BoxRec

There is certainly massive interest amongst boxing fans. Admittedly somewhat tempered by a lack of total confidence in the judges.

As far as the paying public go a boxer needs more than just a great record to be popular. If we knew what it was, we could all become rich very easily.

Selling fights should be down to the promoters but in this case neither side seem willing or able to pull out the stops. Manipulating social media for publicity is the thing nowadays and its a sad indictment that Mayweather v McGregor is the biggest fight spectacle of the year according to the internet. No matter who says it will be a gross mismatch, people will still want to watch. Even bad publicity is better than none. A constant media presence no doubt helps put bums on seats.

Ward v Kovalev is foremost a grudge match between two great professional boxers rather an exercise in generating wealth.

Ten, fifteen years from now they'll probably both end up agreeing that they could have, should have worked together a bit more for a fight of this magnitude. Right now their sights are firmly fixed on winning the fight, not selling it.

candyslim wrote:

lazboy wrote:

candyslim wrote:Well the beauty of being a pessimist is that any surprises you get are likely to be good ones

You sir have sweetened my outlook, your words, like candy. Ok maybe pessimist is to harsh a word, perhaps realist. Past behaviour generally predicts future behaviour. Fact is I (personally) don't find Wards fights aesthetically pleasing. However, in the unlikely case that Kovalev dominates throughout, will that make it a great fight? I guess because I'm a fan although I do like turmoil, back and forth momentum. If this is to happen, as I predict. It won't be the back and forth I like, I see aethically pleasing spurts by Kovalev, interrupted with frankly grinding ugly "work" by Ward.

I am definately looking forward to the fight although I anticipate it will excite me as much as it will frustrate me.

Thank you for those kind words Lazboy. A cynic might suggest the difference between a pessimist and a realist is a minor one, but that's just too depressing a thought.

In my experience great fights tend to be characterized by the absence of domination by one fighter throughout, of course some of the greatest might boast domination by both fighters at different stages of the fight.

Sometimes I find a bout can be very enjoyable even when there is a complete absence of anything to get the pulse racing, simply the chess like maneuvering for the upper hand and the battle of wits. Whether such a fight would qualify as "great" is unlikely given those in the memory that combine the cerebral with the blood and thunder.

Anyway I shall keep an open mind and watch in anticipation as it unfolds, when the time comes.

You're a fine wordsmith Candyslim, I enjoy reading your posts.

candyslim wrote:Hell yeah. I don't know about anyone else but I'm looking forward to it immensely. Hopefully this time we get a non-controversial conclusion as well as a really competitive fight.

I hope also that they can turn it around so it's a success at the box-office. A fight like this deserves a little appreciation and when a big fight between top fighters who are well matched, is looking like a flop financially, that is obviously not good for the sport.

I agree.

I got to say I don't think the fight has been promoted in the right way. I virtually heard nothing about the fight until recently.

Another thing is the fans only have so much money. How many PPVs can they invest in (travel to a live event) before they're tapped out?

Thanks lazboy you're far too kind.

I have to say Gerald, that is a very good point. Actually they both are but I was specifically refering to the question of expenditure. In England we are always bitching about how the cost of stuff in the UK and the US is often the same numerically, while it is usually the case that what costs 100 bucks in The States costs 100 quid over here.

TF that I'm a boxing fan because for once there is no sh*t on our end of the stick, looks like someone forgot to exploit us, heads could roll. Seriously I'm not not poor but I tend to be very choosy about PPV even at British prices, if I was paying 100 bucks a time, that would grow old very quickly.

I must just go and get my toilet paper from the washing line - it has got to be dry by now