Comments Thread For: Stevenson Stops Karpency In Three, Calls Out Kovalev

[HeroBando]

the exact same thing can be said for kovalev? sergey would have to go somewhere non hbo (pbc fighters dont fight on hbo) if he wants stevenson's lineal belt. he's not fighting a murderer's row right now either. he has the better win in hopkins and that's about it. everyone else he beat stevenson would have crushed as well.

the money doesnt matter. im pretty sure pbc/haymon fighters make more money than non haymon fighters. but even if that's not the case, kovalev isnt making crazy money fighting the guys he's fighting either. so if stevenson needs kovalev for his biggest payday, the same is probably true for kovalev needing stevenson.

also, pairing stevenson with beterbiev and another canadian fighter will result in a full stadium in montreal which is probably more likely to provide stevenson with more money and leverage. if sergey can headline and fill a stadium of 20000 then maybe there's an argument to be made regarding the money situation but i dont think he's there yet.

Kovalev has 3 belts, an HBO exclusive contract, and is the peoples champ. He's doing pretty good considering he's got no built in fanbase, unlike Stevenson who's lost the respect of his hometown fans in one of North America's Best boxing markets.

But hey, I know he's old and vulnerable so milking that belt with low risk fights is likely his best option

[danktrees]

Kovalev has 3 belts, an HBO exclusive contract, and is the peoples champ. He's doing pretty good considering he's got no built in fanbase, unlike Stevenson who's lost the respect of his hometown fans in one of North America's Best boxing markets.

But hey, I know he's old and vulnerable so milking that belt with low risk fights is likely his best option

ibf, wba, wbo belts do not equal wbc and lineal belt. kovalev might be the best but if he wants that lineal belt he has to take it from stevenson so in terms of belts, stevenson is ahead.

you are correct, he's doing well for having no built in fan base. but that's irrelevant here if stevenson can headline the fight in montreal which is guaranteed to sell out.

the people's champ thing is great but ask how that's working out for ggg and rigo. their top contenders aren't even mentioning them as a possible opponent. stevenson just said he'd fight kovalev and even participated in a purse bid to fight him. if money was as important as you say it is, he should have let it go to purse bid, that would definitely have been more money than what hbo would offer.

but my original point stands, when he signed the hbo exclusive contract, he basically guaranteed that stevenson fight won't get made because pbc fighters dont fight on hbo. this is the same thing stevenson did when he signed with haymon. yet you only see it as a stevenson issue when both are at fault. further to that, stevenson participated in the purse bid so he has actually shown a willingness at this point (maybe not when they were both on hbo in the past) to get the fight made. probably because he makes more money now on pbc.

[HeroBando]

ibf, wba, wbo belts do not equal wbc and lineal belt. kovalev might be the best but if he wants that lineal belt he has to take it from stevenson so in terms of belts, stevenson is ahead.

you are correct, he's doing well for having no built in fan base. but that's irrelevant here if stevenson can headline the fight in montreal which is guaranteed to sell out.

the people's champ thing is great but ask how that's working out for ggg and rigo. their top contenders aren't even mentioning them as a possible opponent. stevenson just said he'd fight kovalev and even participated in a purse bid to fight him. if money was as important as you say it is, he should have let it go to purse bid, that would definitely have been more money than what hbo would offer.

but my original point stands, when he signed the hbo exclusive contract, he basically guaranteed that stevenson fight won't get made because pbc fighters dont fight on hbo. this is the same thing stevenson did when he signed with haymon. yet you only see it as a stevenson issue when both are at fault. further to that, stevenson participated in the purse bid so he has actually shown a willingness at this point (maybe not when they were both on hbo in the past) to get the fight made. probably because he makes more money now on pbc.

