Kovalev stalking Ward for the rematch

[The Big Dunn]

Disagree. When one P4P fighter shelves themselves for a long period of time, it sucks. But when he forces another P4P fighter to shelf himself as well, that's plain scummy. And say they finally agree on a June date and then Ward gets injured and pulls out? It will be 1 year since Kovalev fought, all because someone else wanted to be a little b1tch.

I wasn't ok with it when Fury did it to Klitchko, and I'm not ok with these bull**** antics from Ward either.

It doesn't force Kov to not fight. He has the option of signing to fight someone.. Seems to be Ward's plan and if that happens he will get criticism for holding out. Maybe Kov can ask to be the mando for Stevenson again if Ward keeps this up.

Please dude, didn't you guys have enough of the "Ward will pull out with an injury" BS before the 1st fight?

The reality of the situation is the fight didn't generate a ton of money so there isn't an eagerness to make a rematch for anyone but Kov because he lost. Further, Ward has no TV deal and he is looking for one. HBO seems reluctant to give him one so he is using the rematch as leverage.

I wish Ward would just do the rematch. If not, sign with SHO and officially end the speculation of a rematch.

[-PBP-]

Ward gets enjoyment out of playing mental games and making you do what he wants on his terms.

Kovalev's best bet is to proceed as if he doesn't need Ward. It's like an internet troll. Don't give him ammunition. While you cry, moan and think your exposing the troll, he's sitting behind his computer and laughing at you and patting himself on the back for getting you to react.

It's a damn shame it has to be that way but sometimes you just have to do what it takes to bait a diva into the ring so you can get your chance to put hands on him.

[al-Xander]

Kovalev is making a big mistake in putting all his eggs in this rematch basket. Don't know why these fighters are wasting their prime years waiting for something that could take years to become reality.

[NEETzsche]

Ward gets enjoyment out of playing mental games and making you do what he wants on his terms.

Kovalev's best bet is to proceed as if he doesn't need Ward. It's like an internet troll. Don't give him ammunition. While you cry, moan and think your exposing the troll, he's sitting behind his computer and laughing at you and patting himself on the back for getting you to react.

It's a damn shame it has to be that way but sometimes you just have to do what it takes to bait a diva into the ring so you can get your chance to put hands on him.

Alternatively, Ward is trying to wriggle out of the rematch and Kovalev keeping quiet about it and moving on would play right into his hands

I don't see why Kovalev shouldn't keep clowning Ward when it keeps the rematch in the news and gets fans excited for it. The rematch would probably outsell the first fight primarily because angry Krusher is much more watchable than gentlemanly Krusher. The build-up for the first fight was virtually non-existent. Not so this time

[Boxfan83]

Imo Ward is doing and saying what he should in this sorta situation. This is the mental game but Ward should re-match him or either guy should fight Adonis 1st.

[j0zef]

It doesn't force Kov to not fight. He has the option of signing to fight someone.. Seems to be Ward's plan and if that happens he will get criticism for holding out. Maybe Kov can ask to be the mando for Stevenson again if Ward keeps this up.

Yeah, everyone in the world knows this is BS. If Kovalev takes a fight, the rematch clause is void and Ward gets to walk away singing that Kovalev ducked him.

Please dude, didn't you guys have enough of the "Ward will pull out with an injury" BS before the 1st fight?

Enough what? Ward has pulled out with injuries more than once - in 13 and 15, if I'm not mistaken. Am I claiming that I'm clairvoyant and that he'll duck Kovalev because of an injury? No. But history suggests it's a possibility.

The reality of the situation is the fight didn't generate a ton of money so there isn't an eagerness to make a rematch for anyone but Kov because he lost. Further, Ward has no TV deal and he is looking for one. HBO seems reluctant to give him one so he is using the rematch as leverage.

There's absolutely nobody else in LHW who generates as much money as Kovalev for Ward, so that argument does not hold water.

I wish Ward would just do the rematch. If not, sign with SHO and officially end the speculation of a rematch.

My point exactly. No reason to defend anyone when they're harming the sport.

[NEETzsche]

Kovalev is making a big mistake in putting all his eggs in this rematch basket. Don't know why these fighters are wasting their prime years waiting for something that could take years to become reality.

Ward will be stripped of the IBF in a few months and then Kovalev will get a shot at the vacant belt, probably against Beterbiev

[The Big Dunn]

Yeah, everyone in the world knows this is BS. If Kovalev takes a fight, the rematch clause is void and Ward gets to walk away singing that Kovalev ducked him.

Enough what? Ward has pulled out with injuries more than once - in 13 and 15, if I'm not mistaken. Am I claiming that I'm clairvoyant and that he'll duck Kovalev because of an injury? No. But history suggests it's a possibility.
There's absolutely nobody else in LHW who generates as much money as Kovalev for Ward, so that argument does not hold water.


My point exactly. No reason to defend anyone when they're harming the sport.

We know the truth so who cares what is said.

Stop it dude. A number of guys have pulled out of fights with injuries and you dont do this. Ward isn't afraid of Kov.

I think if Ward fought Joe Smith in Long Island it would generate good money (in part because Smith Jr.'s cut is much less than Kov's). I think Ward/Stevenson in Montreal would generate a larger gate but would likely be on SHO or CBS. Unless Ward and Kov opt to take less than the 1st fight, which I doubt.

He isn't harming the sport, he is handling his business. With all due respect, you didn't say Kov was harming the sport when he pulled the mando BS so to see you post this is outrageous. We can agree that Ward should make the rematch. That said, lets discuss everything going on in a rational way as adults.

Ward doesn't get a pass in any way if he doesn't honor the rematch clause, but I think its fair he tries to get a TV deal from HBO before making a rematch with an HBO fighter on HBO.

[-PBP-]

Alternatively, Ward is trying to wriggle out of the rematch and Kovalev keeping quiet about it and moving on would play right into his hands

I don't see why Kovalev shouldn't keep clowning Ward when it keeps the rematch in the news and gets fans excited for it. The rematch would probably outsell the first fight primarily because angry Krusher is much more watchable than gentlemanly Krusher. The build-up for the first fight was virtually non-existent. Not so this time

I see where your coming from but I'm more of a believer in reverse psychology. Giving Ward the indication that he's not relevant will make him get off his ass more so than putting pressure on him, giving him a position of power and letting him negotiate every penny out of you.

Look at how Team GGG is playing the Canelo game. They are slowly shifting the negotiating power in their favor.

[BrometheusBob.]

I was hoping to see a Klitschko-Briggs kind of video ITT