Hopkins "No Need To Fight Kovalev "

No surprises. This could be seen coming by Hopkins comments way before the fight, in which he'd talk about unifying but somehow not mention the WBO strap or Kovalev.

Obviously now that Kovalev has the HBO deal it would be harder to make, but the way the whole thing played out (the Shumenov signing, and then Stevenson defecting almost as soon as Kovalev was locked in with HBO) makes it look like Kovalev was never wanted at this party.

TBF it was some clever maneuvering that pulled it all together (though I'll remain deeply annoyed about Stevenson jumping ship) and got BHop the opportunity to unify 3 straps.

It will be truly remarkable if he achieves it, but won't make him undisputed. Furthermore it's diingenuous to try to make out that the WBO title is somehow of less importance that the others - regardless of it's historical status, when the guy holding it is regarded as one of the top 3 guys in the division, it (and he) can't just be wished away.

Hopkins doesn't have to fight Kovalev, beating Stevenson would be amazing in itself, but to pretend he somehow doesn't matter is simply wrong.

 

Isn't Ward a Super Middleweight?, isn't Hopkins with SHOWTIME while Kovalev is with HBO?

 

Apparently, Stevenson would more likely fight Pascal in spring 2015, assuming Pascal beats Bute in the presumptive rematch in late 2014.


According to large Dan ......

Michel and InterBox’s Jean Bedard will promote at least Pascal’s next two fights in conjunction with Pascal’s new company, Jean Pascal Promotions. Pascal, a major star in Montreal, will return in September to fight in Quebec in the first fight of the agreement.

Top Rank has been contacted to see if Seanie Monaghan is interested in facing Pascal, according to a source with knowledge of the discussion.

If all goes well for Pascal (29-2-1, 17 KOs) in September, the plan is for him to meet fellow Montreal star and former super middleweight titlist Lucian Bute in December in a rematch. In perhaps the most anticipated fight in Canadian history -- although one that took place too late because neither fighter was still at his best -- Pascal easily outpointed Bute on Jan. 18, after which Pascal’s contract with Michel expired, leading to his free agency and the new deal signed this week.

Bute had an option for a rematch after the first fight with Pascal. If Pascal wins the proposed rematch with Bute, the plan would be for another huge all-Montreal showdown in the first part of 2015 against reigning light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson.

Of course, a lot can happen between now and then. Pascal has to win his fights first, although he is not going to be in much harm’s way. Stevenson would also have to beat Andrzej Fonfara on May 24 in Montreal, a fight for which Stevenson is the heavy favorite. Then it could get trickier. He would probably have one more fight before a possible Pascal match.



Something tells me that "one more fight" before Pascal would NOT be Kovalev. Hell, maybe not even Hopkins, which would flush the bowl on this whole idea.

 

Correct.
Many HW boxers would love to grow up where it is legal/acceptable for athletes to do Roids, be 6'7", weight 250 and have the judges of Germany.

Thompson: A slow Bum.
Wilder: A crafted Bum
Sanders: A Golfing Bum

 

Congratulations, Bernard. This type of avoiding the most competitive fight out there will no doubt put the final nail in boxing soon. Bernard has accomplished a lot in boxing, especially at an advanced age. But, this is ducking the most dangerous fighter in the division, plain and simple. Shame on you, Bernard!

 

Shumenov had a strap and Kovalev has a strap. They are both young and limited fighters.
BHOP took Shumenov's title and is now calling out Stevenson.

Do you hear Kovalev calling out BHOP? Nope. Quiet as a church mouse. :hey

 

LOL

After the fight in DC Kovalev and his peoples should have been ringside yelling loudly for Hopkins to fight him.

You see what Briggs is doing visiting the Vlad pre-fight conference? That's what Kovalev should be doing, if he really wanted the fight.

Instead, they are acting like Lucien Bute :yep

 

Kovalev needs to pull some strings and make these guys sit with him and talk and we all know that the WBO strap is not enough. Main Events/GBP and HBO/SHOWTIME are making it worse so I would suggest Kovalev to put some very serious Money on the table. Hey, where is that money coming from? There are a lot of investors who can see na excelent investment in Kovalev and big revenues out of future clashes in the LHW Division. All we need now is to reposition and start negotiations on the right foot.

 

Ward has said before that a move up to 175 is not out of the question .

But it seems hes stalling .

 

While in general yes the WBO is the lesser of the four - Kovalev is clearly the best light heavyweight, regardless of which hardware he has.

 

The difference between Stevenson and Kovalev is that Stevenson got his shot.

Prior to that, all Stevenson did was beat the jounreyman that beat him. Kovalev was rated higher having destroyed RING #3 Campilio.

Funny how that turns out. So #9 Stevenson leap frogs #3 Kovalev to get a title shot, in large part because it was Dawson's comeback from the bad Ward loss and he was thought to be a lesser opponent.

So lets be real. Stevenson hit the lottery against a Dawson who was having training camp issues, weight issues, and parted ways with Scully. That's it. He is lineal but untl he beats Hopkins and Kovalev BOTH, he is not the Man. He is a lottery winner.

 

I really can't understand on why people insist on stating that Sergey is the best LHW. Man, I can see him clearly tagged and manouvered by Hop and whipped by Adonis. Even, against Chad, I would have to say a very motivated Dawson would make it extremelly hard to Sergey and Ward would possibly win by a wide UD. Is this because he trashed Nathan or Campillo with hard punches?