Using Stevenson to turn LHW into a „Canadian Affair”, again?...

[ИATAS]

If Stevenson goes on to fight Hopkins, Pascal, Froch, and/or Bute instead of Kovalev you really can't blame him. They are all more lucrative.

Yes you can blame him and everyone would.

[MDPopescu]

I didn't want to put the blame on anyone.
I've seen an article in French from Thursday and I realised that they intended to give this message between the lines, more or less....

[ShoulderRoll]

Yes you can blame him and everyone would.

I won't. I don't begrudge a guy for making more money.

In the meantime let's see how many ppv's Kovalev headlines on his own.

[MDPopescu]

I won't. I don't begrudge a guy for making more money.

In the meantime let's see how many ppv's Kovalev headlines on his own.

I like candor when it's so transparent.

[LA_2_Vegas]

Canada isn't really a boxing country. Where boxing can sell seats in Canada is pretty much limited to Montreal and Quebec City, and only with well cultivated stars. So good luck ever having a 'consensus champ' in Canada. In Toronto, even in 'Fight Bars', you'll generally see a fairly black crowd show up for a Floyd fight, and a fairly Filipino crowd for Manny, and I'm not really sure how many people would turn out for just JMM, but Chavez / Martinez was relatively sparse.

So if Adonis wants to go where the money is that's with Pascal, Bute, B-Hop in Montreal or QC. Or with Froch in the UK or Quebec. Well, unless HBO throws that much money at him to fight Kovalev (in a potential career ender). Support for boxing here is pretty thin, and would be flirting with non-existent if the Quebec scene dries up.

Compare that with hockey where it's hard to find a seat at a bar or restaurant in half the country for a Leafs vs Habs game.

Thx for the thorough response. All I meant by 'consensus champ' was the person regarded as the best Canadian or Canadian-based fighter. I didn't mean to make it sound like there was some gold rush in boxing going on there. I do see those large and enthusiastic crowds, it just makes me think that there must be some major reasons why he opted to make this sidestep. I suppose we will get a reminder tonight when Sergei fights? lol

but putting Sergei and those negotiations aside:

in the boxing scene you describe there, among the fans who know Stevenson and Pascal...who is considered being better and more accomplished?

from the outside, I would say Pascal.

[-=Shade=-]

from the outside, I would say Pascal.

Just because of the thinness of the boxing scene here I'm actually about as 'outside' as you. You'd have to find a Quebecer / Montrealer and ask them. Most of the 'sports people' I know only have a really superficial relationship with boxing. That's half the reason why I'm on these forums. The woman I've been with for the last number of years is from Montreal, and I keep trying to get her to plan a visit home when there's a fight going on, but I haven't had much luck.

The local press in Montreal / Quebec will put some effort into covering boxing (much of it in French) but most of the rest of the press on boxing here would be lucky to devote a few words to a major international PPV after it happened. It really just isn't in the public consciousness in English Canada and I'm not French.

[ShoulderRoll]

Along those same lines is GSP popular in all of Canada? Or mostly in Quebec?

[-=Shade=-]

Along those same lines is GSP popular in all of Canada? Or mostly in Quebec?

GSP is nationally popular, along with MMA. (GSP is popular to the point where he'll even get coverage in the non-sports press.)

[mathed]

I hope he goes on to fight Hopkins and gets taken to school.

[Ivansmamma]

But I can't really blame him for that. This is a business first and foremost, the fighters should absolutely try to maximize their earnings.

No it's not a business first and foremost, it's a sport first and foremost. If it was a business foremost then you would send ppv of fighters talking business and signing contracts.

It's a sport with a business side but when you let "business" meaning shortsighted profit take precedence over what's good for the sport in long term then you not only hurt the sport but you also hurt the business in the long run by erroding fan support for the sport.

That a fighter should try and do this is understandable cause they want to make most money they can in a risky and relatively short career but that a fan of the sport supports this is beyond me.

The fans demanding the best fight is what makes the best fights happen, if the consumer refuses to accept a subpar product then the companies will have to bring them better products to make money. Fans that support bullsht ducking hurt the sport and are bad consumers, accepting faulty products and shady dealing.