Ring Ratings: Stevenson stripped

Retard alert. Ding ding ding! If I am a "retard," countering my arguments should be very easy, yet you couldn't counter any of my positions. All you offered was childish name calling. But if you truly believe I am a "retard," you should be very eager to take my retard challenge. We each put up $10,000. We each take an IQ test. Winner take all. You in? Should be easy money for you right? Since I'm a retard and all? Let me know how soon we can make arrangements to put the money in escrow. Thanks.

All I see is a bunch of excuses not to take the best money and exposure around. Same old story with Stevenson again, complete double standard. the best money and exposure for kovalev would have been to fight stevenson. instead, he declined, and signed another contract with HBO. all i see is a bunch of excuses for kovalev to not take the best money and exposure around. same old story with kovalev. see how that works? the difference is that stevenson was willing to go through with the purse bid and kovalev wasn't. end of story.

More people watch PBC boxing than watch HBO boxing. HBO boxing is a sinking ship. PBC's power will continue to grow in the coming years as HBO's power shrinks. HBO is only the premier boxing network in the eyes of a shrinking core of boxing nerds. Just because Haymon is smart enough to not sign any fighter to a specific network doesn't mean Haymon doesn't have relationships and loyalties that must be honored for the betterment of his business. HBO is overpaying for Kovalev and Haymon is overpaying for Stevenson. That is what happens sometimes in these kinds of wars. What should Stevenson do? Keep collecting that Haymon money. What did Kovalev do? Keep collecting that HBO money. Your double standard continues. You imply that it is about the money - a business decision. Then wtf is stevenson crying abojt bejng stripped of that ring belt?

More people watch PBC boxing than watch HBO boxing. HBO boxing is a sinking ship. PBC's power will continue to grow in the coming years as HBO's power shrinks. HBO is only the premier boxing network in the eyes of a shrinking core of boxing nerds. Just because Haymon is smart enough to not sign any fighter to a specific network doesn't mean Haymon doesn't have relationships and loyalties that must be honored for the betterment of his business. HBO is overpaying for Kovalev and Haymon is overpaying for Stevenson. That is what happens sometimes in these kinds of wars. What should Stevenson do? Keep collecting that Haymon money. What did Kovalev do? Keep collecting that HBO money. Your double standard continues. All I see is a bunch of excuses not to take the best money and exposure around. Same old story with Stevenson

OK let's split the difference and say both ducked before, whatever. Let's talk now. One guy has an exclusive with HBO, still America's premier boxing network. Other guy is not exclusive to anyone, per his promoter, and has seen a huge drop in ratings, attendance, opponent quality, prestige since leaving HBO. He's got a 50/50 offer on HBO vs 3 belt Peoples Champ. What should he do? More people watch PBC boxing than watch HBO boxing. HBO boxing is a sinking ship. PBC's power will continue to grow in the coming years as HBO's power shrinks. HBO is only the premier boxing network in the eyes of a shrinking core of boxing nerds. Just because Haymon is smart enough to not sign any fighter to a specific network doesn't mean Haymon doesn't have relationships and loyalties that must be honored for the betterment of his business. HBO is overpaying for Kovalev and Haymon is overpaying for Stevenson. That is what happens sometimes in these kinds of wars. What should Stevenson do? Keep collecting that Haymon money. What did Kovalev do? Keep collecting that HBO money. Your double standard continues.

I'm glad that YOU don't see an issue with him fighting on HBO, but since you have no qualifications and clearly don't understand how this business works, it's not surprising that you don't see an issue. So allow me to explain what some of the issues are. #1 - By only allowing HBO to bid on the fight, there is absolutely no way to maximize the value of the fight. #2 - While Kovalev has an exclusive HBO deal NOW, that wasn't the case after the Pascal fight when the Stevenson fight was offered. He chose an HBO deal over fighting Stevenson. #3 - Stevenson is a Viacom fighter (Showtime, CBS and Spike). If Stevenson loses on HBO, his value to the networks that have invested in him is virtually zero, no different than if Kovalev had lost on Showtime. His HBO deal would have been pulled. So both are in the same boat, yet you apply one standard to one and a completely different standard to the other. They are the two champions in the division. They should unify. Stevenson agreed to unify and Kovalev backed out. You can parrot the HBO propaganda all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that Kovalev was a TV free agent, had a 50/50 deal on the table and walked away to go sign another HBO deal. At that point, Kovalev is the ducker, not Stevenson. If you can't see that, I can't help you. Personally, I think boxing fans are idiots for caring in the first place about who is the best fighter they can make weight on a certain day at a randomly chosen number. The whole thing is nonsense. The top 40 heavyweights would demolish both of these guys. Go watch the WNBA if you care that much about inferior athletes. OK let's split the difference and say both ducked before, whatever. Let's talk now. One guy has an exclusive with HBO, still America's premier boxing network. Other guy is not exclusive to anyone, per his promoter, and has seen a huge drop in ratings, attendance, opponent quality, prestige since leaving HBO. He's got a 50/50 offer on HBO vs 3 belt Peoples Champ. What should he do?

