Ward/Kovalev II being a PPV is a bad sign

[victor-romeo]

No, it is not. Kovalev and Golovkin are not connecting to most of casual fans because of their broken language. Different culture doesn't help either.

Kovalev English way better than GGG, Actually Kovalev speaks English fine. Different culture now thats something different.

I have watched half a dozen recent interviews and he always has a translator standing behind him.

He might be OK during brief post-fight interviews when being asked simple questions, but for anything more linguistically challenging, then he always requires the assistance of a translator.

Sergey Kovalev’s frequent bigoted and controversial actions, coupled with his inability and lack of personality (probably due to language issues) is partly the reason why he isn’t as popular as he should be.

If Sergey had made more of an effort to learn the social etiquette/tolerance of the western world and also attaining a better standard of the English language (to help convey his personality), then his fan-base would be far bigger and his PPV/audience figures would probably be double the size of his current numbers.

Sergey Kovalev is one of the sports’ most exciting fighters, but his out-of-ring actions are likely to discourage many fight fans from supporting him.

I think his English is more than adequate but not perfect, if boxing had more exciting boxer punchers like him who took on all comers the sport would be in a lot better shape than it is now. I see Kovalev as a sort of Russian Roberto Duran . I find his fights highly entertaining mostly for how if fights with with high boxing skill, athleticism, mobility, concussive power, agility, and fierce passion to win.

[davie]

The first one did only 165K buys

I can't fathom how this fight doesn't sell better

Yes, Ward is boring and yes Kovalev lacks character.

But if we had a P4P ranked operator like Andre fighting in the UK, he'd get better ppv sales than this
And if we had an exciting destructive machine like Sergey, the same would be true.

Put the 2 in the ring together and it would sell brilliantly. They'd likely be hosting it in a football stadium

[boxing_rocks]

Kovalev doesn't lack character. He just cannot express himself in English.

[SFW]

Kovalev doesn't lack character. He just cannot express himself in English.

Wrong.

His racist shit calling Stevenson a chimpanzee he used that bullshit " I didn't know" excuse then.

Then he starts with more racist shit toward Ward. And they aren't the only ones. He most certainly lacks character if you ask the right people. Former and current trainer have alluded to some character issues for sure. Not sure how you didn't hear bout that. Selective memory maybe.

[boxing_rocks]

He had nothing to do with that tweet to Ward. His English is nowhere close to what was said there.

[Blodhemn]

Kovalev doesn't lack character. He just cannot express himself in English.

He can but is now censored due to sensitive western society queens like SFW.

[boxing_rocks]

Kovalev doesn't lack character. He just cannot express himself in English.

He can but is now censored due to sensitive western society queens like SFW.

No, he can't. It is so obvious that he often can't find proper words even when talking about boxing.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

The first one did only 165K buys

I can't fathom how this fight doesn't sell better

Yes, Ward is boring and yes Kovalev lacks character.

But if we had a P4P ranked operator like Andre fighting in the UK, he'd get better ppv sales than this
And if we had an exciting destructive machine like Sergey, the same would be true.

Put the 2 in the ring together and it would sell brilliantly. They'd likely be hosting it in a football stadium

I don't know, $80?, Y'all bitch about $20. Boxing is much bigger in the UK though.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Kovalev doesn't lack character. He just cannot express himself in English.

[lefty]

Why do some of you keep talking about speaking English as a selling point? It's inherently false.

No, it is not. Kovalev and Golovkin are not connecting to most of casual fans because of their broken language. Different culture doesn't help either.

Ggg sells out all the time. It's boxing that isn't popular. He's a bigger draw than any American.

Well unless its Canelo fighting or Floyd for that matter. Outliers for sure.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

No, it is not. Kovalev and Golovkin are not connecting to most of casual fans because of their broken language. Different culture doesn't help either.

Ggg sells out all the time. It's boxing that isn't popular. He's a bigger draw than any American.