Stevenson is not selling out anything withe the caliber of opponent he's fought since leaving HBO. Couldnt even draw 5k vs Bika, 6k vs Sukhotsky. That's pitiful for Quebec

Pbc fighters don't fight on HBO cause Haymon managed ones not welcome there, but apparently they're willing to make an exception here, cause its a fight HBO wants badly and Stevenson's got a legit promoter they can do business with

[bluzi]

Open up the damn Bidding! HBO shouldn't automatically get this fight because of a ***ing contract. If they want the fight that bad then pull out the checkbook and win the ***ing Bid. This letting Duva win the bid on her on then you show up with your announcers and camera that is BS

I guess they would rather him fight Bums so they can continue to play him less than $1 Million.

That HBO Contract is really not looking like a good idea right now to be honest!

I agree , blaming Stevenson is just dumb , they go to a purse bid and who ever wins takes the fight , HBO wants it ? BID HIGHER then PBC , bottom line you guys are defending Kovalev team WAY too much , how is HBO getting "its a contract , kovalev cant fight on PBC" but you let Stevenson a rough time about his obligations , at least he goes to say that if he loses the purse they will fight where ever ..... Kovalev team should ask HBO for a one time outting if they cant win the bid so he can unify and then come back to HBO.

[berzerk]

Kovalev would knock Stevenson out in like 3-4 rounds.

yes sir

[M Bison]

I like Stevenson but I think the biggest roadblock to fights being made isn't HBO they have shown they'd be willing to work alongside other promotions before PBC on the other hand well you know what Floyd says when someone wants to fight him.

It's like they treat it like the UFC trust me if PBC ever monopolise boxing it will result in less money the very thing they said they don't want to happen will happen because greed knows no bounds look at Floyd prime example he has made a mockery of his fight contract and took millions for a bunch of fools

[kafkod]

Stevenson has no obligation to HBO, especially knowing that his own partners (Showtime, Haymon/PBC) can match whatever money HBO is offering.

If Kovalev, Team Kovalev, and Kovalev's fans want to hide behind "it has to only be on HBO", come out in the open about it, admit all the other big talk was bull****, and stand by what it really is.

Stevenson isn't likely to fight again (if the pattern holds steady) till February 2016. In the meantime, Fonfara-Cleverly happens in October (winner fights Braehmer for the wba belt Jan/Feb 2016), Beterbiev/Barrera and Chilemba/Alvarez are likely due for their own doubleheader come Nov (I think Beterbiev and Alvarez win the fights), and Kovalev is left with a decision to make.

None of the top fighters at 175 are going to owe anything to HBO, and Kovalev would've already dumped one belt to keep to Team Kovalev's "only on HBO" rule.

have fun defending that.

Kovalev would not be forced to vacate any of his belts because of purse bids against mandatory challengers.

Mandatories always take precedence over network exclusive contracts. Stevenson was not Kovalev's mandatory when Duva pulled him out of the WBC purse bid.

Sorry to disappoint you, but if anybody wants to take any of Kovalev's belts away from him, they are going to have to do it in the ring.

[2501]

Stevenson embodies everything that is wrong with boxing. Completely delusional about his drawing power and what he's entitled to.

[kafkod]

Main Events:...........

"As you are aware, Sergey***8217;s deal with HBO mirrored the one that was offered to Stevenson, last year. Therefore, you are also aware that at the end of that deal, HBO possessed a matching right that was triggered when you arranged for a purse bid to be called prior to the consummation of Sergey***8217;s IBF mandatory. Had you waited for the natural course of events to unfold , we might be having a very different discussion."

Thank you Weebler.

Haymon/GYM knew full well that Duva would not be able to participate in the purse bid if it happened immediately.

That was the only reason they pushed the WBC for an expedited bid. They were not trying to get more money for Stevenson, they were getting him out of his mandatory obligation to fight Kovalev.

[Ravens Fan]

Kovalev is 6' with just under a 73" reach.

Karpency: 5'11.5"/73"
Bika: 5'11.5"/71"
Suhkotsky: 5'11.5"/75"
Fonfara: 6'2.5"/76" {outlier}

The average height for a light heavyweight is about 6'. So, Adonis is fighting pretty average fighters who also happen to be of average height to prepare for one of the best fighters on the planet? And in case you hadn't noticed no one really thought much of Fonfara until he almost cleaned Adonis's clock.