I don't think many would agree with you on that. Most everyone has Kov as Peoples Champ. Stevenson is lineal but often that's not The Man, see MW division. But bigger picture, sounds like for you The Man can stay fighting nothing but bums for years, no requirements? I'm glad Ring has a better policy Like I said It works both ways : I guess you consider Kovalev ' The Man ' but he can play this game also he can duck the lineal champ and keep fighting top contenders -- but until he or IF he fights 'THE MAN -- SUPERMAN ' he not the man in my eyes.

Superduck doesn't have an exclusive, his last fight was on Spike, doing awful ratings as usual. So I don't see an issue with him fighting on HBO. Besides the outsized risk, of course I'm glad that YOU don't see an issue with him fighting on HBO, but since you have no qualifications and clearly don't understand how this business works, it's not surprising that you don't see an issue. So allow me to explain what some of the issues are. #1 - By only allowing HBO to bid on the fight, there is absolutely no way to maximize the value of the fight. #2 - While Kovalev has an exclusive HBO deal NOW, that wasn't the case after the Pascal fight when the Stevenson fight was offered. He chose an HBO deal over fighting Stevenson. #3 - Stevenson is a Viacom fighter (Showtime, CBS and Spike). If Stevenson loses on HBO, his value to the networks that have invested in him is virtually zero, no different than if Kovalev had lost on Showtime. His HBO deal would have been pulled. So both are in the same boat, yet you apply one standard to one and a completely different standard to the other. They are the two champions in the division. They should unify. Stevenson agreed to unify and Kovalev backed out. You can parrot the HBO propaganda all you want, but it doesn't change the fact that Kovalev was a TV free agent, had a 50/50 deal on the table and walked away to go sign another HBO deal. At that point, Kovalev is the ducker, not Stevenson. If you can't see that, I can't help you. Personally, I think boxing fans are idiots for caring in the first place about who is the best fighter they can make weight on a certain day at a randomly chosen number. The whole thing is nonsense. The top 40 heavyweights would demolish both of these guys. Go watch the WNBA if you care that much about inferior athletes.

It goes both ways as other posters have argued . The fact is to be the man you got to beat the man # 2. or # 5 will never equal # 1. lineal champ - I dont care if they stripped Adonis hes the man until proven otherwise. I don't think many would agree with you on that. Most everyone has Kov as Peoples Champ. Stevenson is lineal but often that's not The Man, see MW division. But bigger picture, sounds like for you The Man can stay fighting nothing but bums for years, no requirements? I'm glad Ring has a better policy

Why? The rule should be a year, and not two years without fighting a top fighter. Basing everything off lineage is faulty thinking, you need some subjectivity. It goes both ways as other posters have argued . The fact is to be the man you got to beat the man # 2. or # 5 will never equal # 1. lineal champ - I dont care if they stripped Adonis hes the man until proven otherwise.

That's just more double standard. Kovalev is supposed to be loyal to his broadcast partner, even when he doesn't have an exclusive contract, yet Stevenson is just supposed to spit in the face of his broadcast partners? And not even allow them to bid on the fight? Kovalev and Stevenson are aligned with parties that do not get along and do not do business together. Despite that fact, one side was willing to put the nonsense aside and allow the fight to happen and one side wasn't willing. The side that was willing was Stevenson's side. The side that wasn't willing was Kovalev's side. He ducked the fight. Move on with your life. He backed out of the purse bid. HBO offered him a bunch of money and he took it. Good for him. Haymon offered Stevenson a bunch of money and he took it. Good for him. The only problem here is the ridiculous double standard you're applying to them. Superduck doesn't have an exclusive, his last fight was on Spike, doing awful ratings as usual. So I don't see an issue with him fighting on HBO. Besides the outsized risk, of course

