BoxRec

"Adonis Stevenson: Kovalev Don't Want To Fight - I'd KO Him!"

WBC heavyweight world champion Adonis Stevenson believes Sergey Kovalev, who holds the WBO title, has no intention of ever facing him.

According to Stevenson, a fight with Kovalev was very close in 2015 - but the Russian boxer withdrew from a scheduled purse bid.

He believes Kovalev is avoiding the contest - because he knows the possibility of a knockout loss exists.

Should Stevenson win this weekend, he is willing to step in the ring with Kovalev - should he beat Alvarez in the coming months.

"It can happen, but I am focused on and have my eyes on Badou Jack and am hungry to beat Badou Jack, so if everything is good and he wants it, Kovalev can have it too." Stevenson exclusively told Sky Sports.

"If they want it, you will see I am going to knock Kovalev out, too. But Kovalev just doesn't want to fight me. It went to purse bids and everyone knows it was up for purse bids, but he just disappeared. He didn't want it to go to purse bids, and I can't force a guy who doesn't to want fight me, to fight me.

Thoughts?

Stevenson is laughable. He has been always clearly ducking Kovalev.

DrDuke wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 05:53 Stevenson is laughable. He has been always clearly ducking Kovalev.

Please remind me, was it Adonis Stevenson or Sergey Kovalev who withdrew from the WBC's purse bid process?

I am fairly sure it was the Russian who refused to accept a guaranteed shot at Stevenson for his WBC crown!

Another fact that people can't refute! Bring on the insults!

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 05:57

DrDuke wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 05:53 Stevenson is laughable. He has been always clearly ducking Kovalev.

Please remind me, was it Adonis Stevenson or Sergey Kovalev who withdrew from the WBC's purse bid process?

I am fairly sure it was the Russian who refused to accept a guaranteed shot at Stevenson for his WBC crown!

Another fact that people can't refute! Bring on the insults!

Stevenson's team wanted too much for that fight. Kovalev's team was obviously eager to have at least 50/50 deal as a side with 3 major belts, while WBC purse bid would have inclined it to Adonis' favour. It's pretty common ducking tactics, if you don't want the fight, demand more for that to make the possible loss not so disappointing. And than indicate on the opponent, whose team made a rational choice of declining an insane offer.

stev at his peak beats all the other lhws around now

DrDuke wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 06:23

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 05:57

DrDuke wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 05:53 Stevenson is laughable. He has been always clearly ducking Kovalev.

Please remind me, was it Adonis Stevenson or Sergey Kovalev who withdrew from the WBC's purse bid process?

I am fairly sure it was the Russian who refused to accept a guaranteed shot at Stevenson for his WBC crown!

Another fact that people can't refute! Bring on the insults!

Stevenson's team wanted too much for that fight. Kovalev's team was obviously eager to have at least 50/50 deal as a side with 3 major belts, while WBC purse bid would have inclined it to Adonis' favour. It's pretty common ducking tactics, if you don't want the fight, demand more for that to make the possible loss not so disappointing. And than indicate on the opponent, whose team made a rational choice of declining an insane offer.

It was a purse bid process. The highest bidder won the rights to promote the fight.

Sergey Kovalev refused to participate in the purse bid process.

Kathy Duva lobbied the WBC to instate Krusher as Stevenson's mandatory challenger, but when they ordered a purse bid, Team Kovalev withdrew after asking for the purse bid deadlines to be extended.

You can't rewrite history! You need to start reading up on thing instead of fabricating fictional excuses that even Kathy Duva refutes.

I could post videos and interview transcripts to support my claims, it's a shame you're utterly powerless to do the same.

Simply put: you're talking pure utter böllöcks!

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 06:29 It was a purse bid process. The highest bidder won the rights to promote the fight.

I agree with you on this debate.

But wouldn't a purse bid have favoured Adonis in regards to purse?

It was a WBC purse bid, Kovalev, at the time held the other 3 major belts as well. I think 50/50 would have been fair.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 06:29

DrDuke wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 06:23

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 05:57
Please remind me, was it Adonis Stevenson or Sergey Kovalev who withdrew from the WBC's purse bid process?

I am fairly sure it was the Russian who refused to accept a guaranteed shot at Stevenson for his WBC crown!

Another fact that people can't refute! Bring on the insults!

