Comments Thread For: Kovalev, Main Events Withdraw From Stevenson Purse Bid

[BattlingNelson]

Stevenson's side didn't want the fight for June, either, which makes it even worse. They were just fine with Kovalev fighting his mandatory, Stevenson fighting whoever, and then the two meeting later this year.

Seriously, Duva better do everything she can to make this fight. Everything.

Well yes.

She might find it risky with the fluctuation of currency but its the same for GYM. They jusut needed to calculate that risk into the bid. Since there was no problem with the split one must say that Main Events has lost a lot of credibility in this.

[BattlingNelson]

Appreciate the honesty. Is what it is, but after a whole year plus of killing Adonis in the press and in post fight interviews, Kov can't just sit by and let this fight go away.

I think the WBC has made some fan friendly decisions lately (despite not making Floyd defend the 154lb titles). I think Kathy pushed for it and the WBC did this to make solidify the fight to make sure what happened with HBO didn't happen again.

I think HBO told Kathy they wouldn't allow an out in the next contract for the Stevenson fight (assuming they lost the purse bid) so she had to do this to save face. She isn't going to not resign with HBO and lose out on guaranteed money.

I will not be surprised if Kovalev adresses this soon. At least this article is not the end of this story. More is sure to follow.



On WBC well they sure made some ****** decision on Cotto.

[Weebler I]

The entire point of lobbying to allow Kovalev to become the WBC mandatory was so that in the absence of an agreement, you know you have the purse bid to fall back on.

This is insane. This is like Andrade asking for the WBO middleweight title shot and then dropping out when he got it. Makes no sense.

GYM never tried to make an agreement, they complained about Kovalev being made mandatory and wrote to the WBC to speed up the purse bid knowing Haymon had the bigger chequebook to get rid of the problem quickly.

PBC and Haymon playing with investor's money wasn't a thing when Main Events requested mandatory status. Now it is, and HBO/Main Events were unwilling to let Kovalev cross networks.

Team Stevenson get what they wanted, HBO protect their asset, while Main Events, Kovalev and the fans lose out.

[Kagami Taiga]

GYM never tried to make an agreement, they complained about Kovalev being made mandatory and wrote to the WBC to speed up the purse bid knowing Haymon had the bigger chequebook to get rid of the problem quickly.

PBC and Haymon playing with investor's money wasn't a thing when Main Events requested mandatory status. Now it is, and HBO/Main Events were unwilling to let Kovalev cross networks.

Team Stevenson get what they wanted, HBO protect their asset, while Main Events, Kovalev and the fans lose out.

the problem with this argument is it assumes what u want it to. stevenson's team isnt psychic and main events did not have to resign with hbo right away. that was their choice. they could easily called stevenson's bluff. its sad when ppl stretch logic to fit agendas.

[The Big Dunn]

Duva is a ****ing idiot. She pushed for this in the first place and knew full well that Big Gay Al would be in a strong chance of winning, so what the **** was she expecting?

GYM never tried to make an agreement, they complained about Kovalev being made mandatory and wrote to the WBC to speed up the purse bid knowing Haymon had the bigger chequebook to get rid of the problem quickly.

PBC and Haymon playing with investor's money wasn't a thing when Main Events requested mandatory status. Now it is, and HBO/Main Events were unwilling to let Kovalev cross networks.

Team Stevenson get what they wanted, HBO protect their asset, while Main Events, Kovalev and the fans lose out.

weebler, See above. Also see below.

http://www.boxingscene.com/forums/sh...8#post15567828

But Sergey is contractually tied to HBO and we can't go to a purse bid. We can't fight the fight if we lose the bid, so there's no point in going to the bid and putting on charade.

Sergey was already signed to HBO when she asked for the purse bid, which kills your argument Weebler.

[Weebler I]

the problem with this argument is it assumes what u want it to. stevenson's team isnt psychic and main events did not have to resign with hbo right away. that was their choice. they could easily called stevenson's bluff. its sad when ppl stretch logic to fit agendas.

Why do they have to call Stevenson's bluff, why can't GYM negotiate with Main Events to put the fight on if they want it? They can still negotiate now, will they?

You don't have to be psychic to know GYM didn't want Kovalev as Stevenson's mandatory, because they openly complained about it. Nor do you do have to be psychic to know GYM didn't try to make an agreement with Main Events because again they stated as much clearly.

So you have a promotional company who doesn't want the mandatory, doesn't want to deal with the other promoter yet claim to want the fight? Believe them?

