BoxRec

Duva, whose company promotes Kovalev, expects the former light heavyweight champion to fight sometime in November. “That’s the plan,” said Duva, chief executive officer for Main Events.

“The plan was for him to come back in November, win or lose [against Andre Ward]. There was never a question. He still has a contract with HBO.”

Now that he has lost twice to Ward, Duva was asked if it might make a bout between Russia’s Kovalev (30-2-1, 26 KOs) and WBC champion Adonis Stevenson (29-1, 24 KOs) a more realistic option. The Quebec-based Stevenson sent out a Tweet to express his interest in facing Ward (32-0, 16 KOs) after Ward stopped Kovalev in the eighth round Saturday night at Mandalay Bay Events Center.

"I couldn’t predict that,” Duva said. “I heard from Yvon Michel before the [Ward rematch]. He said, ‘We’re all rooting for Sergey. We want him to win.’ … But I don’t know. Apparently, they wanna try and fight [Kovalev].”

Kovalev, 34, and Stevenson, 39, still have exclusive deals with HBO and Showtime, respectively.

HBO might be more open, however, to Kovalev fighting on another network now that he has lost twice to Ward. Kovalev doesn’t have many attractive alternatives to Stevenson and it seems unlikely, based on HBO’s budget constraints, that HBO would be able to air Kovalev-Stevenson live on the network, even if Haymon could deliver Stevenson.

http://www.BS.com/duva-kovalev ... WiKvX.dpuf

How about the Joe Smith Jr v Sullivan Barrera winner?

Tanzio wrote:How about the Joe Smith Jr v Sullivan Barrera winner?

Not bad.. If he can win the WBC title Smith holds, not doubt he'll become mandatory again.

I might favour Stevenson now actually. I think Ward may have done some lasting mental damage.

BitPlayer wrote:I might favour Stevenson now actually. I think Ward may have done some lasting mental damage.

He definitely didn't do any physical damage beside swollen balls though.

It won't be Stevenson.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:It won't be Stevenson.

Stevenson definately fighting Alvarez next? He's been mando for 2 years I believe. No more step aside fee.

Ruthless-RKO wrote:

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:It won't be Stevenson.

Stevenson definately fighting Alvarez next? He's been mando for 2 years I believe. No more step aside fee.

I'd assume so, I would be remiss to use definitely when it comes to Adonis making his mandatory.

Tanzio wrote:How about the Joe Smith Jr v Sullivan Barrera winner?

I think if Smith can beat Barrera, he should get a title shot. That would be 3 good opponents in a row if he wins on the 15th.

armageto wrote:

Tanzio wrote:How about the Joe Smith Jr v Sullivan Barrera winner?

I think if Smith can beat Barrera, he should get a title shot. That would be 3 good opponents in a row if he wins on the 15th.

No doubt about it. If I were his people I'd have been lobbying for a title shot off of the Hopkins win. Hell lots of guys get a title shot off of 1 notable win these days, Smith has 2 big wins in a row...by KO no less. It'd be criminal if he didn't get a shot next if he's able to get by Barrera too. He'd have more than earned his shot by then.

gilgamesh wrote:

armageto wrote:

Tanzio wrote:How about the Joe Smith Jr v Sullivan Barrera winner?

I think if Smith can beat Barrera, he should get a title shot. That would be 3 good opponents in a row if he wins on the 15th.

No doubt about it. If I were his people I'd have been lobbying for a title shot off of the Hopkins win. Hell lots of guys get a title shot off of 1 notable win these days, Smith has 2 big wins in a row...by KO no less. It'd be criminal if he didn't get a shot next if he's able to get by Barrera too. He'd have more than earned his shot by then.

I heard it actually was Smith's team and not Stevenson's that caused that fight not to happen.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:

gilgamesh wrote:

armageto wrote:
I think if Smith can beat Barrera, he should get a title shot. That would be 3 good opponents in a row if he wins on the 15th.

No doubt about it. If I were his people I'd have been lobbying for a title shot off of the Hopkins win. Hell lots of guys get a title shot off of 1 notable win these days, Smith has 2 big wins in a row...by KO no less. It'd be criminal if he didn't get a shot next if he's able to get by Barrera too. He'd have more than earned his shot by then.