Stevenson's team wanted too much for that fight. Kovalev's team was obviously eager to have at least 50/50 deal as a side with 3 major belts, while WBC purse bid would have inclined it to Adonis' favour. It's pretty common ducking tactics, if you don't want the fight, demand more for that to make the possible loss not so disappointing. And than indicate on the opponent, whose team made a rational choice of declining an insane offer.

It was a purse bid process. The highest bidder won the rights to promote the fight.

Sergey Kovalev refused to participate in the purse bid process.

Kathy Duva lobbied the WBC to instate Krusher as Stevenson's mandatory challenger, but when they ordered a purse bid, Team Kovalev withdrew after asking for the purse bid deadlines to be extended.

You can't rewrite history! You need to start reading up on thing instead of fabricating fictional excuses that even Kathy Duva refutes.

I could post videos and interview transcripts to support my claims, it's a shame you're utterly powerless to do the same.

Simply put: you're talking pure utter böllöcks!

That's it. Kovalev's team wanted to make the fight, but then there was a WBC purse bid that would have favoured Adonis. Why does 3 major belt champ need that?

DrDuke wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 06:57

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 06:29

DrDuke wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 06:23

Stevenson's team wanted too much for that fight. Kovalev's team was obviously eager to have at least 50/50 deal as a side with 3 major belts, while WBC purse bid would have inclined it to Adonis' favour. It's pretty common ducking tactics, if you don't want the fight, demand more for that to make the possible loss not so disappointing. And than indicate on the opponent, whose team made a rational choice of declining an insane offer.

It was a purse bid process. The highest bidder won the rights to promote the fight.

Sergey Kovalev refused to participate in the purse bid process.

Kathy Duva lobbied the WBC to instate Krusher as Stevenson's mandatory challenger, but when they ordered a purse bid, Team Kovalev withdrew after asking for the purse bid deadlines to be extended.

You can't rewrite history! You need to start reading up on thing instead of fabricating fictional excuses that even Kathy Duva refutes.

I could post videos and interview transcripts to support my claims, it's a shame you're utterly powerless to do the same.

Simply put: you're talking pure utter böllöcks!

That's it. Kovalev's team wanted to make the fight, but then there was a WBC purse bid that would have favoured Adonis. Why does 3 major belt champ need that?

Once again, you're talking utter fúckíng bðllðcks!

Stop fúckíng making all sorts of shît up!

Duva lobbied the WBC to make Kovalev its mandatory challenger with a 50-50 purse split and also asked them to extend their purse bid deadlines. And they caved to all of her demands, yet Team Krusher eventually refused to participate in the purse bid process and denounced his title shot opportunity!

Here's a novel idea, why don't you use Google... or better still, refrain from commenting on a subject matter that you lack knowledge of?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 06:40

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 06:29 It was a purse bid process. The highest bidder won the rights to promote the fight.

I agree with you on this debate.

But wouldn't a purse bid have favoured Adonis in regards to purse?

It was a WBC purse bid, Kovalev, at the time held the other 3 major belts as well. I think 50/50 would have been fair.

According to Kevin Iole (Yahoo!), the WBC caved to Kathy Duva's demands for a 50-50 purse split, but she didn't specify that the bout had to be televised exclusively by HBO. I believe (at the time) Krusher was in the middle of negotiating a renewal of his contract with HBO and it had even expired shortly before Kuva managed to get the WBC to instate Kovalev as Stevenson's mandatory.

The same split has been quoted on multiple websites, such as The RING:

"Light heavyweight – RING and WBC champion Adonis Stevenson will face Dmitry Sukhotsky this Friday. In a very interesting move, Kathy Duva of Main Events moved for the winner of Sergey Kovalev-Jean Pascal, after facing the IBF mandatory Nadjib Mohammedi in the summer, to become the mandatory challenger to the Stevenson-Sukhotsky winner. Meaning if all the stars align (When do they ever in boxing?) we could see Stevenson-Kovalev with all the titles on the line in the second half of 2015. Duva proposed a 50-50 purse bid; it was challenged by Margules, who said as Stevenson wasn’t there to represent himself perhaps the purse split could be decided on at a later date. The WBC decided that unless there are exceptional circumstances, i.e. one of them losing, that a 50-50 split was fair."

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 07:02

DrDuke wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 06:57

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 06:29
It was a purse bid process. The highest bidder won the rights to promote the fight.

Sergey Kovalev refused to participate in the purse bid process.

