BoxRec

Since I am not an expert on purse bids and contracts, it has appeared to me that Stevenson is the one who has ran. Kovlalev has continued to try and fight top opposition while Stevenson went to haymon and fought low level fighters.

zorndeslammes wrote:We've been through this a thousand times. The purse bid for Kovalev/Stevenson came up at a time when Kovalev's contract with HBO was over. They claim "matching rights" could have been enacted, which if you understand what that means, has no relevance whatsoever to the status of a fight between Kovalev and Stevenson. They dropped out of the running when they were convinced they couldn't win the bid and would be made to look fools. Luckily Minor Events has enough pull with the anti-Haymon brigade by being the source of most the anti-PBC leaks that excuses are still made.

Yea, this gets kinda lost in all the Stevenson hate. Kovalev was the reason this fight didn't happen.
He could have taken the fight when he was free, but instead chose to go the exclusive (safe) route.
If this fight does get made, it's funny how it'll be Haymon's fighter leaving his network.
If you were to gauge the general fan's opinion though, they would think the other side would make such concessions.

For some reason, contrary to obvious evidence, Kovalev (the better fighter) is receiving unconditional support.

BAD INTENTIONS wrote:

zorndeslammes wrote:We've been through this a thousand times. The purse bid for Kovalev/Stevenson came up at a time when Kovalev's contract with HBO was over. They claim "matching rights" could have been enacted, which if you understand what that means, has no relevance whatsoever to the status of a fight between Kovalev and Stevenson. They dropped out of the running when they were convinced they couldn't win the bid and would be made to look fools. Luckily Minor Events has enough pull with the anti-Haymon brigade by being the source of most the anti-PBC leaks that excuses are still made.

Yea, this gets kinda lost in all the Stevenson hate. Kovalev was the reason this fight didn't happen.
He could have taken the fight when he was free, but instead chose to go the exclusive (safe) route.
If this fight does get made, it's funny how it'll be Haymon's fighter leaving his network.
If you were to gauge the general fan's opinion though, they would think the other side would make such concessions.

For some reason, contrary to obvious evidence, Kovalev (the better fighter) is receiving unconditional support.

Yeah, Stevenson jumping networks to avoid Kovalev is fine, but Kovalev staying loyal to HBO constitutes ducking

Nice logic

ikorolev wrote:

BAD INTENTIONS wrote:

zorndeslammes wrote:We've been through this a thousand times. The purse bid for Kovalev/Stevenson came up at a time when Kovalev's contract with HBO was over. They claim "matching rights" could have been enacted, which if you understand what that means, has no relevance whatsoever to the status of a fight between Kovalev and Stevenson. They dropped out of the running when they were convinced they couldn't win the bid and would be made to look fools. Luckily Minor Events has enough pull with the anti-Haymon brigade by being the source of most the anti-PBC leaks that excuses are still made.

Yea, this gets kinda lost in all the Stevenson hate. Kovalev was the reason this fight didn't happen.
He could have taken the fight when he was free, but instead chose to go the exclusive (safe) route.
If this fight does get made, it's funny how it'll be Haymon's fighter leaving his network.
If you were to gauge the general fan's opinion though, they would think the other side would make such concessions.

For some reason, contrary to obvious evidence, Kovalev (the better fighter) is receiving unconditional support.

Yeah, Stevenson jumping networks to avoid Kovalev is fine, but Kovalev staying loyal to HBO constitutes ducking

Nice logic

Well, you lobby to get a mandatory position and you get it AND you free yourself up from network commitments, but you won't take the fight? It isn't Kovalev's fault, honestly. It's the Duvas. They know Kovalev getting a career high payday with Stevenson is a potential eye opener for him *and* that there is risk that he loses, at which point they have no one else under contract worth a damn. Getting him an exclusive deal with HBO and then working a deal to have Kovalev fight in front of empty arenas in Vegas for a guaranteed live draw from the casino means guaranteed money. Then they don't even have to try to promote a damn thing and will see the same amount regardless. They also have a situation where if they get him a big fight and he loses (e.g. Ward, as there are no other fights to make now on HBO), they and he both get paid.

Their argument is that it is better for the fighter. Basic math tells you that Kovalev making $2-3 million to fight Stevenson (or more) is better for Kovalev than making 750K to fight Mohammedi.

Also, what ikorolev said about Ward/Kovalev. Kathy Duva already said that for Ward to get out of the agreement, he would have to not make the fight this year. Can you imagine a scenario where Ward fights only once this year against a nonhoper and then sits out waiting for the agreement to expire? Oh, I can. I definitely can.

zorndeslammes wrote:Kathy Duva already said that for Ward to get out of the agreement, he would have to not make the fight this year. Can you imagine a scenario where Ward fights only once this year against a nonhoper and then sits out waiting for the agreement to expire? Oh, I can. I definitely can.

I have a hard time seeing an alternative scenario.

The agreement doesn't expire, its quite explicit too.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:The agreement doesn't expire, its quite explicit too.

Then Ward is retiring/suing/making negotiations infinite.

He can retire.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:The agreement doesn't expire, its quite explicit too.

OK. Well let me know when we see the fight actually take place.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:He can retire.

He might. Would anyone notice?

zorndeslammes wrote:

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:The agreement doesn't expire, its quite explicit too.

OK. Well let me know when we see the fight actually take place.

It will be in the fall.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:

zorndeslammes wrote:

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:The agreement doesn't expire, its quite explicit too.

OK. Well let me know when we see the fight actually take place.

It will be in the fall.

OK. Tell me when they're in the ring.

I can't see Kovalev & Stevenson fighting; not in 2016 anyway.

They might finally get it on when both are no longer relevant, as is sometimes the case in these situations, where two top opponents circle around each other for years & pee away their primes & not actually fight when the contest is hot.

CaptainSpacerod wrote:I reckon more than any other this is the fight boxing fans want to see but it seems Stevenson doesn't want it.

The video of their meeting clearly shows who's scared of who.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YguEyeoOeoY

I think this film has this new star looking CONFIDENT, YES. I like how they mesh. I do not think that Stevenson looks apprehensive at all.

ImranSarwar wrote:

CaptainSpacerod wrote:I reckon more than any other this is the fight boxing fans want to see but it seems Stevenson doesn't want it.

The video of their meeting clearly shows who's scared of who.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YguEyeoOeoY

I think this film has this new star looking CONFIDENT, YES. I like how they mesh. I do not think that Stevenson looks apprehensive at all.

He looked nervous as hell to me, couldn't keep still, couldn't stop talking, couldn't maintain eye contact.