Well unless its Canelo fighting or Floyd for that matter. Outliers for sure.

Floyd is retired and canelo would be categorized as Mexican, particularly in the context of this 'debate'.

[Ruthless-RKO]

This fight will do more than 165,000 like the first.
I'm predicting 225-250,000.
Numbers still suck but considerably higher

I agree, the rematch is what fans wanted to see. Some may decide to pay instead of stream so they can score rounds clearly lol..

It will do more than the first, agreed. But like you said, no more than 250,000

[Blodhemn]

Kovalev doesn't lack character. He just cannot express himself in English.

Exactly. He's been boxing's best shit talker since Mayorga. HBO is too limp to run with it, even Kellerman seemed shocked and disappointed when Kovalev continued to shit talk Pascal post fight, instead of giving the run of the mill "respect" that Kellerman hoped for that he assumed TV audiences wanted instead of realizing Pascal will always be a POS.

[world ranked]

If Kovalev was fighting a Mexican or an exciting American fighter, they would sell well. Only hardcore fans are watching Ward, and many of them do it via streams. I predict a number under 150K, probably around 100-120K.

Is there exciting Mexican at 175 the close it they may fit is Gilberto Ramirez and does that ever do good numbers?

[boxing_rocks]

If Kovalev was fighting a Mexican or an exciting American fighter, they would sell well. Only hardcore fans are watching Ward, and many of them do it via streams. I predict a number under 150K, probably around 100-120K.

Is there exciting Mexican at 175 the close it they may fit is Gilberto Ramirez and does that ever do good numbers?

I was saying IF there was.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

If Kovalev was fighting a Mexican or an exciting American fighter, they would sell well. Only hardcore fans are watching Ward, and many of them do it via streams. I predict a number under 150K, probably around 100-120K.

Is there exciting Mexican at 175 the close it they may fit is Gilberto Ramirez and does that ever do good numbers?

No, that wouldn't sell at all.

[IKSRTFO]

Why do some of you keep talking about speaking English as a selling point? It's inherently false.

No, it is not. Kovalev and Golovkin are not connecting to most of casual fans because of their broken language. Different culture doesn't help either.

Kovalev English way better than GGG, Actually Kovalev speaks English fine. Different culture now thats something different. Me personally I am more into watching good talent fight than just personalities, so I have been watching for example people who speak other languages fight for years , if they don't speak English, it isn't a big deal to me that might not be the case for your average fan.

And Canelo doesn't speak English at all yet sells in the US.

[boxing_rocks]

No, it is not. Kovalev and Golovkin are not connecting to most of casual fans because of their broken language. Different culture doesn't help either.

Kovalev English way better than GGG, Actually Kovalev speaks English fine. Different culture now thats something different. Me personally I am more into watching good talent fight than just personalities, so I have been watching for example people who speak other languages fight for years , if they don't speak English, it isn't a big deal to me that might not be the case for your average fan.

And Canelo doesn't speak English at all yet sells in the US.

He sells to Mexicans and other Spanish speakers, because they can connect with him.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

[IKSRTFO]

Kovalev English way better than GGG, Actually Kovalev speaks English fine. Different culture now thats something different. Me personally I am more into watching good talent fight than just personalities, so I have been watching for example people who speak other languages fight for years , if they don't speak English, it isn't a big deal to me that might not be the case for your average fan.

And Canelo doesn't speak English at all yet sells in the US.

He sells to Mexicans and other Spanish speakers, because they can connect with him.

"Mexicans and other Spanish speakers" aren't the only ones making a PPV sell 1million or selling out venues in Vegas.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

And Canelo doesn't speak English at all yet sells in the US.

He sells to Mexicans and other Spanish speakers, because they can connect with him.

"Mexicans and other Spanish speakers" aren't the only ones making a PPV sell 1million or selling out venues in Vegas.

He knows that, he's stubbornly clinging to his incorrect statement for some reason.

