I didn't even know that Ward Kovalev I only did 160K buys. Because it was by far the most important fight in boxing. I was just happy it was made. But then I found out today it only did 160K buys. So why fight the best if the fans don't care if you fight the best? The average fan could give two cents who you're opponent is. They don't care. It seems like it's only us and the real fight fans who care.
In general, the best fight the best in combat sports or any sports for that matter. That's why the sport exists in the first place
Because you'll know. Some jobs aren't just about money. Some things you do because that's the kind of man you want to be and that's the kind of work you want to be known for. I don't think Quentin Tarantino would trade places with Tyler Perry even though Perry could likely buy and sell him. James Gandolfini doesn't want to be Judge Judy and Ernest Hemingway would slit his wrists before becoming James Patterson.
It's even worse than that, non title fights pay no money at all. Barely enough to cover the toliet paper to wipe their ass. That's why we don't get many eliminators with two dangerous opponents anymore. So we have a situation where there's 50 undefeated records in any division not knowing who's really better than the other. Boxing isn't set up for competitive action but needs some order.
Neither fighter appeal to the casuals. Kovalev is Russian and to most casuals that means he represents the cold war and WW3. Ward appeals to Christains, not many of them are boxing fans.
They don't know because they haven't been told that they should care. There's been little to no promotional effort. Boxing needs to focus on and study the promotional approach of football, UFC, etc.
Thats why fighters cherry pick, look at how most of the people act on here. If you were top level would you give a **** about who they want you to fight? Id tell most fans to suck a fat dick too.
Because they have the privilege to earn millions of dollars while training for a sport they love and eventually fighting in the ring. Other people work their asses off, will never earn as much in two lifetimes as they do with a fight and still live more dangerous, regarding the neighbourhood they live in, the job they have or they fights they have in a bar. So, fight the best, if you really love the sport and don't look at the numbers. You already earned enough.
And what's the alternative? Ward or Kov could fight Beterbiev or Gvozdyk types with ZERO FANS and risk losing to them while making 1 million.
It's "COULDNT give two cents" not "could". Sorry, pet hate of mine when nearly all Americans say "I could care less" instead of "I couldn't care less". If you could care less, then you care.