Comments Thread For: Duva Wants Kovalev Back Around June, Opponent TBD

[Weltschmerz]

Just fear it'll be some unworthy keep busy opponent before Ward, if that one even materializes. There are great fights for him, but will they be made. Politics ruin too much these days.

[SlySlickSmooth]

A fight with Beterbiev would be the obvious choice for a Moscow fight. He's ranked no.2 by the IBF, Kovalev is due for an IBF mandatory this year, both are from Russia. The problem is that Duva hasn't exactly been nice towards GYM (Beterbiev's promoter) following the Stevenson fallout.

I'm going to guess it's going to be Dominic Boesel. The WBO no.1 ranked contender.

It seems Kovalev's team is now eyeing a Ward fight for a P4P showdown. Kova would need to return to fighting at least 3 fights a year since he just fought his first of 2016.

Beterbiev is the #3 WBA, #2 WBC, #2 WBO ranked challenger and since he has the IBF mandatory spot it would make a lot of sense.

The question is, does Kovalev's team think a fight with a young (and potentially dangerous) Beterbiev will generate enough revenue and is that a fight they're willing to make before an ideal Ward showdown in the Fall? Also, where does Stevenson come into play now?

Two likely options:

A) Fight Beterbiev and keep the IBF belt by fighting his mando.
B) Negotiate step-aside money to Beterbiev to fight Stevenson in June and Ward in November. If Kovalev is still champion he would fight Beterbiev in 2017.

[Boxingwizard]

Two likely options:

A) Fight Beterbiev and keep the IBF belt by fighting his mando.
B) Negotiate step-aside money to Beterbiev to fight Stevenson in June and Ward in November. If Kovalev is still champion he would fight Beterbiev in 2017.

I heard that Stevenson might fight in April against his mandatory Alvarez. If Stevenson ends up fighting in April or May, you can forget about a fight between Stevenson and Kovalev in June. Beterbiev would be a good fight, but I don't think Beterbiev wants the fight, and isn't he injured? He was suppose to fight Barrera.

I'm going to guess it's going to be Dominic Boesel. The WBO no.1 ranked contender.

Domini Boesel is undefeated and only has seven knockouts. He did win his last fight, but I expect Kovalev to easily knock him out. None the less Boesel does deserve a fight against Kovalev, it wouldn't be a bad fight.

[Jsmooth9876]

He can just fight Barerra after Ward stalls the negotiations to the point ME gives up trying.

[original zero]

Negotiate step-aside money to Beterbiev to fight Stevenson in June and Ward in November.

IBF does not allow step aside.

[wasporbee]

What are you talking about? Sullivan Barrera is the IBF mandatory. If Andre Ward beats him, Andre Ward will be the IBF mandatory. If he beats Ward or doesn't fight Ward, Barrera is still the IBF mando. Beterbiev plays no part in it at all.

It seems Kovalev's team is now eyeing a Ward fight for a P4P showdown. Kova would need to return to fighting at least 3 fights a year since he just fought his first of 2016.

Beterbiev is the #3 WBA, #2 WBC, #2 WBO ranked challenger and since he has the IBF mandatory spot it would make a lot of sense.

The question is, does Kovalev's team think a fight with a young (and potentially dangerous) Beterbiev will generate enough revenue and is that a fight they're willing to make before an ideal Ward showdown in the Fall? Also, where does Stevenson come into play now?

Two likely options:

A) Fight Beterbiev and keep the IBF belt by fighting his mando.
B) Negotiate step-aside money to Beterbiev to fight Stevenson in June and Ward in November. If Kovalev is still champion he would fight Beterbiev in 2017.

[MisterPullman]

Stevenson really is a piece of s*** now that I know the details of the offers and so forth, Stevenson is ducking. Feel for Kovalev, Beterbiev is with Haymon too, what else is left other than Ward??

After Ward, Kovalev should go to Al just to clean some fuckers out and add to his resume.