Comments Thread For: Stevenson Will Take 50-50 on Kovalev, Networks To Bid

[BennyBlanco]

So true the one point that is over looked is prior to getting in bed with Haymon Stevenson was putting up big tv ratings on HBO and well respected and locked up to fight a huge fight with Kovalev. Now he ducked Hopkins and Kovalev pulls in dreadful attendance in fights in his own backyard. Meanwhile Kovalev beats Hopkins and Pascal his fanbase is growing not dwindling like Stevenson. Stevenson has not made anywhere near the money that has been put on the table to fight either Kovalev or Hopkins. And he's pushing 40. Haymon is ruining this man's career.

Yeah...Kovalev's fan base is growing so fast that he almost sold 2500 tickets to his last fight.

[soul_survivor]

but kovalev can't fight on another network so stevenson will take the deal which isn't possible? how about if the fight on hbo pays you more than a fight on pbc then you take it instead of trying to take a fantasy offer.

Duva herself said she was worried Show might outbid HBO. Why not fighter for the highest bidder? Stevenson seems like he wants it, Kovalev seems like he wants it, why is Duva being such a *****?

[Superbee]

Yvon Michel, promoter for WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson, says his fighter has no problem with accepting a 50-50 deal to unify with IBF/WBO/WBA light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev - but Stevenson will NOT accept a contract which automatically orders the fight to be carried on HBO.

Kovalev's promoter, Kathy Duva of Main Events, withdrew her fighter from a WBC mandated purse bid earlier this year - because her boxer is under a multi-fight contract with HBO and there was a high probability that her company would get outbid - forcing Kovalev to fight Stevenson on a rival network.
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Don't know what your source is, but here is a Google Translate from today's Yvon Michel blog on a sports network here in Montreal... Looks like Beterbiev will be the weapon of choice first...

Monday, July 27, 2015, 1:51 p.m. ET

Beterbiev-Kovalev: the stage is set

On signing this column, I am waiting for the call Kathy Duva, promoter Main Event, whose purpose is to officially launch the invitation for a confrontation between Artur Beterbiev and Kovalev in late November, Russia, the birthplace of both athletes.

When he set foot for the first time in my office, Beterbiev expressed the desire to measure up to his countryman, and I found this very ambitious target for someone who had not any experience Boxing professional. Yet it reiterated its request to the point where even Artur disappointed not to have made this wish a reality during his first two years in the pros.

Sergey KovalevAvec new presences in the arena to counter Beterbiev is closer than ever to mandatory challenger status, which was our original plan with him.

Its gain against Gabriel Campillo in April at the Pepsi Coliseum in Québec propelled second in the IBF. With the defeat of the French against Nadjib Mohammedi Krusher in the final of Saturday's card, the organization will send us a day to day for a letter of invitation to Beterbiev to fight for the famous contender status mandatory.

In good businesswoman she is, Kathy Duva became aware of this, and instead of negotiating with a sword of Damocles over her head, she took the lead and was quick to mention that there had an interest in the duel between the two Russians. Everybody will agree to say that would be the best aspirant Beterbiev in the world and it would make a wonderful fight. If we can we avoid having to hold another fight in order to confirm the status of Artur, I fully agree with this approach.

Otherwise, the camp champion would not override the choice of the diffuser. Knowing this, all we need is to receive a fair proposal. Kovalev is the champion, who has all three belts. With this in mind, we know that it is his entourage that comes the privilege to choose the location of the fight and the TV network.

However, what is not prepared to accept is that we compel us to have any obligation or HBO main event for future fights in the event of a victory Beterbiev. Yes, we would be committed to propose a rematch, but the data would be changed. Then we would control our destiny instead of us dictating the course of things.

In short, if Duva and his team show seriously, and I have strong reasons to believe that this is the case, we will engage in the coming hours, since Artur fervently hope this fight, and we.

Very different contexts

Since Sunday night, many have wondered why we would be interested that a Beterbiev Kovalev-fight is aired on HBO, while it is a categorical "no" when it comes to a confrontation between Adonis Stevenson and Kovalev on the same network. The equation is simple. Showtime and CBS networks have invested in Stevenson. It would be dishonest on our part to abandon this affiliation and not to leave them any chance to get the broadcasting rights.

Because it has its hands tied, Duva forces us to focus HBO, and we simply can not bow to such a request. With its commitments, Adonis has a moral obligation to provide those who have supported all these years the chance to take advantage of a possible fight between the two boxers.

In the case of Artur with his relative lack of experience among professionals, Showtime and CBS have never invested in it, up to this point, as part of a main battle. This gives us the flexibility to more easily arrive at an agreement, if the offer is reasonable. The answer in the coming hours, if all goes as planned!

http://www.rds.ca/combat/boxe/exager...-vol-1.2512585

[Pigeons]

Maximizing the fighters purses by having a bid makes sense. That being said one part has nixed that option and consequently the fight is not about to get made any time soon.

I think Stevenson, given his age, comes out as the real life loser here. He doesn't get the defining fights, he doesn't get the recognition and he doesn't get paid the big purse. Kovalev will continue to fight the better opposition and is on the verge of near global recognition.

Still the thing is that the fight isn't getting made and its slowly losing its marketability. Us fans lose out on a great match-up.

Admits HBO is blocking the fight. Still sides with HBO. Another one of these asslickers.

[Szef]

Really?

How much did Kovalev get to knock over that TOMATO CAN last Saturday?

his mandatory? i don't know, nor do i care.

he took some risk like every self respected boxer should, and now he's the man in the lhw. other fighters knock on his door, not the other way around.

keep defending al haymon's fighters bro, i'm sure you'll get rewarded by the man himself in no time.

[ramplamp]

Oh god, not this ****** f***ing "okay, we agree...but only if we get a purse bid" charade again. Haymon doesn't want this fight! This is a charade for you idiots to buy, so they can try and spin the narrative and make it seem like it's just Main Events holding up the fight.

[Nay_Sayer]

his mandatory? i don't know, nor do i care.

Mandatory or not, Stevenson gets more money to knock over his TOMATO CANs than does Kovalev.

[HeroBando]

Duva herself said she was worried Show might outbid HBO. Why not fighter for the highest bidder? Stevenson seems like he wants it, Kovalev seems like he wants it, why is Duva being such a *****?

HBO exclusive contract, bud. Last time they fought in Canada the 2 fighters split 6m, so it's not like it's a bad deal

[BattlingNelson]

Admits HBO is blocking the fight. Still sides with HBO. Another one of these asslickers.

What are you talking about? What is it in my post that is wrong?

[bigdunny1]

Yeah...Kovalev's fan base is growing so fast that he almost sold 2500 tickets to his last fight.

So you are telling me wins over Hopkins and Pascal has done nothing to grow Kovalev's fanbase? What has Stevenson done in that same amount of time?