BoxRec

Kalan wrote:Kovalev isn't destroyed... That's like saying Robinson was destroyed when he lost to Turpin, Fullmer, Basilio, Ralph Jones, Maxim, or whoever beat him.

What happens is you keep working on your game, make yourself better, and come back another day... He who has the last laugh -- laughs best.

Kovalev has never been out-boxed or out-punched to my satisfaction... He's been ripped off by corrupt officials -- and I believe that's the general consensus.

How about this, destroyed in the narrative, that is put forth by HBO's three announcers, Kellerman, Lampley, and Jones.

If Kovalev defeated Ward, the HBO analysts would have boldly-proclaimed him to be the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, but he lost... legitimately, so what do you expect them to do?

Sergey is still one of the very best 175lb-ers on the planet, but I don't know where he proceeds from here on out.

If Ward doesn't vacate his titles, with a third bout against the S.O.G. being commercially unviable, then he's in dire straits, because HBO won't allow him to compete on Showtime... so his options are extremely limited, especially if the same political barrier also renders bouts against Haymon-affiliated opponents very challenging to make.

victor-romeo wrote:I first learned about the Kovalev on Jim Lampley's show on HBO the fight game, I followed Kovalev's career on HBO, HBO's commentary in the first fight was much more friendlier to Kovalev. In the second fight, Roy Jones who usually displays a neutral to pro Kovalev attitude was completely against Kovalev even before Kovalev gassed out with statements like Kovalev doesn't even have a left hook as if just discovered after watching the guy fight like 7 times. It was interesting to watch HBO turn against their media creation.

I did find it very strange that the telecast was so anti Kovalev in the rematch. Kovalev would land a 3 punch combo and you'd hear "Ward with a beautiful shot to the body". What? Where? Didn't even see him throw a punch. HBO's crew, especially Max, has been tough to listen to. He's got a schoolboy crush on some boxers and he just goes overboard. But I definitely agree with you somewhat as to the narrative in the rematch was very negative towards Kovalev.

Perhaps HBO decided to aggressively sell Ward and see dollar signs by endorsing him more going forward. Probably not a bad idea to jump on a boxer's bandwagon like that especially when he finally has the performance that makes him an ATG. Prior to it, Ward was not an ATG in my mind. Now he is. He earned it.

Let's be honest, HBO wanted Ward to win. That is why the commentators are so biased.

victor-romeo wrote:I first learned about the Kovalev on Jim Lampley's show on HBO the fight game, I followed Kovalev's career on HBO, HBO's commentary in the first fight was much more friendlier to Kovalev. In the second fight, Roy Jones who usually displays a neutral to pro Kovalev attitude was completely against Kovalev even before Kovalev gassed out with statements like Kovalev doesn't even have a left hook as if just discovered after watching the guy fight like 7 times. It was interesting to watch HBO turn against their media creation.

Color vs. blow by blow?

Lampley mentions Kovalev landed early to the body.

Roy Jones is smart, but there is a bias in his reporting as he talks gloom and doom for the fighters he really does't like then quickly changes course if that person wins.

After seeing the fight again, my take is the so called SOG, ( who's trunks should read SOB ) used low blows and dirty tactics to win.

Kovalev lacks a ring IQ. He should have pushed off and keep Ward on the outside, and fouled back with his own low blows if needed. His corner is useless, and he's the type of fighter who could needs one.

With many up and coming talents at light heavyweight, HBO can afford to turn down Kovalev sequels.

Enlightened-One wrote:If Kovalev defeated Ward, the HBO analysts would have boldly-proclaimed him to be the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, but he lost... legitimately, so what do you expect them to do?

Sergey is still one of the very best 175lb-ers on the planet, but I don't know where he proceeds from here on out.

If Ward doesn't vacate his titles, with a third bout against the S.O.G. being commercially unviable, then he's in dire straits, because HBO won't allow him to compete on Showtime... so his options are extremely limited, especially if the same political barrier also renders bouts against Haymon-affiliated opponents very challenging to make.

HBO has Usyk signed. Let Ward move up.

pound per pound wrote:

Enlightened-One wrote:If Kovalev defeated Ward, the HBO analysts would have boldly-proclaimed him to be the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, but he lost... legitimately, so what do you expect them to do?

Sergey is still one of the very best 175lb-ers on the planet, but I don't know where he proceeds from here on out.

If Ward doesn't vacate his titles, with a third bout against the S.O.G. being commercially unviable, then he's in dire straits, because HBO won't allow him to compete on Showtime... so his options are extremely limited, especially if the same political barrier also renders bouts against Haymon-affiliated opponents very challenging to make.

HBO has Usyk signed. Let Ward move up.

HBO has no control over Andre Ward, since his fight contract with them expired after the very first Kovalev bout.

It also seems likely that Ward will jump ship from Roc Nation to Top Rank, who is also aligned with Al Haymon, with Bob Arum's company having their own PPV vehicle.

So it's entirely possible that Andre Ward won't be appearing on HBO (on a fighting capacity) anytime soon.

The head honchos of HBO may no longer be able to boast about having the likes of Ward, Lomachenko and Crawford amongst their stable of fighters that they televise.

In terms of Kovalev, if Andre Ward does jump ship to the highest bidder, which seems highly-likely, then Sergey's exclusive contract with HBO will severely limit his available options at 175lbs.

