Comments Thread For: Team Stevenson Eye Kovalev Fall Clash in Quebec

[BattlingNelson]

Different fighters travel different roads to the same spot. Just because one had a smoother trip doesn't negate their accomplishments.

So Ward should have fought Bute then?

Kov is the #1 contender, without question. He isn't the lineal champ and will NEVER be until he defeats Stevenson.

I think the lineage belongs to Andre Ward actually doesn't it?

If Stevenson does fight him and beats him, he's better than him, same as if Kov wins, he is the better fighter.

Kovalev is without a doubt the highest ranking LHW.

[The Big Dunn]

So Ward should have fought Bute then?

I think the lineage belongs to Andre Ward actually doesn't it?

Kovalev is without a doubt the highest ranking LHW.

Ward/Bute is a different situation and has no bearing on this debate.

No, as Ward and Dawson was not at LHW.

He is the #1 contender to the lineal LHW title. The lineal LHW champ is the top ranking LHW. You are entitled to your opinion that Kov is better than Stevenson, but you are not entitled to your own facts.

[NEETzsche]

Ward/Bute is a different situation and has no bearing on this debate.

No, as Ward and Dawson was not at LHW.

He is the #1 contender to the lineal LHW title. The lineal LHW champ is the top ranking LHW. You are entitled to your opinion that Kov is better than Stevenson, but you are not entitled to your own facts.

we all know that lineal doesn't necessarily mean best in this day and age. it's an ancillary bonus, not a real king-maker. the only real determinant of a division's #1 (short of them actually fighting each other) is consensus opinion

[The Big Dunn]

we all know that lineal doesn't necessarily mean best in this day and age. it's an ancillary bonus, not a real king-maker. the only real determinant of a division's #1 (short of them actually fighting each other) is consensus opinion

No, winning is what matters. Stevenson beat the best in the division at the time. He earned the lineal title.

Kov was among the group considered to be his top contender. He beat both of the others in that group and thus has emerged as the undisputed #1 contender to the lineal title.

You are entitled to your opinion on who the best is. But the top spot is not opinion based, its based on fighting each other, as you stated. Stevenson fought and beat that guy.

[Hougigo]

While Stevenson struggled and got k/d against Fonfara. So now instead of a 50-50 potential FOTY you have a fight where everyone expects Kovalev to wipe Stevenson out. So how is it bigger?

IMO, it's bigger because there will be a fully unified undisputed champion. It's only bigger though because of the actions of one of the fighters. You can guess who that is

[BattlingNelson]

Ward/Bute is a different situation and has no bearing on this debate.

Different? How so?

No, as Ward and Dawson was not at LHW.

That's not how it Works in lineage terms. That fight was for the lineal title as the weight was at 175 or below. That's a fact.

He is the #1 contender to the lineal LHW title. The lineal LHW champ is the top ranking LHW. You are entitled to your opinion that Kov is better than Stevenson, but you are not entitled to your own facts.

Kovalev is the best at LHW. Just like most people found Roy Jones to be better than then lineal champion Dariusz Michalszewski.

Same thing.

[The Big Dunn]

Different? How so?


That's not how it Works in lineage terms. That fight was for the lineal title as the weight was at 175 or below. That's a fact.


Kovalev is the best at LHW. Just like most people found Roy Jones to be better than then lineal champion Dariusz Michalszewski.

Same thing.

Its not exactly the same situation. Its not Stevenson and Kovalev so It has no bearing on this discussion.

I get what you are doing here and it is a salient point. I think we all know Dawson fought for Ward's titles and was not defending his. I don't see Ward listed as the lineal LHW champ on the transitional boxing board or anywhere else credible, unless I missed it. I am not saying your point isn't factual, I'm just saying it was addressed before the fight and all credible rankings reflect that it was.

You can have that opinion and I will not argue with you. But the "top" LHW is the lineal champ Stevenson. That is a fact that can not be argued.

[BattlingNelson]

Its not exactly the same situation. Its not Stevenson and Kovalev so It has no bearing on this discussion.

It's the same. What goes for one goes for the other.

I get what you are doing here and it is a salient point. I think we all know Dawson fought for Ward's titles and was not defending his. I don't see Ward listed as the lineal LHW champ on the transitional boxing board or anywhere else credible, unless I missed it. I am not saying your point isn't factual, I'm just saying it was addressed before the fight and all credible rankings reflect that it was.

It is factual that Ward won the lineal LHW title at a catchweight. End of.

You can have that opinion and I will not argue with you. But the "top" LHW is the lineal champ Stevenson. That is a fact that can not be argued.

So Jones was never the top LHW. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Weebler I]

How does expectations change what happens in the ring? It's still a 50/50 fight, its just the pie is significantly bigger.

People thinking Kov wins easy doesn't mean he will.

It doesn't matter, that's how it's viewed. When a fight has a clear favorite it's less anticipated. It went from 50-50 to 60-40 or even 70-30.

What makes the pie bigger now? Stevenson is putting up poor numbers and Kovalev's remains the same.

[The Big Dunn]

It doesn't matter, that's how it's viewed. When a fight has a clear favorite it's less anticipated. It went from 50-50 to 60-40 or even 70-30.

What makes the pie bigger now? Stevenson is putting up poor numbers and Kovalev's remains the same.

The higher purses for each fighter. Houggio's point that all the titles wll be on the line, and the fact these are clearly the 2 best and top 2 LHW's when this wasn't established in early 2014 makes the fight bigger IMO.

I disagree with your point regarding 50/50. Stevenson is getting poor numbers in part because people like me are not watching due to his opponent choice. This fight is not like those.