Not so sure Koba. It's not Wank's way from what I've seen to cash in a young, lucrative titlist. Not for a guy who really isn't a large player on the scene yet. I can't see Wank diverging from a succesful, tried and true formula. I think they think Cleverly can win. Or the fight doesn't happen.
Gotta say I'm not sure either, but I'm just not seeing how they can really be confident Clev's in with much of a chance, after all it's not like they can be counting on it to go to a decision with Kovalev in the ring. In any case it'd be a massive risk for Wank and Clev- that's why I'm trying to figure out an alternative slant on it, it's just not Big-Wank's way to take that kinda chance. My pet boxrec warrior tells me that a shot to **** Shawn Hawk's the biggest puncher Clevs faced (with an awesome 62% KO against, shall we say, poor opposition) - it just doesn't make sense to me that they can be that sure of Clevs chin. Perhaps HBOs paying enough that it's a risk they can't refuse - better a bird in the hand and all that...
If Darnell Boone can lose a razor-thin SD to Kovalev, Cleverly can def win fairly on points Ppl make out like Kovalev has superhuman power, cant be all that seeing he went the distance with Boone, Adonis Stevenson stopped him in 2 rounds in his previous fight
My tickets arrived in the post this morning, I'll be about 20 feet from ringside when Cleverly gets brutally KTFO :happy
it was sauerland night and you are right that the robbery was shameless. Them bloody germans, they might be worse than you.
Perhaps. I can't figure out the angle either. Maybe they don't see what most of us see in Kovalev. But I though fo sho that Cleverly would be hot on old man Hopkins tail.
There have been a lot more questionable decisions in USA, lets compare as of late : Froch V Kessler 2 - Scored it 114-114 / 115-113 Froch Froch V Dirrell - 114-113 Froch Cant think of anymore recent fights in the Uk that were considered robberies (internationally speaking of course) although please remind me if you can remember any Andriy Kotelnik Vs Devon Alexander - 116-112 Kotelnik Lucas Mathysse Vs Devon Alexander - 116-111 Mathysse Lucas Mathysse Vs Zab Judah - 116-111 Mathysse Tavoris Cloud Vs Gabriell Campillo - 115-111 Campillo Timothy Bradley Vs Manny Pacquiao - 116-112 Pacquiao Adrien Broner Vs Paulie Malignaggi - 115-113 Malignaggi Brandon Rios Vs Richard Abril - 115-113 Abril
Can't argue with the substance of your post, except maybe to say there are a lot more high profile fights in the US from which to sample. But I do agree with you. However, neither Kotelnik-Alexander nor Broner-Malignaggi belong with those others. Theye weren't robberies. But, you didn't mention Scott-Glazkov, nor Adamek-Chambers, Adamek-Cunningham II. Those can be added to the list.
It's likely that Kovalev would have been made number one challenger anyway. The fights happening sooner rather than later. It is a gamble, but the reward is huge IF Clev can win the fight. Too risky a fight for me, I'd have defended a couple more times before something like this. That said, perhaps Kovalev isn't invincible and Clev toys with him. For sure though, Clev cannot stand there and get hit by this guy.
I also had to look it up on boxrec so no worries :yep Boone gets dismissed because of his record but even in his losses he gives most opponents a hard time so just because someone struggles with him it doesn't mean he wont make it to the world stage. I agree that Cleverly has a good chance to win a UD though simply because of his incredible workrate and his durability, either way it should be a great fight.