BoxRec

"Ward-Kovalev II has potential for greatness, but is there any interest in it?"

The [rematch] is at the 11,000-seat Mandalay Bay Events Center instead of at the 20,000-seat T-Mobile Arena just a block or so away [the venue for the first fight].

Good seats, as they say, are still available.

Even as fight week began, the big news in the Las Vegas media was whether Floyd Mayweather had picked Aug. 26 as a date to fight UFC champion Conor McGregor and how the city’s first major league team, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, will put together their roster at the upcoming expansion draft.

Not much has been heard in Las Vegas about Ward-Kovalev.

But the passion that existed for 2017 bouts such as Keith Thurman-Danny Garcia, Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko, Kell Brook-Errol Spence Jr. and even Canelo Alvarez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. doesn’t seem to be there for Ward-Kovalev II.

The Ward-Kovalev bouts won’t come within half the combined sales of what Alvarez-Chavez did, and Saturday’s gate won’t be anywhere near $10 million.

Kovalev is Russian and English is his second language. He’s never been a warm and fuzzy kind of a guy, but his image took a hit when he engaged in what appeared to be racist behavior toward African-American fighters Jean Pascal and Stevenson.

Ward is as well-spoken as they come – he is outstanding on television, and did a brilliant job as an HBO Sports ringside analyst – and he’s a 2004 U.S. Olympian, and the last American man to win a boxing gold medal.

Yet, fans haven’t seemingly warmed to him, either.

As a result, what should be a glorious night for boxing will instead be largely ignored beyond the insular world of the sport’s hardcore fan base.

Don’t be surprised if the two act up when they see each other for the first time at Thursday’s news conference. They need to do something to capture the public’s attention, or the bout will die a grisly death at the box office.

It’s a potentially great fight that is badly in need of a spark.

Thoughts?

You don't like Kovalev do you? I don't see how Kovalev image can take a hit when most people don't know he exists, most people don't know that Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman exist either. I work in a job that I get to talk to a lot different people all day long, They have never heard of Kovalev, Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman etc. Then again they loosely know Mayweather, Pacqiao, Canelo. Among a percentage of those people, saw the last super fight in boxing which was Pacqiao and Mayweather and they thought, wow boxing pretty boring.

victor-romeo wrote:You don't like Kovalev do you? I don't see how Kovalev image can take a hit when most people don't know he exists...

The only sin that I am guilty of committing by creating this thread is to quote the words of an article (verbatim) written by Kevin Iole from YAHOO! Sports.

Every single one of the sentences that I’ve quoted in italics were written by Kevin Iole.

If you feel that he articulated something that deeply distresses you, then you really should arrange for your legal representatives to ask the journalist to refrain from reciting real-world events.

it will be very interesting. my guess it
will be clearer for ward this time around,
because brain beats power and ward has
adapted his game. plus kovalev might be
too pushy for his own good.

it will definitely be electric in that ring
when the first bell goes off ...

man wrote:it will be very interesting. my guess it
will be clearer for ward this time around,
because brain beats power and ward has
adapted his game. plus kovalev might be
too pushy for his own good.

it will definitely be electric in that ring
when the first bell goes off ...

Except Kovalev has more brain than Ward.

Kovalev is Russian and English is his second language. He’s never been a warm and fuzzy kind of a guy, but his image took a hit when he engaged in what appeared to be racist behavior toward African-American fighters Jean Pascal and Stevenson.

Ward is as well-spoken as they come – he is outstanding on television, and did a brilliant job as an HBO Sports ringside analyst – and he’s a 2004 U.S. Olympian, and the last American man to win a boxing gold medal.

So taken at its word. Neither Kovalev nor Ward have much of a fan base.

There is not one comment yet in the original article on Yahoo.

Right... Kovalev is a very bright guy, and Ward is no genius.. He's a good boxer, but he's also a cheater.. If Ward "wins" it will be due to corrupt officiating again.. A referee who allows Ward to push, shove, butt, and foul. Judges who are determined to make Ward the winner and will coordinate their scores again.

Fans don't like this fight because they don't like Ward... And they don't like crookery and trying to make a racist out of a gentleman who respects all races.

I'm excited about this fight because I have not witnessed His Krusherness so darn grumpy about an opponent yet.
He is truly angry at the decision, he lost his well deserved O.
We have witnessed his power and the ability to break down opponents but he is usually so cool calm and collected inside and outside the ring.
This time is different and I am interested to see how that translates in his performance on the weekend.
Maybe he will take too many risks and get caught, or gassed. Maybe he will tear Ward a new one.
He said he overtrained the last time, so how will this time be different.
Ward I expect will just be Ward, but Kov is comming in very grumpy.
A cool, calm and collected Krusher is scary enough, but what is a downright angry one like?
And that's what gets me excited about part 2

There's interest in it among hardcore fans. Just like the first time. It'll sell about the same as it did the first time because the same people who were interested then are interested now.

