Will Ward really fight Kovalev in November?

[New England]

Lol that press conference had like 4 stools lol

Seem like it was a Kovalev thing not really to announce the fight

it was absolutely to announce the fight, venue, ticket prices and sale date. they [ME] got a letter from rocnation, literally the morning of, telling them not to release the information. rocnation didn't even send a representative. i completely get ward not going, but the press conference and announcement should have gone forward regardless.


rocnaton looks bad here. looked liek they were getting in the way of the fight, and that they would have tried something [like get the fight moved to oakland] if tyhey could get away with it there's a narrative by some of the most pathetic people on the internet to try and make this look like something kathy duva orchestrated. in reality, most of the facts are known, and they don't point fingers at kathy duva!

[Kagami Taiga]

it was absolutely to announce the fight, venue, ticket prices and sale date. they [ME] got a letter from rocnation, literally the morning of, telling them not to release the information. rocnation didn't even send a representative. i completely get ward not going, but the press conference and announcement should have gone forward regardless.


rocnaton looks bad here. looked liek they were getting in the way of the fight, and that they would have tried something [like get the fight moved to oakland] if tyhey could get away with it there's a narrative by some of the most pathetic people on the internet to try and make this look like something kathy duva orchestrated. in reality, most of the facts are known, and they don't point fingers at kathy duva!

There's nothing to point to them wanting to move the fight to Oakland. That's all Duvas. In fact, contractually the fight cant be in Oakland, so that would be dumb. What Duva said is that they wanted contracts signed with MGM before the tickets were announced and she disagreed with that. Well, MGM stepped in and made it happen. So yea, once again, seems Duva was opening her big mouth instead of good faith negotiating. It was a promotional spat, the kind that happens in most big fights. And there are promoters like Duva and Arum who like to run to the media and there are others who dont. Nothing new here. Except a buncha people jumping the gun looking for reasons why the fight wouldn't happen.

[joseph5620]

There's nothing to point to them wanting to move the fight to Oakland. That's all Duvas. In fact, contractually the fight cant be in Oakland, so that would be dumb. What Duva said is that they wanted contracts signed with MG before the tickets were announced and she disagreed with that. Well, MGM stepped in and made it happen. So yea, once again, seems Duva was opening her big mouth instead of good faith negotiating. It was a promotional spat, the kind that happens in most big fights. And there are promoters like Duva and Arum who like to run to the media and there are tohers who dont. Nothing new here. Except a buncha people jumping the gun looking for reasons why the fight wouldn't happen.

That's exactly what it is.

[Blue Heffner]

I think Ward is insecure about fighting Kovalev in Las Vegas, even though he'll still have home country advantage.

He wants to have the fight in Oakland so he can have a personal referee there to permit him to use illegal tactics. He also wants to dictate ring size, gloves, etc.

He feels less afraid secure with a home crowd behind him. Ward is no warrior.

I hope the fight happens but yes Ward is a "my way or no fight" kind of guy. I watched some interviews with Kathy Duva and she's pissed even though she's being professional.

I'm a Ward fan but I'm going to call a spade, a spade. He and Roc Nation are being full of ****. Ward is trying to stack the deck and Kovalev just wants a fair fight.

American boxers have a sense of entitlement with everything, so it's expected. Kovalev is the champion and an on-call fighter (Ward) is trying to make demands. Fighting Smith, Barrera, and Brand means you should HAVE NO LEVERAGE IN NEGOTIATIONS!

[MDPopescu]

... "In Oakland we have balls... we don't fuck around"...

(He will fight him alright... and, tbh, I'd gladly lose my two bets that he doesn't fight him in 2016)

... It seems that Jay Z actually wants to move the fight at a venue in New York!...

[The Hammer]

... It seems that Jay Z actually wants to move the fight at a venue in New York!...

The Roc Nation representative said yesterday he wants the fight in Oakland.

[Kagami Taiga]

The Roc Nation representative said yesterday he wants the fight in Oakland.

Link??????

[The Comic DON]

I dont think we can point fingers at the fighters...Ward and Kov dont duck anyone....look at their track record

on the flipside, look at Kathy Duva's track record of embellishing and deflecting and RocNations negotiation style


Im 100% it'll be some board room decision that stops the fight from happening in November

if it doesn't, it'll prob be postponed so they can air the final details.

promoters make or break far more fights that the fighters, wish some people would realize that

Looking at Ward's duck record it would seem has 2 (maybe 3) ducks. He ducked GGG, he ducked Bute, and when Stevenson came a knocking he decided to take a past on the fight.

[Weltschmerz]

The Roc Nation representative said yesterday he wants the fight in Oakland.

Lol.

Ridiculous.

[Weltschmerz]

Would be good to have Mr. Ward himself call Kovalev out? He's not supposed to talk perhaps. I know it's not really Ward's style either.