[Freedom2013]

Why Andre Ward is unpopular:

1. He is a very privileged boxer. He was given home advantage for all his Super Six fight, and was even awarded points when he skipped a round in the tourney. Everyone else had to travel.

2. He sued his dying promoter, Goossen was a Christian who did everything he could for Andre.

3. Ward is a dirty fighter, and has home refs who permit him to use illegal tactics while admonishing his opponents for the slightest reason (sometimes for no reason). He hit Mikkel Kessler with obviously deliberate head butts, and Kessler's eye was damaged.

4. Hypocrisy. He pretends to be a Christian, while lying a lot and being an extremely selfish, hateful person. Calls himself the "Son of God" with a smug arrogance and an egotistical smirk. Would a real Christian deliberately injure another boxer with illegal head butts?

5. He has a feeling of entitlement. He seems to believe he's God's gift to the sport of boxing.

6. He demands all the advantages including home advantage for every fight. He's a poor sport, will use anything he can to win, because he doesn't really have world-class power, speed, and technical skills.

7. Whines about racism and all the disadvantages he's had, while being the luckiest and most privileged boxer in the world. Will not be honest about how his "arm-clamp, wrestle and clinch" style turns people off.

8. Corrupt judges gave him an undeserved decision win in Ward-Kovalev I.

[victor-romeo]

Why Andre Ward is unpopular:

1. He is a very privileged boxer. He was given home advantage for all his Super Six fight, and was even awarded points when he skipped a round in the tourney. Everyone else had to travel.

2. He sued his dying promoter, Goossen was a Christian who did everything he could for Andre.

3. Ward is a dirty fighter, and has home refs who permit him to use illegal tactics while admonishing his opponents for the slightest reason (sometimes for no reason). He hit Mikkel Kessler with obviously deliberate head butts, and Kessler's eye was damaged.

4. Hypocrisy. He pretends to be a Christian, while lying a lot and being an extremely selfish, hateful person. Calls himself the "Son of God" with a smug arrogance and an egotistical smirk. Would a real Christian deliberately injure another boxer with illegal head butts?

5. He has a feeling of entitlement. He seems to believe he's God's gift to the sport of boxing.

6. He demands all the advantages including home advantage for every fight. He's a poor sport, will use anything he can to win, because he doesn't really have world-class power, speed, and technical skills.

7. Whines about racism and all the disadvantages he's had, while being the luckiest and most privileged boxer in the world. Will not be honest about how his "arm-clamp, wrestle and clinch" style turns people off.

8. Corrupt judges gave him an undeserved decision win in Ward-Kovalev I.

I don't know freedom, Ward pushes for advantages and has pretty boring style, might even fight dirty with the head butts, then again, I think Ward is currently top 5 P4P fighter maybe top two for me it's between Ward(I think Kovalev is better fighter than Ward due to size advantage not boxing ability) and Lomachenko right now.
Ward has a very cerebral style of fighting, and has really taken on all comers at 168 , moved up in weight and fought Kovalev at 175 and also gave Kovalev a rematch. I have to tip my hat to Ward and his over all winning style. Anyways Kovalev and Ward are fighting in a couple of days I say relax and enjoy the fight. I am having a great sports week, Golden State Warriors won title and now Ward vs Kovalev Saturday night..Wow..
PS I scored the first fight for Kovalev 117-112 in close hard to score rounds.

[world ranked]

If Kovalev was fighting a Mexican or an exciting American fighter, they would sell well. Only hardcore fans are watching Ward, and many of them do it via streams. I predict a number under 150K, probably around 100-120K.

Is there exciting Mexican at 175 the close it they may fit is Gilberto Ramirez and does that ever do good numbers?

I was saying IF there was.

That's like saying if Kovalev would fight and exciting enter "any race" here. Of course it would sell.

[Evander]

That introduction in Vegas the other day didn't have much effort put into it, looked tacky and had no buzz who put that together.