Comments Thread For: HBO Might Not Air Kovalev-Alvarez Rematch; Negotiations Ongoing

[BIGPOPPAPUMP]

HBO has televised Sergey Kovalev's past 14 fights either live on the network or on pay-per-view. Kovalev's streak of consecutive appearances on that premium cable network could end there. Main Events CEO Kathy Duva, Kovalev's promoter, told BoxingScene.com on Friday that the network has declined its contractual option to air a light heavyweight championship rematch between Kovalev and Eleider Alvarez, who knocked out Kovalev in the seventh round August 4 in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
[Click Here To Read More]

[Lemonhead_Jeff]

HBO don't want it, but DAZN probably covets it.

[MEXfistology]

Of course hbo doesn't wanna air the rematch, they know it will be the same outcome and they want a white guy as the winner and face of boxing...they don't want Alvarez to get that much exposure again and all because he's not white

[ThatDude44]

He should ask Son of God if he can pull some strings to get him on ESPN... But then God forgives, Son of God doesn't.

[ceylon mooney]

PHUKK HBO. that was a bad ass fight of two top 5 dudes givin great performances. theyll do it again. BOTH these guys are the real thing.

[rolshans]

HBO don't want it, but DAZN probably covets it.

Man, DAZN really should get this match, and put the winner against the winner of Beterbiev/Johnson.

[DougalDylan]

DAZN will want it, ESPN will want it just to annoy DAZN .. so basically all Duva has to do is say that and presumably HBO will match up and get it.

HBO don't want it, but DAZN probably covets it.

[kilojay505]

dumbest $h!t i heard all day

[thekenneth]

if HBO wants it for less doesn't that mean Alvarez would get paid less?? I'm sure in the contract he is offered a certain amount of money to take a rematch. they can't just tell him "you will defend your title for 10k or be stripped of it" I'm wondering if the fight happens.

[Motorcity Cobra]

Duva and Peter Nelson, HBO Sports’ executive vice president, are negotiating to air a second WBO light heavyweight title bout between Kovalev and Alvarez for a lower license fee.

“There’s a quirk in the contract and basically it gives them the right to that fight for a much higher number than they would wanna pay,” Duva said. “So what they’re doing is just a maneuver in negotiations. They still have the right to match [another offer]. They’re just keep their options open. That’s basically what they’re doing. They have the matching rights.”

Russia’s Kovalev (32-3-1, 28 KOs) exercised his contractual option recently for an immediate rematch versus Alvarez (24-0, 12 KOs), which must take place by February. Duva can shop the Kovalev-Alvarez rematch to competing networks, but HBO has the right to match whichever offers she receives.

“We’re in the middle of negotiations right now,” Duva said. “However this turns out, we’ll see. I don’t wanna get into a whole bunch of stuff about our negotiations, what’s going on and any of that stuff. But once we have a deal, everybody will know.”

Duva better shop that fight around. Kovalev shouldn't have to turn down higher paydays just for the benefit of Main Events being on HBO. And Duva should be looking elsewhere anyway. HBO isn't spending money on fights anymore.