Is Kovalev vs Beterbiev possible ?

[crusader]

I can see the point about Loma, but Beterbiev already has respectable wins against Cloud and Campillo, who while past their best were still arguably top 10-15 at the time in my opinion. If he took the common pampered prospect route and beat 16 scrubs over 4 years then added his 9 wins to arrive at 25-0 would you still have a problem with him getting a title fight?

[ikorolev]

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

Cudos to Lomachenko, but boxing authorities shouldn't have sanctioned that. Having said that, there are so many crappy fighters in the top 15 lists of the ABC orgs, that beating 2-3 of them in one's first fights could bring him high enough to be a legit contender. Loma just fought Salido two fights too early.

[caldo2025]

Cudos to Lomachenko, but boxing authorities shouldn't have sanctioned that. Having said that, there are so many crappy fighters in the top 15 lists of the ABC orgs, that beating 2-3 of them in one's first fights could bring him high enough to be a legit contender. Loma just fought Salido two fights too early.

Salido definitely took advantage of what Lomachenko didn't learn yet so I do agree with you there that the best fighter didn't win that night. My issue is more with the promoter using title shots as bargaining chips at the negotiations table with fighters they want to sign. They shouldn't hold that kind of power. Arum somehow got him ranked within the top 10 before he had a pro fight. Other promoters should be suing Arum for that instead of jumping on Haymon because they can't compete with him and his vision.

[ikorolev]

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.

Here is an interesting amateur fight where Beterbiev was hit a lot with hooks from both hands and seemed shaken at least once:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx21dru-WxM

[crusader]

Thanks for posting that...hadn't seen it before.

I'll watch the full thing later but I skipped to 8:18 and you can clearly see Beterbiev staggered. Of course he was also dropped by Jeff Page as a pro (without having his foot stepped on), so perhaps he doesn't have a standout chin.

[Grand_Cru54]

According to RDS.ca, Beterbiev received an invitation from Kovalev... It should happen soon.

[crusader]

Rafael just tweeted:

Per Kathy Duva, Beterbiev/@yvonmichel rejected 'very fair' offer for Sept. Kovalev fight. Prefer to fight IBF elim rather than for 3 titles.

Apparently Beterbiev's side acknowledged that it was a fair deal (that's where the quoted bit is from). Does this mean that Artur is ducking now

[zorndeslammes]

Rafael just tweeted:

Per Kathy Duva, Beterbiev/@yvonmichel rejected 'very fair' offer for Sept. Kovalev fight. Prefer to fight IBF elim rather than for 3 titles.

Apparently Beterbiev's side acknowledged that it was a fair deal (that's where the quoted bit is from). Does this mean that Artur is ducking now

Duva said it was a fair deal. Yvon Michel has said no such thing. Apparently they're gonna be going for the mandatory fight. I wonder why? If only this sort of event could be predicted....

[Freedom2013]

I'm happy to read this fight isn't happening yet.

Beterbiev-Kovalev will be a much bigger fight in 18 months, after Beterbiev has a few more wins under his belt and a higher profile.

I'd like to see Beterbiev face a few guys like Bika, Dawson, Oosthuizen, Chavez Jr and E. Alvarez, then fight Kovalev.

[Tarkus]

Beterbiev rejects offer of $500,000 plus part of revenue from the Canadian PPV. It is easy to run your mouth but ask Haymon girl to take a fight? NO!

[crusader]

Rafael just tweeted:

Per Kathy Duva, Beterbiev/@yvonmichel rejected 'very fair' offer for Sept. Kovalev fight. Prefer to fight IBF elim rather than for 3 titles.

Apparently Beterbiev's side acknowledged that it was a fair deal (that's where the quoted bit is from). Does this mean that Artur is ducking now

Duva said it was a fair deal. Yvon Michel has said no such thing. Apparently they're gonna be going for the mandatory fight. I wonder why? If only this sort of event could be predicted....

Pretty easy to see.....occupy the mandatory position, make a big bid, and try to get Kovalev to vacate so Beterbiev has a far easier route to the title than the one already offered to him by Main Events, resulting in one of the best fights that can be made at the weight not happening. Beterbiev would only get 25 percent if it went to bids, so even though the bid may be large I'm not sure that's a route they want if they are actually committed to making the fight. Of course Michel is emphasizing that Beterbiev and his team agreed that now wouldn't be the best time to fight and that he should have another fight to help him prepare, even though Beterbiev's called Kovalev out several times while saying that he was already willing and ready.

Just another example of business preventing a fight when I think both combatants are willing to face each other---happens all the time and on different sides doesn't it? Maybe if the plan works out for Beterbiev's side we'll get to see him in a vacant title fight against an elite opponent like Erik Skoglund while people accuse Kovalev of ducking again even though an offer was made.

[ikorolev]

Beterbiev "won" in amateurs due to support of Chechen leaders and is afraid to have a fair fight now.