The pressure is all on ward....

[Motofan]

I actually sort of agree. Ward is ONLY bankable if he keeps winning. Period. Doesn't matter how he wins, but he has to keep winning to even get tv time. Kovalev could lose and go on to be like Froch. Make huge money in other fights and continue to be very popular based on his style and personality.

[pacmanis1]

This is a PPV between two guys who aren't well known outside the hardcores. I have trouble seeing this break 200k and doubt any of those 200k hardcore fans will stop watching either way.

I'd argue that there's more pressure on Kov because only if he gets a big knock out do I see his popularity going up much more than it is.

Ward has an ugly style and isn't willing to be a douche like Floyd. His popularity has probably already reached it's peak. Even if he gets a dominant victory and fights Stevenson next it's not like the buy rate will be much bigger than it will for Kov.

TLDR: Kov is fighting for the opportunity to be a bigger star, Ward is fighting to maintain his level of stardom.

[sunny31]

hell it seems like the pressure is all on you

LOL...so true.

[colorado]

If Ward starts fouling I hope Kovalev retires him.

[Mammoth]

Back to BET if he loses

[Scipio2009]

people will still have interest in kovalev if he loses due to his style. people are only clinging onto ward cause hes unbeaten, do you think anyones going to tune into watch him if kovalev beats him? Dawson was slung straight on the scrap heap when he started losing, people with boring styles dont get much sympathy when they lose

A Russian fighter with okay English skills, who doesn't sell tickets anywhere, and is now walking in (against the diminished slate of opponents available to HBO) with no belts? Seriously?

If Joe Smith Jr were to end up stopping Hopkins, Kovalev-Smith would be an okay fight (though I'd imagine that Star Boxing, after SmithJr ko'd Fonfara and ko'd Hopkins, would be far more interested in securing a main-stage title fight for his charge), but who else is earnestly out there and available that the boxing world would enjoy seeing Kovalev have a non-title fight with? Pascal 3?

[Kigali]

I actually sort of agree. Ward is ONLY bankable if he keeps winning. Period. Doesn't matter how he wins, but he has to keep winning to even get tv time. Kovalev could lose and go on to be like Froch. Make huge money in other fights and continue to be very popular based on his style and personality.

When has Kovalev ever made huge money.??

Ward is far better paid than him.

[Kigali]

If Ward starts fouling I hope Kovalev retires him.

Another "American" Kovalev fan.

[Scipio2009]

If Ward loses then everyone says, "meh, he was good but not great".

If Kovalev loses he will still be able to rebound with fan friendly fights and a possible rematch.

Either way, it defines both guys but neither man is a household name and neither man is all time great, so the loss/win won't change the boxing landscape.

Ward is a free agent after the fight, and the biggest fight to make would earnestly be Ward-Stevenson (Showtime likely makes a serious push to bring back Ward). With Main Events having hitched Kovalev and the company to HBO, HBO's going to have to dig deep and commit to a longer term deal to make that even a possibility.

What is Kovalev going to fight for if all of the championships end up in the other orbit?

[Motofan]

When has Kovalev ever made huge money.??

Ward is far better paid than him.

Not saying Kovalev is higher paid, but Froch is a perfect example for him. Froch lost to Ward and went on to continue to be a big draw and fight meaningful fights because he fights a fan friendly style. Ward makes money because he is an unbeaten fighter with big names on his resume. My point was that if Kovalev loses I can see him having a post-Ward career much like Froch. If Ward loses I don't think the future looks as bright for him.