They didn't win over any new fans or attract any new attention to the sport as a result of the 1st fight.

When Kovalev fights Beterbiev you will see a great deal of interest... I also think if Ward fights Beterbiev they'll pull a Hell of a lot more.. There's something about that guy.. He punches like a SOB.

I'm interested. But Ward, as nice as a guy as he seems, and as proficient at boxing as he is, just doesn't excite anyone. Other than a few partisan fans nobody can root for him.

boxing_rocks wrote:

man wrote:it will be very interesting. my guess it
will be clearer for ward this time around,
because brain beats power and ward has
adapted his game. plus kovalev might be
too pushy for his own good.

it will definitely be electric in that ring
when the first bell goes off ...

Except Kovalev has more brain than Ward.

as a fighter, really? i saw in him more
the puncher than the boxer.

I'm interested in it. I thought the first one was great. I can't begin to understand how Mayweather vs McGregor could attract more interest. I don't think I'd even cross the road to watch that one.

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.

Noxy wrote:I'm interested in it. I thought the first one was great. I can't begin to understand how Mayweather vs McGregor could attract more interest. I don't think I'd even cross the road to watch that one.

Exactly. F*ck Mayweather-McGregor.

Can't say I thought the first one was great. Can't say I predict this one to be great. Styles make fights...if Ward makes his mark like he did previously it will be an ugly affair. But that's the pessimist in me talking.

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

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.

Enlightened-One wrote:"Ward-Kovalev II has potential for greatness, but is there any interest in it?"

The [rematch] is at the 11,000-seat Mandalay Bay Events Center instead of at the 20,000-seat T-Mobile Arena just a block or so away [the venue for the first fight].

Good seats, as they say, are still available.

Even as fight week began, the big news in the Las Vegas media was whether Floyd Mayweather had picked Aug. 26 as a date to fight UFC champion Conor McGregor and how the city’s first major league team, the Las Vegas Golden Knights, will put together their roster at the upcoming expansion draft.

Not much has been heard in Las Vegas about Ward-Kovalev.

But the passion that existed for 2017 bouts such as Keith Thurman-Danny Garcia, Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko, Kell Brook-Errol Spence Jr. and even Canelo Alvarez-Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. doesn’t seem to be there for Ward-Kovalev II.

The Ward-Kovalev bouts won’t come within half the combined sales of what Alvarez-Chavez did, and Saturday’s gate won’t be anywhere near $10 million.

Kovalev is Russian and English is his second language. He’s never been a warm and fuzzy kind of a guy, but his image took a hit when he engaged in what appeared to be racist behavior toward African-American fighters Jean Pascal and Stevenson.

Ward is as well-spoken as they come – he is outstanding on television, and did a brilliant job as an HBO Sports ringside analyst – and he’s a 2004 U.S. Olympian, and the last American man to win a boxing gold medal.

Yet, fans haven’t seemingly warmed to him, either.

As a result, what should be a glorious night for boxing will instead be largely ignored beyond the insular world of the sport’s hardcore fan base.

Don’t be surprised if the two act up when they see each other for the first time at Thursday’s news conference. They need to do something to capture the public’s attention, or the bout will die a grisly death at the box office.

It’s a potentially great fight that is badly in need of a spark.

Thoughts?

The reason that this fight is not going to huge numbers is two fold.

#1 Ward has never put anyone into the seats in his career. Even when Andrew Ward fights in his home town, he is unable to sell out small arenas. He doesn't display knockout power and his fights are traditionally unspectacular so he hasn't created a buzz with the way he fights. Ward is intelligent and well spoken and for some reason, doesn't appeal to fellow African American's which seems ridiculous to me but it's the truth.

#2 and this is probably the biggest reason...fans felt robbed after paying for the first fight. We watched a really good fight but most felt betrayed by the decision. A LOT of fans turned their back on the sport again after the verdict was read. I admit that i was close to joining them as there was no way in the world anyone could possibly not give Kovalev at the VERY LEAST 5 rounds in that fight. For judges to award 8 out of 12 rounds to Ward was criminal. Casual fans won't spend money to be let down again for the same fight.

They all 3 scored it 7-5.

Did they bother to actually promote the fight in the US this time?

Riddick Blowe wrote:Did they bother to actually promote the fight in the US this time?

I've seen 4 or 5 commercials. Rocnation doesn't lift a finger for any boxing promotion.

It was a poor decision last time but not the worst. If you can't stomach judges and refs calling it the wring way then don't watch sports. They are all subject to the same misjudgements and corruption. The more money involved in the sport the more corrupt it is. Just like home fans effect the result I every single sport to some degree or other.

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.

Kalan wrote:When Kovalev fights Beterbiev you will see a great deal of interest... I also think if Ward fights Beterbiev they'll pull a Hell of a lot more.. There's something about that guy.. He punches like a SOB.

lol no you won't. Maybe in a few years after beterbiev beats someone (say Stevenson) to make it interesting. But right now or in the next year? No.