Beterbiev turns down Kovalev offer (per Rafael)

[Cinci Champ]

One more fight (an eliminator) isn't going to improve Beterbiev much if any. Haymon/Beterbiev want to strip Kovalev without a fight. They know if they win a purse bid Kovalev legally isn't allowed to fight off HBO and that's their plan.
Golovkin needs to worry about the same thing with guys like Jacobs, Eubank and Wade coming up as potential mandatories.

Hyrunov and Ryabinski might get involved, but who knows. Bidding big money on a LHW fight isn't the same as a HW fight. Meantime Haymon can bid as much as he wants knowing the fight won't come off if he wins (that's majorly ****ed up).

pretty sure it would be illegal for hbo to withhold kovalev from fighting out a purse bid regardless of their contract

[The Hammer]

I'm happy to read this fight isn't happening yet.

Beterbiev-Kovalev will be a much bigger fight in 18 months, after Beterbiev has a few more wins under his belt and a higher profile.

I'd like to see Beterbiev face a few guys like Bika, Dawson, Oosthuizen, Chavez Jr and E. Alvarez, then fight Kovalev.

[The Big Dunn]

You also said that Kovalev pulling out of the purse bid was cowardly.

But whatever, the difference between that and what Stevenson did in 2014 is that Kovalev/Duva didn't just walk away from the fight. They offered to negotiate with Adonis/Gym/Haymon so that it could go ahead on HBO, and who knows what concessions Stevenson might have got from Kovalev if he'd given it a try?

It was cowardly.

Yes they did. They asked to be the mando, got that, and then when Michel negotiated hard so that it would go to a purse bid, kov/duva pulled out.

HBO wants to fit the fight into their budget, a budget that is substantially less than PBC. Why should the fight go to the lower bidder?

Kov was in the same position in 2014 and you didn't suggest he do this and the fight be on SHO.

You keep wanting to absolve Kov for this when you can't. He moved away from the Stevenson fight any way you slice it.

[dirty fingers]

What's with these guys calling out Kovalev, and then running away? Stevenson, Beterbiev. Who's next?

[HI-TECH Boxing]

I'm happy to read this fight isn't happening yet.

Beterbiev-Kovalev will be a much bigger fight in 18 months, after Beterbiev has a few more wins under his belt and a higher profile.

I'd like to see Beterbiev face a few guys like Bika, Dawson, Oosthuizen, Chavez Jr and E. Alvarez, then fight Kovalev.

Exactly!!
But you know how people are.

[bigjavi973]

Haymon has to know he can***39;t lose a purse bid, which leaves Main Events and Kovalev a choice: break HBO contract or vacate.

— Kevin McRae (@McRaeWrites) August 5, 2015

makes sense!

[The Big Dunn]

Haymon has to know he can***39;t lose a purse bid, which leaves Main Events and Kovalev a choice: break HBO contract or vacate.

— Kevin McRae (@McRaeWrites) August 5, 2015

makes sense!

Duva tried to make Stevenson drop his belt and Kov may be forced to drop his. Kov/Duva deserve this for the BS they tried to pull.

How long before Kov tells Duva to go fuck herself and then sign with TR?

[The Hammer]

Duva tried to make Stevenson drop his belt and Kov may be forced to drop his. Kov/Duva deserve this for the BS they tried to pull.

How long before Kov tells Duva to go fuck herself and then sign with TR?

He'd be much worse off with Top Rank.

Golden Boy would be a better choice.

[NEETzsche]

I'm happy to read this fight isn't happening yet.

Beterbiev-Kovalev will be a much bigger fight in 18 months, after Beterbiev has a few more wins under his belt and a higher profile.

I'd like to see Beterbiev face a few guys like Bika, Dawson, Oosthuizen, Chavez Jr and E. Alvarez, then fight Kovalev.

he'll be ready for kov after two fights imo: chilemba and fonfara. perhaps stevenson also. anything else is a waste of time

but if haymon won't allow the fight to happen now, he certainly won't allow it once beterbiev is a belt holder and draw in his own right. this was probably our one chance at seeing the fight. beterbiev wanted it, kovalev wanted it, michel wanted it and duva wanted it... there was just one piece of the puzzle missing (guess who)

[The Big Dunn]

He'd be much worse off with Top Rank.

Golden Boy would be a better choice.

GBP, Haymon, Dibella. Anyone has to be better than DUva at this point.