And he could have lost out on the HBO contract by doing that. Either way, now he's exclusive to HBO and Stevenson is a free agent doing poor numbers against poor opponents since running from HBO. He's got a 50/50 offer from 3 belt champ on HBO. You think he takes it, or more bums for less money? That's just more double standard. Kovalev is supposed to be loyal to his broadcast partner, even when he doesn't have an exclusive contract, yet Stevenson is just supposed to spit in the face of his broadcast partners? And not even allow them to bid on the fight? Kovalev and Stevenson are aligned with parties that do not get along and do not do business together. Despite that fact, one side was willing to put the nonsense aside and allow the fight to happen and one side wasn't willing. The side that was willing was Stevenson's side. The side that wasn't willing was Kovalev's side. He ducked the fight. Move on with your life. He backed out of the purse bid. HBO offered him a bunch of money and he took it. Good for him. Haymon offered Stevenson a bunch of money and he took it. Good for him. The only problem here is the ridiculous double standard you're applying to them.

Kovalev didn't have an exclusive network deal either. He could have fought Stevenson as a one off and made career best money before signing another HBO deal. But he chose to take less money for less risk. Your double standard is hilarious. And he could have lost out on the HBO contract by doing that. Either way, now he's exclusive to HBO and Stevenson is a free agent doing poor numbers against poor opponents since running from HBO. He's got a 50/50 offer from 3 belt champ on HBO. You think he takes it, or more bums for less money?

Stevenson doesn't have an exclusive network deal. He could go fight Kov on HBO as a one off, and make career best money. But he'd rather take less money for zero risk. Kovalev didn't have an exclusive network deal either. He could have fought Stevenson as a one off and made career best money before signing another HBO deal. But he chose to take less money for less risk. Your double standard is hilarious.

How many times did negotiations fail before?...Come on man...you gotta know better than this...it was obvious they would not come to an agreement but her move backfired and she had kov sign an exclusive deal anyway when she could have taken the fight...in all fairness stevenson took the best deal for himself as well...but in all fairness again this is prize fighting and you go with the network that offers the most prize money... Stevenson doesn't have an exclusive network deal. He could go fight Kov on HBO as a one off, and make career best money. But he'd rather take less money for zero risk.

Im very disappointed in the RING I thought they based their titles on linage - They are starting to act like the rest of the sanctioning bodies. I see 168 is vacant granted the lineal champ S.O.G has moved up to LH but I hate to think that they would of done the same to Ward. Why? The rule should be a year, and not two years without fighting a top fighter. Basing everything off lineage is faulty thinking, you need some subjectivity.

OK that is plausible but I can't see it. Kathy has been around a long time and had to know Haymon had big money as he had taken her gig from NBCSports. This would have to be PPV for HBO and I don't know that it makes HBO its money back. HBO was lowering the budget, so it seems crazy for her to think they would pony up for this fight when, lets face it, this fight is more of a "hardcore" fans fight and not casual fans. Just a bad miscalculation by Kathy on several fronts. oh I agree with you 100% on that. "Bad" might not even be a big enough word lol This debate was never about Kathy's business acumen. The other poster claimed that Kathy requested a purse bid from the WBC, and I simply pointed out that was not accurate. And from that theres 5 pages of that guy trying to convince me (or himself) that it actually happened that way BTW, heres the old story from when Yvon Michel requested the purse bid. But according to the other poster, this story must be a lie lol http://www.boxingscene.com/stevensons-promoter-ready-kovalev-purse-bid--89535

Fair enough IMO.

I think Kathy didnt know how deep Haymons pockets were at the time (nobody really did), and even if it ended up going to bid, it would be a showtime vs hbo thing, and she would win. OK that is plausible but I can't see it. Kathy has been around a long time and had to know Haymon had big money as he had taken her gig from NBCSports. This would have to be PPV for HBO and I don't know that it makes HBO its money back. HBO was lowering the budget, so it seems crazy for her to think they would pony up for this fight when, lets face it, this fight is more of a "hardcore" fans fight and not casual fans. Just a bad miscalculation by Kathy on several fronts.

Come on dude. It was obvious to everyone that once kov got the mando as she requested that this would go to a bid. How Katny didn't see this is ridiculous. You also know there is NO WAY she went to the WBC to ask to be the mando without checking with HBO first since Kov had a fight left on his HBO deal. Kathy backed out because HBO couldn't have afforded to bid against GYM/Haymon. I think Kathy didnt know how deep Haymons pockets were at the time (nobody really did), and even if it ended up going to bid, it would be a showtime vs hbo thing, and she would win.