If Kovalev wants to redeem himself after getting beaten by Ward twice, the only way is to beat Stevenson. Honestly, I think Stevenson would be the massive favourite at the moment... But Kovalev stands a chance and it would make him relevant to the sport again.
redeem himself for being cheated? shouldn't ward have to redeem himself since hes the one who needed corrupt judges and refs to give him the win?
He didn't need that. I saw the fights. Ward won, that's all there is to it. I understand he may not be very likable to some, but he won and that's how history will remember it. It's kinda like those who claim Mayweather lost to Castillo... People whined, but today, everyone has accepted "nah, Mayweather deserved it, we were just whining". Same thing is going on here. In a few years, this childish loser mentality will come to an end.
Respect to Kovalev for knocking Ward down, though. Although he fought a past-prime Ward, it was still quite a feat to knock down such an elite fighter.
All of these people who claim Kovalev would beat Stevenson... I'm like, seriously. Do you even believe that **** yourself? Kovalev got a horrible defense. Stevenson is an old joke who wastes his career away, there is no reason for any of you to bring that up. I know Stevenson is ****. But he hits hard. He hits fast. And Kovalev got a lame defense.
Ward beats both Kovalev and Stevenson any day, though, they're just too stylistically primitive for all the Wards/Mayweathers/Crawfords/nextlevelblackslicksters out there...
I'd kinda agree with this, actually. Taking out Stevenson would go some way to repairing the damage done by Ward. Maybe he doesn't NEED him, but it would be beneficial.
Stevenson needs to f*ck off, however. One fight in nearly 18 months, while holding a title hostage? Get the f*ck out of here. Disgraceful.
Redeem himself for what? He won the first Ward fight in the eyes of most viewers and the ref wrongly stop the 2nd fight when he should have been giving Kovlev 5 minutes to recover from very low blows and Warning Ward to keep his punches up. All he has to do is fight well and win. There are other light heavyweights just as dangerous as Stevenson he may have to fight. If Stevenson agrees to fight him he should take the fight but I don't think he has to fight Stevenson. Ward never did.
Who told you that Stevenson was the one avoiding the fight?
Let's see, both fighters were on HBO. The network starts building up a showdown between its two best new LHWs. Kovalev re-signs with HBO, Stevenson hauls ass and signs with Showtime.
Kovalev doesn't need Stevenson & Stevenson sure as hell doesn't want Kovalev, even after his 2 losses to Ward. That ship has sailed, got lost at sea and sank.
Who told you that Stevenson was the one avoiding the fight?
He needs a tough fight. Even Beterbiev would do.
You don't become less of a robotic Russian who got beaten by a good black fighter by merely beating another robotic Russian.
Only Stevenson is good enough, no one cares about Beterbiev.
Kovalev doesn't need Stevenson & Stevenson sure as hell doesn't want Kovalev, even after his 2 losses to Ward. That ship has sailed, got lost at sea and sank.