Adonis Stevenson Jumps Ship

Stevenson has jumped ship from HBO to Showtime - all but torpedoing a potential showdown with Kovalev. Looks like a Hopkins fight is on the horizon (God help us).

Badly worded there Haz, he's pushed rather than jumped, HBO had no intention of renegotiating a deal so he's been left with no other option.

He already had a two-fight deal on the table with HBO: Fonfara and then Kovalev. After he signed with Haymon the other week HBO hesitated (they don't deal with Haymon) and Showtime nipped in to outbid them for the Fonfara fight (and off he went).

Feared the worst when Fat Dan started tweeting this, as he usually gets it spot on with breaking stories.

Apparently, HBO can still salvage this if they're willing to stick up enough cash. Stevenson's contract apparently states that he can fight on another network if they stump up more money than HBO, but if HBO match that offer (not beat it, just match it) then he doesn't get to pick, and has to stick with HBO.

Can't knock Stevenson for a good financial move, particularly at his age. But I was never really convinced he wanted the Kovalev fight going on his comments and demeanour on the subject. HBO pretty much made it clear that they were looking to pair them up, so part of me suspects that Adonis may be a little relieved that Showtime have swooped in. But still, as I said, if the money is there then it's understandable.

Once he gets Fonfara out of the way the only real option for him on Showtime is Hopkins. God only knows if Bernard will fancy that one. HBO will probably switch their focus to trying to make the Ward-Kovalev fight.

HBO pulled out of further contract talks - they see Haymon as poison for the network.

Stevenson has long fancied a Hopkins fight. Poor Kovalev, though. This year looks like a total bust for him now - especially with Ward caught up in his own contract wrangle.

You can't blame him for targeting a no win fight with Hopkins over Kovalev, even at this stage i'd say it's a trickier fight that if he loses will pretty much ruin his career.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:You can't blame him for targeting a no win fight with Hopkins over Kovalev, even at this stage i'd say it's a trickier fight that if he loses will pretty much ruin his career.

Badly worded that.

It makes perfect sense rather than trying to twist the facts Haz which are that Stevenson is a free agent and is able to fight on whichever network offers the most money.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:It makes perfect sense rather than trying to twist the facts Haz which are that Stevenson is a free agent and is able to fight on whichever network offers the most money.

Which facts have I twisted? Stevenson was due to face Fonfara on HBO. He's now signed a deal to face him on Showtime - I'd say it's fair to say he's jumped ships you pedant.

Another murderous punching Russian will be avoided

catchweight wrote:Another murderous punching Russian will be avoided

Bloody shame. That looked the highlight of 2014.

Haz likes Kovo and GGG...So like Floyd and Martinez..Stevenson gets added to the growing coward list..

Because everything is black and white when Boxing is your life !!

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Haz likes Kovo and GGG...So like Floyd and Martinez..Stevenson gets added to the growing coward list..

Because everything is black and white when Boxing is your life !!

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Nighty night...Sweet dreams about GGG..

oooh Give us a kiss !!

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Nighty night...Sweet dreams about GGG..

oooh Give us a kiss !!

The Anerican D ick Emery. With the emphasis on D ick.

hazharrison wrote:

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Nighty night...Sweet dreams about GGG..

oooh Give us a kiss !!

The Anerican D ick Emery. With the emphasis on D ick.

Getting kind of tired of you're TRUSS baiting hazbeenharrison.

IT ENDS NOW PLEASE.

ONETWOFOREVER wrote:

hazharrison wrote:

TRUSSMAN66 wrote:Nighty night...Sweet dreams about GGG..

oooh Give us a kiss !!

The Anerican D ick Emery. With the emphasis on D ick.

Getting kind of tired of you're TRUSS baiting hazbeenharrison.

IT ENDS NOW PLEASE.

Your not you're.

Haz, Truss can't you guys go on the same thread without it descending in to playground antics?

hampo171 wrote:Haz, Truss can't you guys go on the same thread without it descending in to playground antics?

That should be directed at him - read the past few threads.

