What will Ward do in 2017 if he beats Kovalev, and what will Kovalev do if he beats Ward?

My predictions:

Kovalev, fights 3 times. Maybe 1 sub par mandatory, perhaps gives Ward a rematch if he has some sort of beef why he lost and continues to try and make a fight with Stevenson (who may finally take the cash out) or Beterbiev.

Ward. Either doesn't fight at all, or fights once in a stay-busy fight in Oakland against a sub par fighter. Doesn't give Kovalev a rematch, controversy or not. Makes no contact with the Haymon fighters. Is stripped of at least 1 belt for not fighting a mandatory or inactivity.

 

Reckon Kovalev might become a big enough draw if he beats Ward that Stevenson thinks, '**** it, i'll take my hiding and retire'

Kovalev might just do what Klitschko did for 10 years at Heavyweight.

 

Not sure Smith would even be an option for Ward. As far as I know Smith is with Al Haymon. Take a look at the first letter in this article where it is addressed. http://www.ringtv.com/417045-dougies-friday-mailbag-249/

There’s reportedly bad blood between Haymon and Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, the founder of Roc Nation Sports, which promotes Ward. Word on the street (and I hate to begin a sentence with that phrase, but Haymon and Jay-Z won’t publicly address the issue) says this bad blood stems from an ugly 2011 lawsuit that singer/entertainer Beyonce directed at Haymon (and her own father). Carter is married to Beyonce.

There seems to be some merit to this Haymon-Jay-Z “beef.” Not long after tossing his hat into boxing realm, Carter’s Roc Nation Sports won a purse bid for then-WBO middleweight titleholder Peter Quillin’s mandatory defense against Matt Korobov. Quillin, who is advised by Haymon, abdicated his WBO belt rather than going through with the fight (and making hefty payday). Roc Nation also reportedly made overtures to promote Hamon-advised fighters, such as Deontay Wilder, Keith Thurman and Adrien Broner. Massive offers were made, all were rebuffed.

Bottom line, Al and Jay ain’t doin’ business anytime soon. Beyond the promotional impasse, there’s Ward’s contract with HBO, which (for the time being) has an adversarial relationship with Haymon. Kovalev’s exclusive contract with HBO is the main obstacle preventing a deal from being reached with Stevenson.

I think Ward's might have to look at bringing Cleverly to Oakland.

 

Kovalev will try. Ward won't bother

 

Dumographics are going off on Steve Kim for saying a Kovalev win would be better for boxing...yet none are using this thread to explain what Ward is going to do in 2017...

 

Don't think he will get old quick. I think he has a good enough skill set that he can vary up his game as time goes by. And he seems to be disciplined outside the ring

 

Ward fans? You got anything?

 

Ward fans have no real refute. A Ward win is bad for the sport.

 

At what point did I say Ward wouldn't win?