Ward-Kovalev: Who's the A-side?

[Contra]

I have a feeling this issue may come up during negotiations, especially since this fight may land on ppv.

If Kovalev flexes his muscle on this, and maybe demands a bigger cut, does Ward have a rebuttal?

Should the purse be split 50-50, or does Kovalev deserve the lion's share?

Discuss.



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[Kagami Taiga]

There is no a-side. 50/50 fight.

[BOXEO _]

Killa Kov obviously. Ward hasn't done a damn thing since 2011 and he's fighting Rupert Murdoch next.

[Deevel916]

A-side is the one who generates more $ whether by viewer ratings or putting butts in seats. In that case its Kovalev.

[mike1010011]

Kovalev,and its not even funny.

[LacedUp]

Kovalev of course.

[P4PLoser]

They generate almost the same ratings (given that they are on HBO, I am not counting the BET ****.) So 50-50 is fair and square. Kovalev aint no GGG popularity wise.

[Scipio2009]

Sergey Kovalev drew **** numbers in Las Vegas and, if we're being honest, has never been a draw at any venue in any region of the country (the slow walk on the talk by Duva about "Russian billions" gives the inclination that the interest in him isn't all that high either).

Andre Ward vs Paul Smith (a fighter with near no name ID in the US) put almost 10k people into Oracle Arena, after putting almost 11k people into the building for the Chad Dawson fight, after also drawing well for the Mikkel Kessler fight. You add that HBO would be pushing Ward-Kovalev PPV hard, and Kovalev is a fighter that HBO are pushing hard, and you might be able to actually sell out Oracle Arena (19k-20k) for the fight.

Ward has Roc Nation's backing (with massive interest in potentially hosting a Ward fight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn [19k]), and Las Vegas is looking for another cast of star fighters (Floyd retiring isn't going to be replaced by one fighter, but having hosting major fights and star fighters without a home region to go to, would work for the early days of the new venue).

The fact that Kovalev-Pascal 2, after Kovalev knocked the man out, is likely heading back to Montreal (likely at a 60/40 split on the take) lets you know everything about Kovalev's drawing ability.

[Raonic]

They generate almost the same ratings (given that they are on HBO, I am not counting the BET ****.) So 50-50 is fair and square. Kovalev aint no GGG popularity wise.

How can you count HBO ratings for 3 years ago? There's no indication that he'd generate those same raitings in 2015.

[M Bison]

Kovalev cleanly beat a 50yo Bhops that's a better win in style than Ward has got

I don't score Ward that highly for having to ruin fights with his horrible clinching, I mean why would a great fighter need to clinch away at Froch who isn't anything special sure he has an amazing heart and great chin but you kidding me... you need to clinch away at this man to get a win?
The Kessler fight was a joke as well, Ward should have been DQed.