Kathy Duva lobbied the WBC to instate Krusher as Stevenson's mandatory challenger, but when they ordered a purse bid, Team Kovalev withdrew after asking for the purse bid deadlines to be extended.

You can't rewrite history! You need to start reading up on thing instead of fabricating fictional excuses that even Kathy Duva refutes.

I could post videos and interview transcripts to support my claims, it's a shame you're utterly powerless to do the same.

Simply put: you're talking pure utter böllöcks!

That's it. Kovalev's team wanted to make the fight, but then there was a WBC purse bid that would have favoured Adonis. Why does 3 major belt champ need that?

Once again, you're talking utter fúckíng bðllðcks!

Stop fúckíng making all sorts of shît up!

what a little hypocrite

if anyone even uses a tiny little insult towards EO he cries like a child, then he produces what he seems to think is some kind of meme-trump along the lines of 'you're insulting me which must mean I am winning the argument, m'kay?', and look at him insult people himself, as though he isn't a little crybaby who gets his noggin all twisted when the other boys use nasty words towards him and he runs for the skirts of the schoolteachers/mods.

Counter-puncher wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 07:15

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 07:02

DrDuke wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 06:57

That's it. Kovalev's team wanted to make the fight, but then there was a WBC purse bid that would have favoured Adonis. Why does 3 major belt champ need that?

Once again, you're talking utter fúckíng bðllðcks!

Stop fúckíng making all sorts of shît up!

what a little hypocrite

if anyone even uses a tiny little insult towards EO he cries like a child, then he produces what he seems to think is some kind of meme-trump along the lines of 'you're insulting me which must mean I am winning the argument, m'kay?', and look at him insult people himself, as though he isn't a little crybaby who gets his noggin all twisted when the other boys use nasty words towards him and he runs for the skirts of the schoolteachers/mods.

I provide facts. Other people's counter arguments are usually filled with abuse and nonsense claims that they cannot support.

If people can't cope with the return fire, then perhaps they should think twice before dishing out the abuse or blatant lies in the first place.

Don't step out into the rain if you don't want to get wet.

Regardless, I've backed up every single claim about Krusher refusing a guaranteed shot at Adonis Stevenson. And you're upset because you can't disprove the truth.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 07:07

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 06:40

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 06:29 It was a purse bid process. The highest bidder won the rights to promote the fight.

I agree with you on this debate.

But wouldn't a purse bid have favoured Adonis in regards to purse?

It was a WBC purse bid, Kovalev, at the time held the other 3 major belts as well. I think 50/50 would have been fair.

According to Kevin Iole (Yahoo!), the WBC caved to Kathy Duva's demands for a 50-50 purse split, but she didn't specify that the bout had to be televised exclusively by HBO. I believe (at the time) Krusher was in the middle of negotiating a renewal of his contract with HBO and it had even expired shortly before Kuva managed to get the WBC to instate Kovalev as Stevenson's mandatory.

The same split has been quoted on multiple websites, such as The RING:

"Light heavyweight – RING and WBC champion Adonis Stevenson will face Dmitry Sukhotsky this Friday. In a very interesting move, Kathy Duva of Main Events moved for the winner of Sergey Kovalev-Jean Pascal, after facing the IBF mandatory Nadjib Mohammedi in the summer, to become the mandatory challenger to the Stevenson-Sukhotsky winner. Meaning if all the stars align (When do they ever in boxing?) we could see Stevenson-Kovalev with all the titles on the line in the second half of 2015. Duva proposed a 50-50 purse bid; it was challenged by Margules, who said as Stevenson wasn’t there to represent himself perhaps the purse split could be decided on at a later date. The WBC decided that unless there are exceptional circumstances, i.e. one of them losing, that a 50-50 split was fair."

Didn't know they agreed a 50-50 split on purse bids. There is Dr Dukes answer too.

Yeah, I've actually mistaken about the 50-50 split. Here's a good evaluation of the situation http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/1 ... -bid-order

The fight wouldn't be possible, if Duva lost the bid, because Kovalev was contractually tied to HBO. And Duva didn't believe, that she was able to win the bids.

DrDuke wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 07:42 Yeah, I've actually mistaken about the 50-50 split. Here's a good evaluation of the situation http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/1 ... -bid-order

The fight wouldn't be possible, if Duva lost the bid, because Kovalev was contractually tied to HBO. And Duva didn't believe, that she was able to win the bids.

