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Sergey Kovalev-Andre Ward fight on Nov. 19 looks headed to T-Mobile Arena
The impasse over where to stage the much anticipated light-heavyweight title fight between three-belt champion Sergey Kovalev and unbeaten former super-middleweight champion Andre Ward on Nov. 19 was bridged Wednesday.
The bout is headed for T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Following extended talks with Ward’s promoter, rapper Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports, Kovalev promoter Kathy Duva said arena operator MGM Grand helped ease tensions between the two sides.
“We are moving ahead quickly and are all focused on doing the fight at T-Mobile Arena,” Duva said.
“We’re just ironing out the details now. I have great optimism all the details will be ironed out in the next day or so, and then hopefully we’ll be making an announcement on tickets.”
The HBO pay-per-view bout was finalized Saturday night in Oakland, after Ward dominated Alexander Brand by unanimous decision in a final tune-up.
In that announcement, however, Ward’s camp didn’t want it mentioned that a verbal deal was in place to bring the Ward-Kovalev bout to T-Mobile.
Duva said Tuesday that Ward’s camp was purposely delaying going to Las Vegas as a possible “ploy" to force the bout to Oakland, Ward’s hometown.
On Wednesday, however, Duva said that MGM Grand personnel intervened as a mediator, hashing out concerns with Roc Nation Sports.
“We found a constructive way to remedy concerns,” Duva said. “We’re not looking at any other venue other than T-Mobile. Contracts just have to be signed now before tickets go on sale.”
Sergey Kovalev-Andre Ward fight on Nov. 19 looks headed to T-Mobile Arena
The impasse over where to stage the much anticipated light-heavyweight title fight between three-belt champion Sergey Kovalev and unbeaten former super-middleweight champion Andre Ward on Nov. 19 was bridged Wednesday.
The bout is headed for T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Following extended talks with Ward’s promoter, rapper Jay Z’s Roc Nation Sports, Kovalev promoter Kathy Duva said arena operator MGM Grand helped ease tensions between the two sides.
“We are moving ahead quickly and are all focused on doing the fight at T-Mobile Arena,” Duva said.
“We’re just ironing out the details now. I have great optimism all the details will be ironed out in the next day or so, and then hopefully we’ll be making an announcement on tickets.”
The HBO pay-per-view bout was finalized Saturday night in Oakland, after Ward dominated Alexander Brand by unanimous decision in a final tune-up.
In that announcement, however, Ward’s camp didn’t want it mentioned that a verbal deal was in place to bring the Ward-Kovalev bout to T-Mobile.
Duva said Tuesday that Ward’s camp was purposely delaying going to Las Vegas as a possible “ploy" to force the bout to Oakland, Ward’s hometown.
On Wednesday, however, Duva said that MGM Grand personnel intervened as a mediator, hashing out concerns with Roc Nation Sports.
“We found a constructive way to remedy concerns,” Duva said. “We’re not looking at any other venue other than T-Mobile. Contracts just have to be signed now before tickets go on sale.”
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