Ruenroeng was incredibly tedious against Shiming, I find it hard to like fighters that clinch that much.
Does Kovalev really have a choice? Fighters go where the money is. Kovalev is maximising his earnings by going to Canada. I give the guy props for always being prepared, being dedicated to his craft, and taking on good fighters. It's seems pretty silly though to give him credit for traveling when he really doesn't have a choice.
Well, he could have gone the Povetkin or Lebedev route and make a star of himself in Russia and just fight at home, but he has chosen to build a name for himself in North America.
How do you know this? Maybe he had no following there and decided to give it a try in America. I can see why someone would want to make it big in America. America has the most money and offers the most earning potential. But what about American fighters? They are already in the highest earning market. Why should fight outside of America if they have a strong following in America?
He had no following, but once he has won a world title, he could have retreated back to security of Russia, but he didn't. Lebedev and Povetkin are earning big money fighting at home, the market isn't as saturated with great fighters like in America - so whilst there is less money overall, those two are earning big money.
How can he retreat back to the security of Russia when he's never built a base there? Furthermore, TV money is what drives these fighters now as it's easily the biggest source of revenue. Kovalev has a deal with HBO, an American company. It would be pretty much impossible for him to maximize that deal if he consistently fought in Russia.
Well, Lebedev did it, his break out fight was when he stopped Maccarinelli in England, then signed with a big Russian promoter to just fight at home, his fights were shows on the main TV network there to huge audiences.
That's not true. You can make 7 figures fighting on regular HBO. What fight in Russia has ever done a live gate of over $10 million?
Kovalev is signed with a a big American promoter, and has a deal with a major American premium cable company. He stands to make a ton of money by staying in America.