Comments Thread For: Kovalev: If Stevenson Says No To Me, He is a Coward!

[Citizen Koba]

But right now Stevenson hasn't signed a long-term HBO contract, he's still negotiating it. He could be asking for silly money to face Kovalev or considering a jump to Showtime for a Hopkins fight. So I can understand Kovalev talking like this because it seems like whether or not the fight happens will be decided any day now based upon how these negotiations go.

This is kinda where things are at ^. As yet no fights are agreed (beyond Fonfara) and Stevenson says whoever Haymon and Michel tell him to fight, he'll fight.

http://espn.go.com/blog/dan-rafael/t...onis-stevenson

If Stevenson decides to fight BHop, it essentially leaves Kovalev out in the cold. What else is Kovalev supposed to do to make the fight happen? He already KOd 4 good fighters and made this a must see match up, even calling Stevenson out - then Stevenson walks...why?

Course I can understand Stevenson wanting to take a BHop fight first, which could pay as much or more with a fraction of the risk of being KOd....

But IMO this is a fight which needs to happen now there's just too many variables in boxing - either fighter could lose (or just end up being taken to a boring UD), public interest could just start to wane, who knows? In a year or 18 months it might just not matter much.

[Citizen Koba]

You dont have to insult him as hes not ducked'em at all. If anything he mentioned Kovalev being part of the 3 fight hbo deal. Its just that Kovalev who cant keep Stevenson's you know what out of his mouth. Trynna indicate to the public Stevenson is running. Its gonna play well for Kovalev cuz Stevenson will fight Pascal most likely after Fonfara and then last fight of the deal Kovalev. Till then he can yap yap and yap.

That's it though, Stevenson did seem willing, but now it's suddenly well 'nothing is signed', 'I'll fight who Haymon and Michel tell me to', 'I'm gonna want a lot more than a $mil to fight Kovalev'.

The 3 fight deal has not been inked and it's starting to sound like Stevenson might not like the sound of a Kovalev fight.

This is of course his perogative, but Kovalev also has a future to think of, and without the Stevnson fight he has nothing to do except KO B and C listers, so you can't blame Kovalev for running off at the mouth when it's his career that's gonna be hurt and his payday that looks to be slipping away.

If Kovalev - Stevenson does get made, great, if it doesn't I don't think it's a good look for Stevenson - I'm a big fan of both guys, but there'll only be one to blame if one of the must see fights of 2014 doesn't happen.

[MDPopescu]

Kovalev is irrelevant, PERIOD.

Agreed. But, then, why "I'm gonna want a lot more than a $mil to fight Kovalev", as long as he's irrelevant?

(need a banana in order to figure out?)

[Citizen Koba]

I think the reason Kovalev made this statement is that he's worried Stevenson, now with Haymon, will price himself out and ask for more than HBO is willing to offer. Stevenson made a statement that he's not going to fight Kovalev for $1M. Which is somewhat of a ridiculous statement because the LHW has never been a rich division. $1M for a LHW bout is a lot of money. I doubt Chad Dawson ever got that much when he was the man and fighting at LHW, even Pascal.

Stevenson signed a 3 fight $7M contract with HBO, so he's likely going to get more than $1M, probably $2M when it's all said and done. Which is still a lot of money.

Could you just clarify for me - the last I heard a deal was under negotiation but had not been inked, and a quick search doesn't tell me any different.

Have you got a source saying such a deal has actually been signed (I'd also not heard of the $7m figure either).

[MDPopescu]

Don't be a racist pal. I hate it.

This ^ coming from the "white boy pussy" lover...

[rasdun]

[QUOTE=Koba-Grozny;14255340]That's it though, Stevenson did seem willing, but now it's suddenly well 'nothing is signed', 'I'll fight who Haymon and Michel tell me to', 'I'm gonna want a lot more than a $mil to fight Kovalev'.

The 3 fight deal has not been inked and it's starting to sound like Stevenson might not like the sound of a Kovalev fight.

This is of course his perogative, but Kovalev also has a future to think of, and without the Stevnson fight he has nothing to do except KO B and C listers, so you can't blame Kovalev for running off at the mouth when it's his career that's gonna be hurt and his payday that looks to be slipping away.

If Kovalev - Stevenson does get made, great, if it doesn't I don't think it's a good look for Stevenson - I'm a big fan of both guys, but there'll only be one to blame if one of the must see fights of 2014 doesn't happen.


Love to see one fighter stepping up and. Calling out the other.

[MDPopescu]

... doesn't deserve that bout.
Not enough fans. Bad ratings. Ahaha.

We're businessmen on here. So we are talking about business.

Not much fans. Pathetic tv ratings.

All that i can say. Sad.

This poor bloke here sounds like he's speaking about Ward...

[MDPopescu]

"I'll talk shit from the comfort of my home behind a computer screen, but the professional fighters are the pussies." Y'all some sorry excuses for men, foreal.

According to your logic, people on this forum should not label fighters as "cowards" as long as they themselves don't have the guts to go in the ring with those fighters... Funny, indeed...
So, those who watch boxing are only allowed to sing chants of respectful worship aimed at ex-pimps turned into big stars... Funny...

You're the same "UnBiased" who wrote here:
"I understand boxing is a business...but it's also a sport.
I think most educated fans don't turn a blind eye to the business side of this game, but as fans we can't use that to justify crap fights. Understanding is one thing, but defending it is another. If a great matchup also makes great business sense, I'm all for it. But a crap fight is a crap no matter how much money is generated."

[MDPopescu]

... Stevenson has options. He has an actual fanbase. Kovalev has a bunch of computer nerds that probably don't even subscribe to HBO and stream his fights. Stevenson probably makes more fighting Pascal in Canada than HBO is willing to pay him for Kovalev. So it is what it is. He doesn't need to be b1tchin' at Stevenson. He needs to be b1tchin' at HBO.

This post hereabove is coming from a bloke who's "bashing" GGG around for not taking Ward's call next...
Look, dude: If Stebenson has options, then Ward hasn't any... Why don't you ask your "slick boy" to call Kovalev for a change? I'm curious if Kovalev would duck the big Andre Ward's call...

[uncommon]

You dont have to insult him as hes not ducked'em at all. If anything he mentioned Kovalev being part of the 3 fight hbo deal. Its just that Kovalev who cant keep Stevenson's you know what out of his mouth. Trynna indicate to the public Stevenson is running. Its gonna play well for Kovalev cuz Stevenson will fight Pascal most likely after Fonfara and then last fight of the deal Kovalev. Till then he can yap yap and yap.

Kovalev said: "If..."