[Skip Bayless]

wow didnt see this coming. purse bid are best solution to both fighters, it ensures they get paid the most amount of money so dont see the problem at all. duva u b1tch

[Pigeons]

I thought Main Events cared about the sport of boxing and the best fighting the best. I was always under impression they were boxingheads, not businessmen.

That's what Boxing Scene told me, so it must be true.

[kurupt1019]

The thing that pisses me off the most about this is how the media got ****** into Duva's words hook line and sinker. Since Al Haymon doesn't speak to the media, and since Yvon Michel's media presence is less here in the States than it is in Québec, she was able to manipulate every quote, word, and action out of Team Stevenson. Let's not forget that it was GYM who put Kovalev on one of Adonis' undercards ON HBO (his fight against IS when AS fought TB). Let's also not forget that by Stevenson's run, it gave Kovalev a rise in popularity when, honestly, he can't draw flies. He's a household name in his own house...that's about it. Stevenson, although not the draw of Bute or Pascal, still draws good crowds in a market that has SMART fans who also have the option of seeing the fights at the Cage Aux Sport bars which are EVERYWHERE in the province. So his ratings, popularity, and all that nonsense is just that from Duva...nonsense. You go to RDS.com (the Québec ESPN) and Stevenson is on the front page frequently.

Stevenson simply took a better deal in the short term by fighting Fonfara on SHO for DOUBLE the money that he was offered to fight both Fonfara AND Kovalev on HBO in 2013. I mean...what would you do???

Now that he has kept winning (his end of the bargain)...and since Kovalev rose his brand by going to fight other fighters who draw in their regions (Hopkins and Pascal)...the fight can go to a purse bid for MUCH, MUCH, MUCH more money than it would've produced 2 years ago.

Both guys get ****** rich...the fans get a good fight. Who cares what network it's on? If Stevenson wins, he's unified and goes back to SHO/PBC exclusively.

If Kovalev wins, he goes back to HBO unified and his brand is even BIGGER. HBO can reap the rewards with no risk.

The only thing HBO would lose in the short term are the rewards of fights against guys like Mohammedi? A guy, as I said before, that Sukhotsky knocked out in 2 rounds!!! Yes, the same Sukhotsky that Stevenson was blasted for facing!!!

HBO already got its "money fights" out of Kovalev from the Hopkins and Pascal fights (fights where Kovalev didn't make nearly as much as he should've).

And now this...

UGH.

Lame Events DUCKING.

Spot on analysis. Only thing i would add is yes I understand why HBO is trying to block, they only looking out for themselves which is fine. Main events going along with it to not jeopardize its long term existence. Fine I get that. That's business. But then why the **** was she blasting the fighter for maximizing his earnings. In this situation kovalev gets screwed, by not getting the biggest payday. He was talking **** too. ****ing hypocrites.

[kurupt1019]

First of all.... you're wrong with one key detail and that's that while Duva pulled out of the Purse bid, she made a counter offer. She didn't come out and say "sorry, no purse bid... we don't want the fight, have a good night."

She made a counter offer (one that isn't even a bad deal to begin with. 50/50 on HBO PPV) Haymon could very well allow his fighter ONE fight on HBO so they can get this over with but he doesn't want to so there's your second problem. Haymon still has something to do with this.

Third of all.... With everything I just said, if you think this situation is even REMOTELY close to November of 2013...... then lol. I know you don't think that because you're not ******, so lets just leave it at that. DUVA rejected a purse bid (was it the right move? I don't know, all I know is she better make this **** happen. that's all I care about) BUT made a counter offer to still try and make the fight happen.

Whereas, Stevenson pulled out of the fight and there were no counter offers. He straight up ducked Kovalev.. So how the hell can the situations be even in the same planet? Kovalev is not ducking Adonis (LOL) they sent a counter offer and she clearly said "lets negotiate," you can't just say someone's ducking because they didn't "try to set up a fight the way you want it," as a fan. Stop being ridiculous

So.... no. I'm keeping it 100 by saying the situations aren't even close. Adonis and Haymon DID infact duck Kovalev in 2013, there's no denying it. Duva and Kovalev are STILL trying to make the fight, after simply rejecting the purse bid (again, why? I don't know).... not a duck. And No. Sergey Kovalev is absolutely not avoiding the fight now. Stop trying to make it seem like Sergey is ducking because Adonis already ducked him, for "payback" for SDF's chief ducker duck.



Thanks.

Are you a ****ing moron? serious question?