Can we live without Kovalev v Stevenson?

By Gavin Duthie - 02/25/2016 - Comments

kovalev-pascal2 (3)By Gav Duthie: Words exchanged, sparks flew as Adonis ‘Chickenson’ Stevenson retorts at his new nickname expressing “I’m the real champ” as he postures across the ring in a vein attempt to get to unified champion Sergey ‘Krusher’ Kovalev after the Russian had destroyed Stevenson’s compatriot Jean Pascal for the second time.

Was anybody buying it? Does anyone even care? A unification bout between the talented duo should be the next biggest fight in boxing but are we resigned to it not happening? Boxing doesn’t need another 5 year drawn out tit for tat negotiation like Floud Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao especially as UFC gains more fans with its format of the best fighting the best without exception.

Maybe fans are just going to accept that it won’t happen but we shouldn’t. Fortunately there are so many potentially mouth watering match ups in the division it can wait a little longer. Are they enough to satisfy our craving for big fights.

Light Heavyweight Top 10

1. Sergey Kovalev
2. Adonis Stevenson
3. Bernard Hopkins
4. Artur Beterbiev
5. Jurgen Braehmer
6. Andrej Fonfara
7. Andre Ward
8. Eleider Alvarez
9. Jean Pascal
10. Sullivan Barrera

4 world class fighters?

There are arguably 4 world class fighters in the 175lb division making it one of the best in the sport. Kovalev is undoubtedly one of the best p4p fighters, Stevenson is probably just outside the top ten, Andre Ward is arguably number 1 and Artur Beterbiev has looked flawless in his 9 fights to date. The biggest question mark is how Ward will fair at light heavyweight and can Beterbiev continue to improve.

Quality matchups

Ward isn’t messing about anymore and fighting top 10 light heavyweight Cuban Sullivan Berrera proves this. This contest will tell us a lot about Ward especially in terms of power in the division, punch resistance, size and strength. Beterbiev has been injured with a shoulder problem and hasn’t fought since June 2015. He was due to fight Karo Murat in a title eliminator for the IBF but Barrera won that instead. I would expect he will look to get an eliminator for one of Kovalev’s titles as he beat the Russian twice as an amateur and backs himself to do it again.

Potential match ups

Sergey Kovalev has stated he would be interested in facing Andrej Fonfara or Jurgen Braehmer and being the first to knock either fighter out. Fonfara has in fact been knocked out before but nevertheless these are interesting bouts. Braehmer has been a world champion for quite some time now and is a very good fighter. There is also a lot of talk about Stevenson-Fonfara 2. Even boxing legend Bernard Hopkins has offered to fight Stevenson and you can never rule him out. If Andre Ward proves he can be a solid light heavyweight (beating Chad Dawson helped) then Ward v Kovalev could be huge also.

Can we live without it?

I don’t think we can and neither can Adonis Stevenson. At 38 years old I don’t understand why he doesn’t want the biggest fights. Even Beterbiev and Ward are linked with Kovalev ahead of the Canadian. The shouts for the fight will be quiet but if Kovalev does fight Ward then the winner will demand to face Stevenson.



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