Comments Thread For: Kovalev Eyes Hopkins Unification After Beating Cleverly

[Tobi.G]

Kovalev is looking past Clevery. He should better focus on Clevery. Kovalev is verry strong but Cleverly is not someone he should overlook.

[ShoulderRoll]

They switched back and forth saying they'll defend against unknown bum Murat, Then kept silent about Kovalev....

If Kovalev really wanted Hopkins' title all he had to do was be patient and wait until the July 17 deadline. B-Hop would either have to accept the mandatory defense or give up his belt.

There's no way he could "keep silent" as the Kovalev camp would have you believe.

The fact of the matter is that in Cleverly they see a better risk/reward ratio.

[MDPopescu]

The legendary grandpa B-Hop should be let alone. He did enough for boxing.

It's somehow curious that Kovalev doesn't speak about a unification bout with WBC champ Adonis Stevenson.

[King_]

If Kovalev really wanted Hopkins' title all he had to do was be patient and wait until the July 17 deadline. B-Hop would either have to accept the mandatory defense or give up his belt.

There's no way he could "keep silent" as the Kovalev camp would have you believe.

The fact of the matter is that in Cleverly they say a better risk/reward ratio.

Kathy duva said that Hopkins team would of likely vacated and fought Cleverly himself had kovalev not accepted Frank warrens offer to fight Clev. Kovalev said he did NOT want to fight for a vacant title, he said he wanted to beat a champ to be the champ. How could you complain about that?

Not sure what you're getting at.... Yeah It's better to fight for a vacant title so guys like you can call him a paper champ. Kovalevs promoter sent out the paperwork to Hopkins camp AS SOON as the white fight ended. Hopkins team could of accepted, instead they kept silent as I said- even saying they would prefer to fight Adonis first and then unify with Kovalrv if he beats Clev. And then ae soon as he signed for cleverly, they brought up talks with Murat again

Don't try to spin it how you want. Golden boy and showtime BLATANTLY and clearly avoided this fight for Hopkins and were prepared to vacate the title.... Kovalev didn't want to fight for a vacant title as he said. I'm not going to say Hopkins ducked him, but his handlers/camp/promoter/network clearly did, I don't know how you can dispute that.

[Barry Allen]

Hopkins should stay away from this runaway locomotive if he wants to remain a relevant force in boxing. Kovalev would kill him.

[ShoulderRoll]

And then ae soon as he signed for cleverly, they brought up talks with Murat again.

Kovalev only got to be the mandatory because Murat had visa problems, never forget that.

And the IBF allows unification fights to come before mandatories so Hopkins could have fought Cleverly without vacating the belt.

If Duva didn't want to wait for all that to play out then that's fine. But don't go accusing Hopkins of ducking because there is absolutely no proof that he did so.

[ddangerous]

Kovalev accusing B-Hop of avoiding him. He should focus fully on Cleverly.

Exactly. SMH at boxers looking past their upcoming title-holding opponent.

[ramblingalp]

Exactly. SMH at boxers looking past their upcoming title-holding opponent.

+2

The past is already gone and B-Hop is hopefully a future opponent for Kovalev down the road. Let's focus upon the next step up the ladder (Cleverly) before we start spending money that hasn't yet been deposited in our bank account.

[daggum]

after kovalev's tune up against cleverly he should fight hopkins or stevenson.

[Straightener]

I feel a cleverly upset is on the way

kovalev is a tank but i think he will get out worked