Is Kovalev vs Beterbiev possible ?

[ikorolev]

http://www.BS.com/kovalev-back ... fer--93940?

Will Haymon allow Beterbiev to fight on HBO or he will pull the Stevenson trick again ?

[Tarkus]

I wonder if it is up to Haymon. Beterbiev was very bullish about wanting Kovalev and here is his chance. Lets see if he puts his money where his mouth is and demands it from his boss.

[PsychoGamerTwo]

Should make a great fight in Russia.

[ikorolev]

If it happens, I don't see how HBO could avoid broadcasting it.

[diddy]

Won't happen until Beterbiev takes Adonis' belt. Which he will.

[Chepppaaa]

it will hapenn and i am pumped

[BAD INTENTIONS]

Should make a great fight in Russia.

I know the US is 99.9% corrupt too ... but I wouldn't trust a fight of this magnitude in Russia.

There was a whole suspect situation involving a fight with some cruisers a while back that turned me off to how boxing is run over there.

[Tarkus]

Won't happen until Beterbiev takes Adonis' belt. Which he will.

Why? Would not it be better for big Al to have one belt safe and fight for another three rather then put it on the line. He can make unification if Beter-behave wins those from the Krusher.

[Tarkus]

If it happens, I don't see how HBO could avoid broadcasting it.

No chance in hell if it happens. However HBO might put a break on it, might be reluctant to risk it. They do have plans for Ward fight remember.

[Blodhemn]

Hope so. Great clash on Russian soil.

[zorndeslammes]

Not happening. Beterbiev can wait to gain mandatory status and push for a purse bid. Main Events would likely forfeit the belt under those circumstances. In the meantime, promoters will do their promoting nonsense and you'll probably get Lepikhin/Kovalev in Russia on a Integrated Sports PPV or maybe HBO. I suppose he'd match well with some of the other co-headliners the network has for the second half of the year (Mohammedi and Dierry Jean).

[ikorolev]

Beterbiev doesn't want to wait or be Haymonized network wise:

http://www.BS.com/beterbiev-ac ... sue--93954?

It looks like we are getting another huge war in the fall !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[hurricanemitch14]

This would be great!!!!

[jewboypgh]

Please make this happen

[Boxing Writer]

I think HBO won't let this fight happen unless they get options for Beterbiev future fights. There is a huge risk for them without that since they invested some money in Kovalev, and if Beterbiev beats him and moves on Showtime, it will be disasterous situation for HBO.

[Baby Face Finster]

This fight will happen unless Kathy Duva insists on low balling Beterbiev with a ridiculous purse and/or demands options on Artur. If this fight goes through I predict, like I have all along, that Beterbiev will KO Kovalev. Kovalev's chin is very suspect. I think Beterbiev is going to destroy him when he lands a flush shot.

[Impractical Poster]

I think HBO won't let this fight happen unless they get options for Beterbiev future fights. There is a huge risk for them without that since they invested some money in Kovalev, and if Beterbiev beats him and moves on Showtime, it will be disasterous situation for HBO.

This sounds like the most likely scenario.

[crusader]

This fight will happen unless Kathy Duva insists on low balling Beterbiev with a ridiculous purse and/or demands options on Artur. If this fight goes through I predict, like I have all along, that Beterbiev will KO Kovalev. Kovalev's chin is very suspect. I think Beterbiev is going to destroy him when he lands a flush shot.

As someone who recognizes his impressive power but thinks Beterbiev does an awful lot of crude swinging, looks fairly one-dimensional, shows defensive holes, has never gone past 4 rounds with a decent opponent, and has largely untested stamina and durability, why should I be certain that he will destroy Kovalev--who is quite the heavy puncher himself?

Because Kovalev got stopped in the amateurs (not by AB though) and Beterbiev can punch? The one point amateur victory for Beterbiev (mighty Matt Korobov beat Sergey by a wider margin)?

