Comments Thread For: Stevenson vs. Kovalev: WBC Pushing For The Fight

[R-C]

Pretty dumb man. This isn't high school.

not sure how it's dumb because Stevenson is afraid to lose his lineal title (I don't think it will be close if they fight). if you failed to see that, then may be you're dumb?

[aboutfkntime]

not sure how it's dumb because Stevenson is afraid to lose his lineal title (I don't think it will be close if they fight). if you failed to see that, then may be you're dumb?

I think it would be a very close fight.

I favor Kovalev, but that fight is too close to call.

50/50, and it will come down to how the styles mesh.

Stevenson will always be in that fight.

I just think its dumb to call Stevenson a duck, considering that he is responsible for the last genuine effort to make that fight..... purse bids are perfectly fair.

Kovalev coulda called his bluff, but chose not too.

Kovalev avoided that fight at least as much as Stevenson, if not more.

No big deal, maybe I shoulda kept my mouth shut.

I like Kovalev more than Stevenson.

[JRB123]

You bet.

Just a win over Ward would likely achieve that.

I am a Ward fan, and I would love a Kovalev fight, but tbh I really would prefer Kovalev/Stevenson first.

I know that fight would still be there, but with the history and the back-and-forth I still find Kovalev/Stevenson very appealing.

That would be a cracker.

I favor Kova, and I want him to win, but not betting 1 red cent on that fight.

I'd favor Kovalev to win that fight also since I don't see much in his arsenal that would give Adonis many openings...

[Zaroku]

The honorable pimp, Adonis Stevenson, says that he only wants to fight Kovalev immediately. And who am I, a mere boxing fan, to doubt the pimp (human trafficker), Adonis Stevenson, when he says something? After all, if I can't trust a pimp, then who can I trust?

Funny but true. Green to you!
Best regards,
Zaroku

[aboutfkntime]

I'd favor Kovalev to win that fight also since I don't see much in his arsenal that would give Adonis many openings...

True. Not sure how Kovalev goes against southpaws, but Stevenson is a guy you want to get out of there. He will likely always be in that fight.

[Scipio2009]

How do you watch boxing and say this? Negotiations are almost anything but simple as history shows.

The WBC has already mandated that, were things to go to purse bid, the fight would be split 50/50.

Knowing that, what is preventing GYM/Main Events from coming together for a joint process? Differ to GYM over the Canadian broadcasting negotiations, but have Duva/Michel shop venues for the largest site fee, negotiate the deal behind the UK broadcast rights (BoxNation vs Sky Sports), and shop the US broadcasters for the biggest fee for the fight.

Only real hang up on a rather orderly process to get everyone paid is that Kathy Duva's Main Events is basically down to one fighter that draws interest from a broadcaster, which has HBO grabbing the company by the tubes.

[Scipio2009]

You know that's not how purse bids work, right? They don't bid networks or sponsors against each other. Each promoter has a week or two to put together a guarantee to both fighters. The promoters each make one bid and the higher guarantee wins. Anything that the promotion brings in above that guarantee goes to the promoter. The fighters get nothing else and the winning promoter makes every decision. As I understand it, Duva/Kovalev were willing to agree to exactly the scenario you describe, but Haymon/Stevenson wouldn't go for it.

if you have the understanding that, were the negotiations to fall apart, you'd still be splitting things 50/50, logic would suggest that both parties would do their best to put together a joint package. No promoter wants to be at the utter discretion of another promoter, so there's an incentive for things not to get to purse bids.

Kathy Duva, for whatever reason, is unwilling to negotiate; everyone know why, but no one seems ready to acknowledge it.

[Scipio2009]

With Ward signing a 3 fight contract with the end being Kov theres no way this happens. Maybe in 2017 if he gets past Ward or if Ward loses one of those 2/3

Would be hilarious to see Ward beat Kovalev, flip HBO the bird for leaving him in the lurch, and then head over to Showtime for a longterm partnership deal (contingent on Ward getting to fight Stevenson to unify the belts at 175, and Haymon and Jay-Z finally having their sit down to squash their beef, opening up the PBC affiliated light heavies to Ward).