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by David P. Greisman - Absolute power captivates almost absolutely. It is compelling, even if it is not always convincing. And so those with power will have many of us watching as they make their opponents fall, while the rest of us will be watching and waiting for the day on which they fail.
And all will fail eventually, when matchmaking and fate finally deliver them to someone who is skilled enough to avoid their power, or steeled enough to take it.
That won’t stop us from watching in the interim.
It’s been true with middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin, who has picked up steam as he’s steamrolled his opposition. His ratings on HBO have grown over the course of 14 months and four fights on the network (plus a YouTube friendly knockout in a fifth bout that aired elsewhere), all as he’s being built up for an eventual shot at champion Sergio Martinez.
And it is true with lineal light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson and fellow 175-pound world titleholder Sergey Kovalev. They shared the spotlight this past Saturday night for two reasons — because they are riveting for fans while damaging to foes, and because their separate matches at the Colisée Pepsi in Quebec City were seen as a prelude to a future collision.
“Superman” Stevenson vs. “Crusher” Kovalev isn’t necessary the unstoppable force against the immovable object. Rather, it’s power vs. power, knockout artist vs. knockout artist, a man with 20 knockouts in 23 wins (Stevenson) against a man with 21 knockouts in 23 victories (Kovalev).
It is the light heavyweight version of James Kirkland vs. Alfredo Angulo, though at a higher level.
It is not happening just yet.
It should happen, though, so long as HBO gets what it’s been paying for — what it’s been investing in. No publisher would commission the first 75 percent of a story without also receiving the gripping finale. There shouldn’t be any doubt, then, that Stevenson-Kovalev is what the network wants. [Click Here To Read More]
And all will fail eventually, when matchmaking and fate finally deliver them to someone who is skilled enough to avoid their power, or steeled enough to take it.
That won’t stop us from watching in the interim.
It’s been true with middleweight titleholder Gennady Golovkin, who has picked up steam as he’s steamrolled his opposition. His ratings on HBO have grown over the course of 14 months and four fights on the network (plus a YouTube friendly knockout in a fifth bout that aired elsewhere), all as he’s being built up for an eventual shot at champion Sergio Martinez.
And it is true with lineal light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson and fellow 175-pound world titleholder Sergey Kovalev. They shared the spotlight this past Saturday night for two reasons — because they are riveting for fans while damaging to foes, and because their separate matches at the Colisée Pepsi in Quebec City were seen as a prelude to a future collision.
“Superman” Stevenson vs. “Crusher” Kovalev isn’t necessary the unstoppable force against the immovable object. Rather, it’s power vs. power, knockout artist vs. knockout artist, a man with 20 knockouts in 23 wins (Stevenson) against a man with 21 knockouts in 23 victories (Kovalev).
It is the light heavyweight version of James Kirkland vs. Alfredo Angulo, though at a higher level.
It is not happening just yet.
It should happen, though, so long as HBO gets what it’s been paying for — what it’s been investing in. No publisher would commission the first 75 percent of a story without also receiving the gripping finale. There shouldn’t be any doubt, then, that Stevenson-Kovalev is what the network wants. [Click Here To Read More]
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