He actually just had his best performance in quite some time. It's funny because after they've fought each other, Stevenson has a MUCH better chance at beating Ward and Kov. I think he'd KO Kov regardless of Saturdays fight, but I didn't think he'd have much of a chance against Ward. After seeing Ward go 2.5 rounds before he started slipping shots, I think he's much more vulnerable to being KO'd by Stevenson.
Stevenson has the other major belt man. Ward wins the re-match, he'll fight Stevenson. Dunno if that'd be an issue if Kov won the re-match, being that he's locked in with HBO. There's tons of other fights at LHW. PBC needs to get BeterBeast into the ring 3 times next year and up the comp, b/c he needs to be in the mix around 2018. I think a lot of you guys forgot Kovalev had an instant re-match clause? Stevenson doesn't have a lot of boxing miles on him, despite his age.
I hear you but I mean from a big fight perspective missed opportunities over more meaningful opposition like Pascal (would have been a big money fight too), Sergey and Bhop
I don't see why you would assume one is afraid in the first place. But yeah, rematch should be priority one. Deal w/ Stevenson later. Then again, if Kov wins a close rematch.....III!
I don't really tbf, It's just a dig at people claiming Stevenson is scared. I do really believe that Stevenson has just as much if not more of a claim to being the man at 175lbs though, and to act like he doesn't exist will mean the Ward vs Kovalev winner is just a paper champ
Stevenson's win over Dawson I think is overrated. Tho it did happen at 175, Stevenson was already stopped by feather fisted Ward. Stevenson's best win is Ward's leftovers.
It is the second Stevenson offers a fight to Ward, it is the second time Ward says no. Enough is said. I guess Ward had beat great opposition in the last years to diserve a fight with Kovalev, did he? A rematch with Kovalev has to happen anyway. Plus, Alvarez have been waiting on the sideline for way too long now, even though he is mandatory!
Ward has not always been a stickler for what a contact says. Dan Goosen would tell you that if he was still around. If the PPV bombs at the box office, which it might being than neither are particularly big stars, and Roc Nation make a huge loss, do you think Ward will take less than he got for this fight? I don't.
Are you one of those people who claimed ward would never fight kov in his 3 fight contract with HBO. then claimed he would pull out with an injury when he signed to fight kova? His contract with goosen i know little about but id bet my bottom dollar it was about money. even if the PPV bombed and im hoping it did about 300k the rematch should sell well with the controversy. i think wards proven he will risk it for the biscuit and if your not afraid of kova then i cant think of anyone you would be afraid of, that guy is scary
Ward is being a hypocrite, and a bit arrogant. Stevenson fought a ranked guy last time out, and is fighting another ranked guy soon. Williams, and Alvarez are ranked. None of the guys that Ward fought at 175 prior to fighting Kovalev were ranked in the top 10.
No, I'm think the use of Boxer A is scared of Boxer B is ridiculous 99% of the time, but I know HBO had him by the nads and it was either fight Kovalev or they was done with him. And given Roc Nation's relationship with Showtime, I knew he'd have no choice but to fight Kovalev. But I will say If it was Kovalev getting 5m this fight and Ward taking 2m the fight wouldn't have happened. And with the market value of the two fighters (which their is not much to split them really- certainly not $3m, given Kovalev had more options than Ward), I think Kovalev deserves more credit than Ward for taking the fight. You mention the thing with Goosen was about money, I'm also suggesting this will be. Ward isn't taking less than 5m. And if there is 7m to split between them again, Ward will claim he's the winner and he deserves more. Thus if he's not getting more that rematch may take place in the courtroom.