There are no sporting or commercial reasons to justify a third bout between Kovalev and Ward, with the Russian being unable to fight on any TV network other than HBO, so Kathy Duva has her work cut out for her if she wants to arrange another marquee bout for Krusher.

There is no way Arum will want to satisfy Ward's appetite after he has been handed 7-million donations by RN.

pound per pound wrote: After seeing the fight again, my take is the so called SOG, ( who's trunks should read SOB ) used low blows and dirty tactics to win.

Kovalev lacks a ring IQ. He should have pushed off and keep Ward on the outside, and fouled back with his own low blows if needed. His corner is useless, and he's the type of fighter who could needs one.

His corner betrayed him.

boxing_rocks wrote:There is no way Arum will want to satisfy Ward's appetite after he has been handed 7-million donations by RN.

I obtained my info. from Dan Rafael, who said the following during last Friday's ESPN chat session:

My view is that Ward is done with Roc Nation. If he signs elsewhere Top Rank is the obvious destination. Arum has always liked Ward, he was on TV last week promoting the Pacquiao fight on ESPN and talked glowingly about him. Also, Arum has a very good relationship with Ward manager James Prince and already handles two other Prince clients -- Shakur Stevenson from the 2016 Olympics and last week signed heavyweight Bryant Jennings. I'd make Top Rank the favorite for sure.

Arum may like Ward, but he is a businessman and is only spending his own money when expecting good returns. Nobody sane would expect to get returns from Ward's fights.

boxing_rocks wrote:Arum may like Ward, but he is a businessman and is only spending his own money when expecting good returns. Nobody sane would expect to get returns from Ward's fights.

I am not sure about that I think Ward is the best American fighter right now amongst a list of (and the most interesting)

Crawford
Thurman
Danny Garcia
Mikey Garcia
Spence

I think these victories over Kovalev will create interest in further Ward fights..Especially amongst an American audience.

victor-romeo wrote:

boxing_rocks wrote:Arum may like Ward, but he is a businessman and is only spending his own money when expecting good returns. Nobody sane would expect to get returns from Ward's fights.

I am not sure about that I think Ward is the best American fighter right now amongst a list of (and the most interesting)

Crawford
Thurman
Danny Garcia
Mikey Garcia
Spence

I think these victories over Kovalev will create interest in further Ward fights..Especially amongst an American audience.

There wasn't much interest after he won Super 6. The second fight sold about 130K PPVs, so clearly, there is still not much interest. The fighters you mentioned plan to keep fighting for a long time, and don't talk about retirement. Also, Mikey and Danny have significant ethnic following.

The only way I see for Ward to cash out is to fight Joshua, but I doubt that AJ will want to beat the little guy.

boxing_rocks wrote:
The only way I see for Ward to cash out is to fight Joshua, but I doubt that AJ will want to beat the little guy.

there's this Russian saying I believe being relevant in this case:
"..ах моська знать она сильна коль лает на слона.."

greg wrote:

boxing_rocks wrote:
The only way I see for Ward to cash out is to fight Joshua, but I doubt that AJ will want to beat the little guy.

there's this Russian saying I believe being relevant in this case:
"..ах моська знать она сильна коль лает на слона.."

Translation

gilgamesh wrote:

greg wrote:

boxing_rocks wrote:
The only way I see for Ward to cash out is to fight Joshua, but I doubt that AJ will want to beat the little guy.

there's this Russian saying I believe being relevant in this case:
"..ах моська знать она сильна коль лает на слона.."

Translation

close enough!

In my personal opinion, the S.O.G. leaves Roc Nation and joins Top Rank (or at least has some sort of co-promotional deal with them). Al Haymon and Bob Arum will then agree to stage a non-HBO PPV event between Andre Ward and Adonis Stevenson, which will be televised by Showtime.

In November, I reckon that Sergey Kovalev will likely be matched up against the winner HBO-televised bout between Joe Smith Jr. and Sullivan Barrera… or alternatively an opponent like Dmitry Bivol or Nathan Cleverly.

victor-romeo wrote:

boxing_rocks wrote:Arum may like Ward, but he is a businessman and is only spending his own money when expecting good returns. Nobody sane would expect to get returns from Ward's fights.

I am not sure about that I think Ward is the best American fighter right now amongst a list of (and the most interesting)

Crawford
Thurman
Danny Garcia
Mikey Garcia
Spence

I think these victories over Kovalev will create interest in further Ward fights..Especially amongst an American audience.

Most certainly not, there was less interest in the rematch than there was in the first fight. I think Rocnation is done losing money on his fights. I'd expect Ward to sit around for quite some time unless he's ready for a massive pay cut.

greg wrote:

boxing_rocks wrote:
The only way I see for Ward to cash out is to fight Joshua, but I doubt that AJ will want to beat the little guy.

there's this Russian saying I believe being relevant in this case:
"..ах моська знать она сильна коль лает на слона.."

Yep, Ward is a little dogie barking at an elephant.

boxing_rocks wrote:

pound per pound wrote: After seeing the fight again, my take is the so called SOG, ( who's trunks should read SOB ) used low blows and dirty tactics to win.

Kovalev lacks a ring IQ. He should have pushed off and keep Ward on the outside, and fouled back with his own low blows if needed. His corner is useless, and he's the type of fighter who could needs one.

His corner betrayed him.

Well he picked his corner and they were awful.

Her name be Kathy