Duva: Kick Off Presser was planned weeks ago, T-Mobile Arena was agreed on last year!

[Sun_Tzu]

Ok, ward can't make it. You send a rep in for him. It just looks bad. I won't say the fights not happening but it's a bad look for Team Ward. Even if it was a play by team Kovalev you still send a rep.

[MDPopescu]

Ok, ward can't make it. You send a rep in for him. It just looks bad. I won't say the fights not happening but it's a bad look for Team Ward. Even if it was a play by team Kovalev you still send a rep.

... No, chap... Ward is slow, very slow when negotiating -- no matter how fast Ward is in the ring...

But I was called all sorts of names (here) when I repeatedly said that the fight wasn't even close to be signed... "Everything is signed", the shouted at me etc...

... Well, you see... at the end of the day, nothing is signed yet...

[Eastcoast]

That part about the venue is not true, all the headlines made about the fight normally had the date but the location was never a sure thing, I hadn't heard of the arena being mentioned till maybe the last month or so.

It doesn't make Ward look good in that he didn't turn up to the presser but he also gave them a weeks notice that he wouldn't be there, he just fought a few days ago. I can't recall anyone having to do a presser so soon after having a fight.

I like Ward and have belief in him winning this fight so I guess I will see things more from his point of view, those who dislike him will obviously see things the other way and that's fine... they have a right to criticise his actions because the bold fact is that he didn't attend the first presser (no matter how poorly organised it looked).

That's consistent with what Duva is saying - she says they made an agreement with RNS for T-Mobile (through Itskowitch) in June.

It's one thing for Ward to not be there, but no representatives from RNS were there either. Their side has a 50/50 stake in this promotion, that's not only unprofessional, it's counter productive. RNS is supposed to promoting this event, they're not even returning calls to the media over this.

As for Ward needing time off - be a professional, sell your damn fight. Atleast work with ME to reschedule out another week. Guys come off big wins and go on media tours the week immediately after.

[Sun_Tzu]

I just watched the video. I'm curious to see Wards reaction will be. Should be interesting.

[Sun_Tzu]

... No, chap... Ward is slow, very slow when negotiating -- no matter how fast Ward is in the ring...

But I was called all sorts of names (here) when I repeatedly said that the fight wasn't even close to be signed... "Everything is signed", the shouted at me etc...

... Well, you see... at the end of the day, nothing is signed yet...

I'll be the first to admit I don't keep up with the business end of the game but they have been saying for months this fight is a done deal and said exactly that in the ring Saturday night. If Ward is still negotiating 3 months from the fight date that not slow, that's negligent

[NEETzsche]

and ward wonders why he isn't making mayweather money. mayweather put as much work into promoting himself as he did into training. that's how he got rich. it wasn't a gift or an accident

[MDPopescu]

I'll be the first to admit I don't keep up with the business end of the game but they have been saying for months this fight is a done deal and said exactly that in the ring Saturday night. If Ward is still negotiating 3 months from the fight date that not slow, that's negligent

... negligent? You sound eufemistic, lad... but nevermind...

... I said it repeatedly here: Ward only signed a HBO three-fight deal with a view to face Kovales in the last fight (which was supposed to happen in the fall of 2016)... That's it... Now Ward took his money for them tune-ups... Fresh start, I think...

[Superbee]

Weird that GYM stated 10 days ago that they were still open and ready to make "concessions" to Kovalev if the November fight didn't happen... The Ward/Kovalev fight was then pretty much rolling and well in place. Did they have special insights about problems already going on?

To the OP: Promoters owe nothing to the fans until the selling is on the way. Which in Duva's mind started yesterday...

[FeFist]

Boxing fans keep letting people like Duva and Arum negotiate through the media. With Mayweather there was some doubts as to the reason: he's a bit of a prick so the hatred that clouded judgement could be justified. With Ward, it becomes clear that race is a significant factor; nothing about his personality warrants the hate some have for him.

I will go ahead and say f.ck Duva. As far as I'm concerned, she is just another b.tch cashing in on the underlying hatred for black folks.

[Weebler I]

Just Ward being Ward, you could have predicted this like clockwork. Right on cue with the b/s as expected.