This fight has been sitting on the limbo for quite some time now. Not confirmed, but not cancelled either. Very unusual.
Purse bids pushed back to June 24th But given the delays in this one getting made and the amount of time this has been going on for, it doesnt look positive.
If I were an optimist, I'd think maybe it's being pushed back so it could fall in with the next WBSS starting in the Autumn. Now that would be good.
And what would be the point of that? Do you really think that Kovalev considers Beterbiev an easier fight than Yarde? Also, there is no big money in fighting Beterbiev. From my personal observations (and they are not biased) Kovalev was genuinely disappointed to know that the June fight in Russia is off (believe it or not even like a week ago he was completely unaware of all the organizational complications). So, what would be the point to pay Yarde step aside money? It's more logical to win the purse bid and force the fight to take place in Russia. Or to lose the bid and get paid well by Warren (who would have to pay Kovalev, as the champion, about 70% of the purse bid). Kovalev has already fought in the UK and I don't see this fight to be controversial — one of the fighters will win by stoppage, most probably.
Towards the end Frank again reiterating that Yarde signed all the terms AND enrolled in VADA - Kovalev did not. How Kovalev is getting a pass here is beyond me. He offered out Yarde on social media in Russia. Yarde accepted all the terms and the drug testing requirements but Kovalev didn’t. A quite blatant duck.
What I think happened - Yarde is made mandatory - Kovalev doesn't want the fight cause it's high risk low reward. At this stage of his career. - But if he pulls out of the deal he loses his belt - Makes a fake offer to Yarde to fight in Russia thinking Yarde would not travel and would pull out - Yarde calls his bluff, accepts the offer - The money, venue etc. doesn't actually exist, they were bluffing. Fight gets called off - Back to negotiations again, this time Kovalev probably knows he has to fight Yarde so it might end up in the UK or USA
I definitely think they tried to call Yarde’s bluff and failed miserably. Kovalev, Duva and Klimas have clearly been watching too many Eddie Hearn interviews and it’s clouded their judgement.
Im not sure about that. Kovalevs trainer had been told to prepare for Yarde and that was a while ago.
I don’t think it’s Kovalev or Yarde. It sounds like over ambitious Russian promoters who couldn’t back up their talk. I don’t think we can call either fighter out for ducking. Hope it gets sorted cos I really want to see it happen.
