Comments Thread For: Kovalev: Stevenson is Piece of ****, Ready For Ward

[SUBZER0ED]

If that's the case then why did Kovalev's promoter fly all the way to Las Vegas to attend the WBC convention to request, and press, for the WBC to order the purse bid in the first place. Duva said in multiple interviews that she wasn't worried about being outbid because HBO had Kovalev's back. When it became clear that HBO was NOT going to offer up as much as she expected, she pulled back.

The bad blood between HBO, Stevenson and Al Haymon must run in raging rivers. It sounds like the network refuses to spend a boatload of money for even a blockbuster fight involving them. Why didn't they make that clear to Duva beforehand? They made her look like a fool.

[Barcham]

There is a mistake in the article. Kovalev's promoter never requested a purse bid from the WBC, Stevenson's promoter did. Kovalev requested to be made the WBC mandatory challenger.

The exclusive contract had ran out by the time the purse bid was ordered. Then they renewed it after they pulled out the purse bid. There was nothing legally preventing Kovalev from fighting on another network.

Terms of Kovalev's contract gave HBO the right of first refusal of his next fight after the expiration of the contract. Yvon Michel was well aware of that fact as Stevenson had the same clause in his contract when his expired.

Due to that clause, HBO would certainly have exercised their right to broadcast the fight which prevented Kovalev from going to purse bid. Knowing this fact, Yvon Michel refused to even consider negotiations and requested a purse bid in the hope that losing the bid, Kovalev would also refuse the fight and lose his mandatory status. In effect this was achieved without even having to go to purse bid.

[Cuban Linx]

The exclusive contract had ran out by the time the purse bid was ordered. Then they renewed it after they pulled out the purse bid. There was nothing legally preventing Kovalev from fighting on another network.

Well Kovalev was offered a deal he couldn't pass up. Not very many fighters get exclusive HBO deals. Those deals grant security to the fighter. That way they don't have to fight on smaller networks and risk losing and then never appearing on HBO again. Kovalev's next 4-5 fights will be on HBO, he'll get exposure, he'll make a ton of money and he'll face good opponents (after Najib).

Fans think Kovalev should have declined a secure offer to be a promotional free agent, but that's not a desirable situation to be in at all.

[arraamis]

u pulled out of the purse bid but now u wana talk? smh

Kovalev must of forgot, that they walked on the bid, not Stevenson.

[Barcham]

If that's the case then why did Kovalev's promoter fly all the way to Las Vegas to attend the WBC convention to request, and press, for the WBC to order the purse bid in the first place. Duva said in multiple interviews that she wasn't worried about being outbid because HBO had Kovalev's back. When it became clear that HBO was NOT going to offer up as much as she expected, she pulled back.

Duva did not request the purse bid, Yvon Michel did. Duva requested that Kovalev be named mandatory defense. She probably was hoping that Stevenson would refuse the fight and be stripped of his title but it backfired on her when GYM requested an immediate purse bid instead of even attempting to negotiate a fight. At that point, she realized that she could never win a purse big with Haymon's money backing GYM and ended up pulling out without going to bid.

[MDPopescu]

So: Kovalev is ducking the pimp, right?

[bigjavi973]

Yeah, its really annoying and Main Events should've let it happen but this is more about Main Events trying to stay in business and not get swallowed by Haymon. Its basically small business vs big corporation.

I agree... that's why old school mentality boxers are so rare nowadays. Take the short change for now, get the fight on & beat him.

[Teetotaler]

Hahaha people love acting like kovalev is ducking and yet ignore the fact Stevenson jumped to showtime and signed with haymon. "purse bid doe"

[DoktorSleepless]

Terms of Kovalev's contract gave HBO the right of first refusal of his next fight after the expiration of the contract. Yvon Michel was well aware of that fact as Stevenson had the same clause in his contract when his expired.

Due to that clause, HBO would certainly have exercised their right to broadcast the fight which prevented Kovalev from going to purse bid. Knowing this fact, Yvon Michel refused to even consider negotiations and requested a purse bid in the hope that losing the bid, Kovalev would also refuse the fight and lose his mandatory status. In effect this was achieved without even having to go to purse bid.

The WBC ordered Stevenson-Kovalev to take place after Kovalev had his interim fight. The fight would have taken place in the 4th quarter of 2015. Kovalev's mandatory on HBO was not an issue. WBC even offered to move the purse bid to some other time, but Kovalev/Duva still refused.

[skinnystev]

kovalev is hiding behind the skirts of cathy duva and hbo