Simple enough. You're right. Duva knew she wouldn't have won purse bids and HBO wouldn't have allowed Kov to fight on Showtime.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 07:45

DrDuke wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 07:42 Yeah, I've actually mistaken about the 50-50 split. Here's a good evaluation of the situation http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/1 ... -bid-order

The fight wouldn't be possible, if Duva lost the bid, because Kovalev was contractually tied to HBO. And Duva didn't believe, that she was able to win the bids.

Simple enough. You're right. Duva knew she wouldn't have won purse bids and HBO wouldn't have allowed Kov to fight on Showtime.

Kovalev's contract with HBO had expired before Duva lobbied the WBC for the mandatory shot at Stevenson.

Krusher's contract renewal with HBO was announced after he withdrew from the Stevenson fight. Duva had requested an extension of the WBC's purse bid deadlines before Sergey's contract with HBO was renewed, which meant he was technically a free agent whilst all these shenanigans were transpiring.

Duva and Krusher preferred to renew their contract with HBO rather than take the Stevenson bout.

I don't blame them, but for people to pretend that Stevenson ducked Krusher is ludicrous.

After all, HBO and Main Events could have tried to outbid Showtime and GYM, but they never made the effort to do so.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 07:56

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 07:45

DrDuke wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 07:42 Yeah, I've actually mistaken about the 50-50 split. Here's a good evaluation of the situation http://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/1 ... -bid-order

The fight wouldn't be possible, if Duva lost the bid, because Kovalev was contractually tied to HBO. And Duva didn't believe, that she was able to win the bids.

Simple enough. You're right. Duva knew she wouldn't have won purse bids and HBO wouldn't have allowed Kov to fight on Showtime.

Kovalev's contract with HBO had expired before Duva lobbied the WBC for the mandatory shot at Stevenson.

This is true. I won't get into the specifics of the negotiations because no one knows them.
But this much is true

I’ve copied and pasted an explanation of the situation that I had previously posted to the forum, which was supplemented with interview transcripts, videos, official statements published by the WBC etc. to support these points:

• Kathy Duva announced that Sergey Kovalev’s contract with HBO had expired and was negotiating its renewal
• Around the same time as the HBO contract expiry announcement, Kathy Duva also claimed that the Kovalev-Mohammedi fight could be televised by any network and was open to offers
• Kathy Duva passionately lobbied for Sergey Kovalev to be made the mandatory challenger for Adonis Stevenson's WBC belt, with a 50-50 purse split
• The WBC not only agreed to make Sergey Kovalev the mandatory challenger to Adonis Stevenson's world title, but they also agreed to mandate a 50-50 purse split
• The WBC ordered negotiations for the bout and also set a purse bid date
• Adonis Stevenson's promoter and manager had committed themselves to participating in the WBC’s purse bid, because they were armed with Al Haymon’s money
• Kathy Duva criticised the brevity of the purse bid date
• The WBC conceded to Duva’s demands and agreed to extend the deadline by six weeks
• Main Events (Kathy Duva) then decided against participating in the WBC’s purse bid, because she claimed that Kovalev was contractually-tied to HBO
• Shortly afterwards, Main Events officially announced the renewal of Sergey Kovalev’s contract with HBO
• Kathy Duva eventually claimed that Kovalev would only ever be allowed to fight Stevenson if it was televised exclusively by HBO

Certain media sources and Team Stevenson believed that Kathy Duva orchestrated the entire situation to help negotiate the renewal of Kovalev’s contract with HBO, because if you look at the timelines, she must have been negotiating with that TV network before and after the WBC’s announcement of the purse bid deadline(s).

Therefore, Sergey Kovalev and Main Events actually turned down a guaranteed opportunity to fight Adonis Stevenson for his WBC title at a time where there were no political hurdles preventing the bout from taking place.

This means that Adonis Stevenson’s most recent claims, as detailed in the first post in this thread, are true.

Certainly at this point, Adonis will never fight Kovalev. Close the book.

This whole thread is obvious trolling by EO. Everybody knows that Stevenson has been ducking EVERYBODY for 4+ years, but EO keeps bringing up the purse bid situation knowing that the only reason Stevenson "agreed" to it is because they knew that Kovalev wouldn't fight off HBO.

