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The first things I thought. Pre-head of HBO boxing Peter Nelson was like Sam Kinison in his prime vs this very carefully spoken Joel Osteen post-head of HBO boxing Peter Nelson. Don't know if this is the Nelson we will get used to seeing or if this is just a new to the gig, be careful about throwing your feet on the coffee table too soon type thing or what.
I think people got some old ideas with this new concept. Haymon's PBC plan doesn't work with big egos & designs on making this guy or that guy the champion. Sure there are guys more or less marketable than others & its smart to be mindful of that, but the main goal of PBC isn't to get Thurman or Browne or any other cat in the #1 spot its to bring all the best fighters over a period of several years under the PBC umbrella. This isn't Top Rank or Golden Boy Promotions or Don King Productions where they are just trying to get "their guy" into the coveted best position. The PBC is bigger than that. If it works or not is a whole other thing, but what I said I believe to be what PBC's end goal is more or less.
I think it'll happen much more than I thought it'd happen pre-Nelson taking over the HBO gig. Previous to his more diplomatic responses lately he's been a proponent of just making the best fights. That mindset gets Kovalev vs Stevenson happening. Is that Peter Nelson still around? Do they still got some reins on him? Idk, but I know he was made the VP instead of the President which was an unusual move to imo.
Regardless to all that, the one thing I know for almost certain (maybe 80% sure) is that Stevenson vs Kovalev won't be happening next year. I think HBO will clearly value making a fight with 2 HBO names (Kovalev vs Ward) in the 2nd half of the year) over making Kovalev vs Stevenson in June. I personally favor Kovalev to beat Stevenson as most others seem to, but the reality is I nor most fans don't have anything on the line as big as HBO does. If Kovolev gets put to sleep by Stevenson the allure of two undefeated HBO fighters get diminished greatly. No reason in the world to risk that. Kovalev is more likely to happen than its been since they both were with HBO, but it won't happen til after Kovalev vs Ward & that likely means it doesn't happen til 2017.
I think people got some old ideas with this new concept. Haymon's PBC plan doesn't work with big egos & designs on making this guy or that guy the champion. Sure there are guys more or less marketable than others & its smart to be mindful of that, but the main goal of PBC isn't to get Thurman or Browne or any other cat in the #1 spot its to bring all the best fighters over a period of several years under the PBC umbrella. This isn't Top Rank or Golden Boy Promotions or Don King Productions where they are just trying to get "their guy" into the coveted best position. The PBC is bigger than that. If it works or not is a whole other thing, but what I said I believe to be what PBC's end goal is more or less.
I think it'll happen much more than I thought it'd happen pre-Nelson taking over the HBO gig. Previous to his more diplomatic responses lately he's been a proponent of just making the best fights. That mindset gets Kovalev vs Stevenson happening. Is that Peter Nelson still around? Do they still got some reins on him? Idk, but I know he was made the VP instead of the President which was an unusual move to imo.
Regardless to all that, the one thing I know for almost certain (maybe 80% sure) is that Stevenson vs Kovalev won't be happening next year. I think HBO will clearly value making a fight with 2 HBO names (Kovalev vs Ward) in the 2nd half of the year) over making Kovalev vs Stevenson in June. I personally favor Kovalev to beat Stevenson as most others seem to, but the reality is I nor most fans don't have anything on the line as big as HBO does. If Kovolev gets put to sleep by Stevenson the allure of two undefeated HBO fighters get diminished greatly. No reason in the world to risk that. Kovalev is more likely to happen than its been since they both were with HBO, but it won't happen til after Kovalev vs Ward & that likely means it doesn't happen til 2017.
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