of a separate subject, but I don't agree that the most recent ratings favor Hopkins. Kovalev's last fight drew the 3rd largest cable audience of the year, replacing Hopkins/Murat. And, keep in mind, Hopkins numbers are almost always misleading these days because they stack his undercards. Hopkins/Murat was boosted by Quillen/Rosado, and the inclusion of Deontay Wilder on the undercard. And Hopkins/Shumanev also had a stacked undercard, and came on the eve of Easter sunday. Meanwhile, Kovalev drew over a million viewers while fighting a relatively unknown fighter and an equally obscure undercard while the NCAA finals were going on. Hopkins is the bigger name, but Kovalev is the bigger draw. And I wouldn't be surprised, at all, to see Kovalev become boxing's biggest draw period.

They need each other, enough of the bull****. None of them can call themselves the best at 175 without the winner of Stevenson/Hopkins fighting Kovalev.

He needs at least one.

Why does Hopkins need to be a ppv draw?? he is fvcking 50 Stevenson is damn near 40 all the titles are on showtime damn near 40? he is 36.

Why does Hopkins need to be a ppv draw?? he is fvcking 50 Stevenson is damn near 40 all the titles are on showtime

Sergey Kovalev no longer needs to seek a fight with Hopkins or Stevenson at this point, and he doesn't need to join Showtime. Of the three, he's the biggest draw, and he's one of the few fighters in boxing period that isn't afraid to face anyone out there. Kovalev just needs to keep winning and knocking people out and eventually he will be a PPV level draw. That will not happen for either Hopkins or Stevenson without fighting Kovalev, so making one of those fights should be no concern for Kovalev. Kovalev, like Golovkin and Wilder, are all on track to become the 3 biggest names and draws in boxing. Meanwhile, Stevenson will be ridiculed the remainder of his career for ducking Kovalev, and no one credible would even give Hopkins a chance against Kovalev. Bottom: Kovalev is the more intriguing fighter, and he fights for the bigger and more credible network. Kovalev needs at least one of them. If the Bhop/Stevenson fight happens, it will happen for 3 major belts and the distinction of the number one spot at 175. No matter who Kovalev fights (there aren't many names at 175 besides those two anyway) he can't be named the best because the belt for the so called lineal title will belong to either Stevenson/Hopkins......or Fonfara.

I'm not gonna get into the ducking accusations...but Kov shouldn't be worrying about any of this, he's still on HBO, and to me has another big fight he could make with Pascal (although i lost track of who manages pascal now). anyway, it's almost as interesting to me as the bout against Stevenson and should be good money

Yes he is. Hopkins gets paid more and does bigger ratings on a network that has less subscribers

he is not a bigger draw than hopkins Yes he is.

Not at all. By ducking Kovalev, they've both already lost in the public's mind. Don't get me wrong, it would be great for Kovalev if either of those 2 manned up, but they are both too scared and everyone knows it. The next best thing to actually winning is having your opponent cower out. Have they?? lol

Yes he does. Just because max kellerman and HBO are saying he is the best LHW doesn't mean he is. Just like BHop and stevenson need to beat him to be the undisputed best, he needs to beat them. Not at all. By ducking Kovalev, they've both already lost in the public's mind. Don't get me wrong, it would be great for Kovalev if either of those 2 manned up, but they are both too scared and everyone knows it. The next best thing to actually winning is having your opponent cower out.

he is not a bigger draw than hopkins