I heard it actually was Smith's team and not Stevenson's that caused that fight not to happen.

Maybe they feel he needs a little more seasoning, but I figure Sullivan Barrera is pretty damn threatening to him. Not quite as threatening as Stevenson would be perhaps, but threatening enough that I think Barrera is gonna stop him.

gilgamesh wrote:

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:

gilgamesh wrote:
No doubt about it. If I were his people I'd have been lobbying for a title shot off of the Hopkins win. Hell lots of guys get a title shot off of 1 notable win these days, Smith has 2 big wins in a row...by KO no less. It'd be criminal if he didn't get a shot next if he's able to get by Barrera too. He'd have more than earned his shot by then.

I heard it actually was Smith's team and not Stevenson's that caused that fight not to happen.

Maybe they feel he needs a little more seasoning, but I figure Sullivan Barrera is pretty damn threatening to him. Not quite as threatening as Stevenson would be perhaps, but threatening enough that I think Barrera is gonna stop him.

I agree, while Smith has already surprised me I don't like the Barrera match up for him.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:

gilgamesh wrote:

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:
I heard it actually was Smith's team and not Stevenson's that caused that fight not to happen.

Maybe they feel he needs a little more seasoning, but I figure Sullivan Barrera is pretty damn threatening to him. Not quite as threatening as Stevenson would be perhaps, but threatening enough that I think Barrera is gonna stop him.

I agree, while Smith has already surprised me I don't like the Barrera match up for him.

Definitely feels like a situation to me where his team should've taken their title shot while the getting was good. That opportunity is gonna be gone if he loses this one. Not that he can't work his way back of course, but as deep as the Light Heavyweight division is at the moment it might be a long way back.

SaadOffTheDeck wrote:

gilgamesh wrote:

armageto wrote:
I think if Smith can beat Barrera, he should get a title shot. That would be 3 good opponents in a row if he wins on the 15th.

No doubt about it. If I were his people I'd have been lobbying for a title shot off of the Hopkins win. Hell lots of guys get a title shot off of 1 notable win these days, Smith has 2 big wins in a row...by KO no less. It'd be criminal if he didn't get a shot next if he's able to get by Barrera too. He'd have more than earned his shot by then.

I heard it actually was Smith's team and not Stevenson's that caused that fight not to happen.

Interesting, I can try to find out if I can.

Kovalev-Stevenson would be a great matchup but I think Sergey needs a confidence-builder bout first.

Best Coast wrote:Kovalev-Stevenson would be a great matchup but I think Sergey needs a confidence-builder bout first.

Your right Kovalev was about 1000 times better than Stevenson before the losses to Ward but who knows where Kovalevs head is now. He needs to take it slow, take an easy fight, maybe get rid of Turner and Jackson who really didn't have his back. Maybe even get rid of Duva but she is probably on his side and then take it as it comes. Kovalev is the star , but he has had an uphill battle here fighting as the outsider against an American star on American soil. He is also 34 and for the type of boxer is based on speed, power and mobility he may be near the end of his career definitely peaked already.

Gvozdyk ? Beterbiev ? Bivol ? Smith ?

ValMar wrote:Gvozdyk ? Beterbiev ? Bivol ? Smith ?

Kovalev should fight someone like Smith or easier..I would like to see Bivol fight Gvozdyk though..

Ruthless-RKO wrote:Duva: Kovalev to Fight in November; 'Don't Know' About Stevenson

The fight won't happen, because HBO won't allow Kovalev to have his fights televised by another TV network... and Main Events flatly-refuses to engage in purse bids with GYM/Haymon.

Sergey Kovalev had previously "ducked" Adonis Stevenson, because of his fear of losing his exclusive contract with HBO... and the situation hasn't changed, because both Kathy Duva & HBO flatly-refuse to financially back their fighter.

The Ward-Kovalev fights would not have taken place had Roc Nation not agreed to fund Andre’s purses out of their own pocket, because HBO & Main Events wouldn’t have paid those sums.

Is Adonis Stevenson going to agree to facing Sergey Kovalev for less money fighting on HBO or do you think he’d be willing to face the Russian, with a much bigger purse, if it was televised by Showtime? It’s not a difficult question, is it?