by David P. Greisman - Even before Sergey Kovalev stepped into the ring with his last opponent, we were thinking ahead about whom he could face next.
Kovalev’s opponent this past Saturday, Nadjib Mohammedi, wasn’t given a chance to win (he didn’t.) It wasn’t even certain that the fight would be competitive (it wasn’t). But the fact that Kovalev was facing someone of Mohammedi’s caliber — or rather that Mohammedi was facing someone on Kovalev’s level — was because of a present problem that had presented itself in the past and was likely to present itself in the future.
There are a handful of desirable foes at light heavyweight for Sergey Kovalev. Too few of them are viable.
And there are a handful of viable foes at light heavyweight for Kovalev. Too few of them are desirable.
This situation boils down to the same circumstances behind other similar conversations — the business of boxing and how the business gets in the way of the boxing.
Many of the desirable opponents are signed with Al Haymon. For a time, the powerful adviser’s clients had largely been appearing on Golden Boy Promotions shows and Showtime broadcasts, precluding matches against fighters who were being featured on network rival HBO, who were promoted by Golden Boy’s then-rival Top Rank, or both. [Click Here To Read More]
Kovalev’s opponent this past Saturday, Nadjib Mohammedi, wasn’t given a chance to win (he didn’t.) It wasn’t even certain that the fight would be competitive (it wasn’t). But the fact that Kovalev was facing someone of Mohammedi’s caliber — or rather that Mohammedi was facing someone on Kovalev’s level — was because of a present problem that had presented itself in the past and was likely to present itself in the future.
There are a handful of desirable foes at light heavyweight for Sergey Kovalev. Too few of them are viable.
And there are a handful of viable foes at light heavyweight for Kovalev. Too few of them are desirable.
This situation boils down to the same circumstances behind other similar conversations — the business of boxing and how the business gets in the way of the boxing.
Many of the desirable opponents are signed with Al Haymon. For a time, the powerful adviser’s clients had largely been appearing on Golden Boy Promotions shows and Showtime broadcasts, precluding matches against fighters who were being featured on network rival HBO, who were promoted by Golden Boy’s then-rival Top Rank, or both. [Click Here To Read More]
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