Just stop responding to this f*cking troll.

boxing_rocks wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 09:45 This whole thread is obvious trolling by EO. Everybody knows that Stevenson has been ducking EVERYBODY for 4+ years, but EO keeps bringing up the purse bid situation knowing that the only reason Stevenson "agreed" to it is because they knew that Kovalev wouldn't fight off HBO.

Just stop responding to this f*cking troll.

Thanks for the head's up. EO can be long winded, but I don't think he's a troll. (Obnoxious: Yes, Opinionated: Yes; Long winded; oh yes, troll?: Not so sure)

oogiebe wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 09:47

boxing_rocks wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 09:45 This whole thread is obvious trolling by EO. Everybody knows that Stevenson has been ducking EVERYBODY for 4+ years, but EO keeps bringing up the purse bid situation knowing that the only reason Stevenson "agreed" to it is because they knew that Kovalev wouldn't fight off HBO.

Just stop responding to this f*cking troll.

Thanks for the head's up. EO can be long winded, but I don't think he's a troll. (Obnoxious: Yes, Opinionated: Yes; Long winded; oh yes, troll?: Not so sure)

I can understand the reason why many harshly criticise the calibre of opposition that Adonis Stevenson has faced whilst defending his WBC 175lbs title during the last four years or, but the situation wasn’t entirely of his own making, but the vast majority of fight fans either refuse to acknowledge or bother to research the facts that have led to his inability to face the best his division had to offer…

Should Adonis Stevenson be held accountable for his inability to perform mandatory defences of his WBC world title if the likes of Jean Pascal, Sergey Kovalev, Marcus Browne, Sullivan Barrera, Andrzej Fonfara and Eleider Alvarez all refused to exploit opportunities that could have led them to challenge for his belt?

For instance: Main Events withdrew Sullivan Barrera and Sergey Kovalev from purse bids that were ordered by the WBC. Are Kathy Duva’s guys completely blameless and exempt from receiving criticism, which means that those situations were purely Adonis' or the WBC's fault?

Here’s a summary of the key events that have enabled Adonis Stevenson to continually face merely moderate calibre opposition:

• Jean Pascal and Sergey Kovalev both withdrew from their mandatory challenger position, so they rejected a guaranteed opportunity face Adonis Stevenson.

• Marcus Browne, Sullivan Barrera, Andrzej Fonfara and Eleider Alvarez have all withdrawn from final eliminators.

• Eleider Alvarez defeated Jean Pascal, Isaac Chilemba and Lucian Bute in final eliminators, rejected an opportunity to engage in a fourth so-called "final eliminator" and also agreed to step-aside twice.

I’m not suggesting for one second that Stevenson deserves our praise and nor am I attempting to persuade you into liking or respecting him, but I do feel compelled to remind you of the important facts, which relate to the likes of Jean Pascal, Sergey Kovalev, Marcus Browne, Sullivan Barrera, Andrzej Fonfara and Eleider Alvarez having all previously declined opportunities that could have led to them challenging for Adonis’ WBC world title!

That's fair EO.

Enlightened-One wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 09:52 I’m not suggesting for one second that Stevenson deserves our praise and nor am I attempting to persuade you into liking or respecting him, but I do feel compelled to remind you of the important facts, which relate to the likes of Jean Pascal, Sergey Kovalev, Marcus Browne, Sullivan Barrera, Andrzej Fonfara and Eleider Alvarez having all previously declined opportunities that could have led to them challenging for Adonis’ WBC world title!

This situation actually makes to think about some mysterious possible influence on WBC by Al Haymon. That's similar to Wilder's case. There are often some negotiations with some challengers and eventually WBC challengers refuse to take fight on the given conditions or withdraw due to indistinct doping accusations like in Povetkin's case.

oogiebe wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 09:47

boxing_rocks wrote: ↑16 May 2018, 09:45 This whole thread is obvious trolling by EO. Everybody knows that Stevenson has been ducking EVERYBODY for 4+ years, but EO keeps bringing up the purse bid situation knowing that the only reason Stevenson "agreed" to it is because they knew that Kovalev wouldn't fight off HBO.

Just stop responding to this f*cking troll.

Thanks for the head's up. EO can be long winded, but I don't think he's a troll. (Obnoxious: Yes, Opinionated: Yes; Long winded; oh yes, troll?: Not so sure)

Definitely a troll enjoying irritating other people. This purse bid situation has already been discussed 100 times, but he needed to start another thread to irritate people who just mixed him with dirt in another thread.