I just find it weird that......

[about.thousands]

No mate, the reports that HBO declined guys like Sartison, Oosthuizen and Paul Smith as opponents for Ward.

No one is dis*****g Ward's talent or his resume before the Super six, what has happened is since the super six he's demanded high purses to fight opponents that were so awful HBO declined. It's why he had to fight Paul Smith on BET. It's why when HBO signed him to the 3 fight deal they made the stipulation that he had to agree to fight Kovalev. They wouldn't have done this if they didn't have issues with him before.

Again no one is denying Ward's boxing talent.

What reports? Like I said. Those reports probably came from the same "reporters" who won't sit down with Ward for an interview? The same "reporters" who don't attend his fights? When it comes to the boxing media I don't trust anything I read. Most are being paid in one way or another by promoters, managers, networks etc. Hell, the former president and senior member of the BWAA is an HBO employee.

[JJRod]

What reports? Like I said. Those reports probably came from the same "reporters" who won't sit down with Ward for an interview? The same "reporters" who don't attend his fights? When it comes to the boxing media I don't trust anything I read. Most are being paid in one way or another by promoters, managers, networks etc. Hell, the former president and senior member of the BWAA is an HBO employee.

I agree there are many shaddy boxing writers. But some of the reports were by credible boxing writers. Why would they lie? Or better yet why wouldn't Ward come out and dispute the accusations if they were false?
Or why would HBO stipulate that Ward must fight Kovalev if they didn't have a history of negotiating problems with him? Do you think hbo is just being mean to Ward?

[about.thousands]

I agree there are many shaddy boxing writers. But some of the reports were by credible boxing writers. Why would they lie? Or better yet why wouldn't Ward come out and dispute the accusations if they were false?
Or why would HBO stipulate that Ward must fight Kovalev if they didn't have a history of negotiating problems with him? Do you think hbo is just being mean to Ward?

But it's not just Ward. I also talked about how they played Stevenson. They renewed Kovalev's contract and he had zero potential good fights. Since he's been renewed he's fought Mohammadi and Pascal II. So they offered Ward a contract that really benefited Kovalev.

[HeroBando]

But it's not just Ward. I also talked about how they played Stevenson. They renewed Kovalev's contract and he had zero potential good fights. Since he's been renewed he's fought Mohammadi and Pascal II. So they offered Ward a contract that really benefited Kovalev.

It benefitted all of those that want the fight. So they have 2 major talents in the same division, neither has prospects otherwise. Wonder what kind of agenda made them wanna match them vs each other?

[about.thousands]

It benefitted all of those that want the fight. So they have 2 major talents in the same division, neither has prospects otherwise. Wonder what kind of agenda made them wanna match them vs each other?

It's just something I've never heard of before. It was just weird to me. Especially knowing that Ward has never ducked anybody.

[djt117]

It's just something I've never heard of before. It was just weird to me. Especially knowing that Ward has never ducked anybody.

Why would HBO ever not lock things like this down in writing after investing all that money in Stevenson's fights just to have him run away without ever getting the "payoff fight" they were building towards.

Maybe they do trust Ward -- but especially after getting burned, why merely trust when you can get it in writing?

Everybody who HBO can have any leverage over from now on will be subject to these stipulations in their deals.