Comments Thread For: Duva: Kovalev To Remain as IBF's Mandatory To Hopkins

[King_]

Another thing, and a pretty important thing, that really isn't being discussed and what we don't know is money. It's quite possible Kovalev is being offered more money to fight Cleverly on HBO versus Hopkins on Showtime. That could be what it ultimately comes down to. I'd love to know what Warren/HBO are offering Kovalev.

True. You are right about that. But If Kovalev feels like he can beat Hop, I think taking tjay fight for a bit less money could be worth it in the end because the potential fight with Clev (assuming he wins) would probably make him even more money then he would make now, considering he would have a title as well.

[MDPopescu]

Kathy duva would be a fool to take the Cleverly fight over the Hopkins fight first, IMO. People keep saying Kovlaev can fight Clev then unify with hop...... There is absolutely NO guarantee that Hopkins will voluntary fight Kovlaev after that. ESPECIALLY if Kovalev fights on HBO first and likely will be bounded to HBO and it will be impossible network wise. Right now at this moment, Kovalev has mandatory status with the IBF. Networks don't matter, if Kovalevs team wants the fight.. He gets it no matter what. At the least he'll get a fight for the vacant title and pick up the belt that way. There is no reason to turn down a mandatory title shot when you can take the shot; IF he was to win... I am almost 100% positive The cleverly fight will be there later in the year considering FW and cleverly are offering the fight voluntarily, and if Kovalev was to bring an IBF strap to the table, they would probably want the fight even more.

Sadly I have a feeling they're going to go the cleverly route first. If he fights cleverly, I highly, highly doubt he after gets the opportunity to fight Hopkins again. IMO.

... And you seem to me quite desperate to see a 48 and a half years old B-Hop slaughtered by the Russian mob's hitman...
Show some respect to the old legend who's trying to find an elegant way out from such an embarrassment...

[ИATAS]

True. You are right about that. But If Kovalev feels like he can beat Hop, I think taking tjay fight for a bit less money could be worth it in the end because the potential fight with Clev (assuming he wins) would probably make him even more money then he would make now, considering he would have a title as well.

Well, in my mind and maybe I'm wrong here, but I would think Cleverly is the easier fight of the two...by far. So easier fight, more money, title fight, HBO... that could be more enticing to Kovalev and his people. We shall see. Either decision is a good decision for Kovalev, can't go wrong.

[King_]

... And you seem to me quite desperate to see a 48 and a half years old B-Hop slaughtered by the Russian mob's hitman...
Show some respect to the old legend who's trying to find an elegant way out from such an embarrassment...

What the hell are you talking about? I'm not the one who is making him continue his career, it's his own choice.

Well, in my mind and maybe I'm wrong here, but I would think Cleverly is the easier fight of the two...by far. So easier fight, more money, title fight, HBO... that could be more enticing to Kovalev and his people. We shall see. Either decision is a good decision for Kovalev, can't go wrong.

Yeah he can't go wrong, but match-difficulty aside.... I think the IBF mandatory route is in Kovalevs best interest because he has a guaranteed title shot and if he wins, he can unify with cleverly. If he does it the other way around, it's not guarenteed he'll get a chance to unify with hop. Two belts is better then one. (Assuming he beats both of course)

[Arsene Knows]

Another thing, and a pretty important thing, that really isn't being discussed and what we don't know is money. It's quite possible Kovalev is being offered more money to fight Cleverly on HBO versus Hopkins on Showtime. That could be what it ultimately comes down to. I'd love to know what Warren/HBO are offering Kovalev.

That's probably it. Warren has been dishing out some big offers all over the shop recently. If I'm not mistaken, Kovalev as the mandatory would only be entitled to 25% against Hopkins.

[$Bullsfam$]

And who would promote a Hopkin's HBO fight?

I said it would be great if Golden Boy and HBO made up. So it would be golden boy.

[ИATAS]

That's probably it. Warren has been dishing out some big offers all over the shop recently. If I'm not mistaken, Kovalev as the mandatory would only be entitled to 25% against Hopkins.

And I'm guessing the overall purse for Hopkins vs Kovalev on Showtime, likely in Brooklyn, wouldn't be very much. I could be wrong though, just my educated guess.

[King_]

I said it would be great if Golden Boy and HBO made up. So it would be golden boy.

That's just very wishful thinking. In reality... The chances of that are slim to none.

Like I said before, if Kovalev fights Clev first, regardless of whether or not Hopkins wants to fight and unify with him, it would be almost impossible network wise since there's no way a sanctioning body could force it (mandatory status)

[MDPopescu]

Kovalev is a two hands power punching mid-range hooker with an unmatched balance... He's a personification of mobile power.
I don't want to see legendary B-Hop at twilight of his career being obliterated by such a deadly punching machine.

[MDPopescu]

Since Kovalev literally killed Simakov in the ring back in 2011, nobody dared to trade with this murderer and took a dive as soon as possible…