[ElJefe]

I wish more fighters would try to force through the fights that they want. At the end of the day, Haymon is an advisor, Beterbiev is the fighter. Beterbiev should get the final say in who he fights.

Credit to Kovalev for offering the fight as well. He could easily avoid Beterbiev for a year or two by saying that he's not a big name yet. Also credit to Beterbiev for agreeing to it so early in his career.

Eastern European and Asian fighters >

[Freedom2013]

I'd sooner see this fight in late 2016, after Beterbiev builds up his resume and makes a bigger name for himself.

[Baby Face Finster]

This fight will happen unless Kathy Duva insists on low balling Beterbiev with a ridiculous purse and/or demands options on Artur. If this fight goes through I predict, like I have all along, that Beterbiev will KO Kovalev. Kovalev's chin is very suspect. I think Beterbiev is going to destroy him when he lands a flush shot.

As someone who recognizes his impressive power but thinks Beterbiev does an awful lot of crude swinging, looks fairly one-dimensional, shows defensive holes, has never gone past 4 rounds with a decent opponent, and has largely untested stamina and durability, why should I be certain that he will destroy Kovalev--who is quite the heavy puncher himself?

Because Kovalev got stopped in the amateurs (not by AB though) and Beterbiev can punch? The one point amateur victory for Beterbiev (mighty Matt Korobov beat Sergey by a wider margin)?

It's just a belief I have. I have seen the way Kovalev reacts to some punches sometimes and know that he is there for the taking if his opponent doesn't become gunshy and goes after him. I think Beterbiev is that guy.

[birdman77]

Possible yes. Likely...ehhh. Logical? Hellll naw. Why rush Artur ? Though he has little to lose at this point. Sergei has been a name for yrs and is only 2 yrs older than Artur.

The problem in this weight class is large disparity in talent. You have 2-3 good fighters and that's it. So you have to milk out as many easy wins before lining out dangerous opponents. I feel that Sergey will wear himself out at relatively early age....hopefully not though

[caldo2025]

If this fight were to happen tonight, it would be fantastic. But not many people would be watching because Beterbiev's only got a handful of professional fights on his resume. I'm getting a little tired of title shots being given to these Russians and Cuban defectors. Granted they are good fighters and they could challenge most titleholders but what happened to earning a title shot? There are some really good boxers that never ever got the chance. Now it's part of a signing bonus with these promoters that all have a strangle hold on these divisions.

Again, i think it would be a great fight and i'd buy it or watch it. But i'm just tired of the politics of it all.

[ikorolev]

If this fight were to happen tonight, it would be fantastic. But not many people would be watching because Beterbiev's only got a handful of professional fights on his resume. I'm getting a little tired of title shots being given to these Russians and Cuban defectors. Granted they are good fighters and they could challenge most titleholders but what happened to earning a title shot? There are some really good boxers that never ever got the chance. Now it's part of a signing bonus with these promoters that all have a strangle hold on these divisions.

Again, i think it would be a great fight and i'd buy it or watch it. But i'm just tired of the politics of it all.

This fight has nothing to do with politics. Kovalev just wants to resolve their "dispute" from amateur times. Beterbiev is high enough in ABC rankings to easilly get that title shot. Also, I doubt that other contenders are anxious to have an eliminator fight with him and get brutally stopped.

Cudos to fighters who strive to fight the best instead of fighting bums for years before stepping up.

[caldo2025]

This fight has nothing to do with politics. Kovalev just wants to resolve their "dispute" from amateur times. Beterbiev is high enough in ABC rankings to easilly get that title shot. Also, I doubt that other contenders are anxious to have an eliminator fight with him and get brutally stopped.

Cudos to fighters who strive to fight the best instead of fighting bums for years before stepping up.

So you have no problem with guys like Lomachenko having 2 title shots within his first 3 professional fights? Why even have rankings then?

It's ALL about politics in boxing. That's a pretty ridiculous statement