I'm directing it at both of you. Put him on your foe list if you have to, you won't be able to see his comments that way.

hampo171 wrote:I'm directing it at both of you. Put him on your foe list if you have to, you won't be able to see his comments that way.

I'm not faffing about with some button. If someone has a pop at me I'll pop back. Most of the comments on here are two people chipping on at each other - why don't you go and police those?

I post boxing-related comments until that idiot tramples all over threads with his petty and usually offensive responses.

You don't want to "faff" around with some button but you're happy to "faff" around with stupid posts?

Bit like Fury-Pulev, a duck, but a fairly understandable one if money is the major motivator as for these guys (i.e. not greats with long careers either behind or ahead of them) they need to get that cash in the bank asap before it all goes to pot.

Hopefully Kov gets a couple of decent fights under his belt elsewhere so we don't have to put up with the continuing charade of Adonis claiming to be the best in the division when he's not fighting his chief rival (in a fight I think he'd lose).

Seems more of cash issue than anything... If HBO want it bad enough they can still match what Stevenson has signed for... He's always said it's about the money...

Exactly as you'd expect a pimp to say...

hampo171 wrote:You don't want to "faff" around with some button but you're happy to "faff" around with stupid posts?

Why should I have to ignore posts that are nothing more than trolling? Have a word with Trussman if you're attempting to stamp out "stupid posts". People who refuse to be bullied by his boorish trolling shouldn't be antagonised because of it.

88Chris05 wrote:

Apparently, HBO can still salvage this if they're willing to stick up enough cash. 

The problem for HBO though Chris is that while Stevenson's representatives were asking for more money to face Fonfara, Stevenson's representatives refused to COMMIT to facing Kovalev in his following fight if Stevenson won.

Its a blatant duck of Kovalov who Stevenson clearly doesnt want to fight.

So if he instead goes on to face Hopkins who could be the WBA & IBF champion next would it still be ducking?

Yes. Hopkins is a non punching old man. He might not even win his next fight. Stevenson is afraid of Kovalov. The danger man in the division.

Thanks for the info, Herman. Whether or not Stevenson is nervy about the idea of facing Kovalev, well only he knows, but with the evidence which is mounting I'd expect quite a lot of ducking accusations to be thrown at Adonis by some angry fans in the coming months.

I think a 2014 Kovalev is certainly a much better and more dangerous fighter than a 2014 Hopkins, but the Hopkins fight is still risky for Adonis, at least in my eyes anyway. Says much about how I rate him, I suppose - I don't think it takes an exceptional fighter to beat Adonis, really. Stevenson is the kind of fighter that Hopkins used to take apart for fun in his prime, and even now he could potentially do a number on him at the age of 49. Reliant on one punch, low output, a southpaw etc. Hopkins has handed out some royal spankings to these guys in the past (the only caveat being that Stevenson does have considerable hand speed) and holds all the cards stylistically.....But he is 49.

Imagine the backlash that Stevenson will get it it all goes knockers up and Shumenov beats Hopkins, leaving us with Stevenson-Shumenov to look forward to when a few months ago we were all sure we'd be getting Stevenson-Kovalev.

Its obvious he doesnt want to face Kovalev. Blatantly obvious.

A real conspiracy theorist you...

Always negative..

Nice input......

Thanks..

Thats well below your usual standard of witty ripostes TRUSSMAN. Im disappointed. Bad day?

I'd say the Hopkins fight is the riskier option, he loses and his career will derail but if he wins then he's beaten a 49 year old so gets no credit. Very easy to oversell Kovalev but it's ridiculous that ducking accusations are thrown out every time a fight doesn't happen immediately.

Keep telling yourself that, it might come true. He was being set up for a match with Kovalev quite clearly and decided he wanted out. HBO had them on a collision course. Kovalev was on his undercard. Then when the question is put to him Stevenson starts stuttering and mumbling and mentioning other names. When hes asked to commit to the fight he jumps ship. He wants a 50 year old pillow puncher instead of the KO machine. But he makes more Kovalev so or so he is happy to say. Go Adonis! Mayweather would be proud. Meanwhile its a kick in the balls for real boxing fans.

You just like to moan about everything though Catchweight, boxing is a business and as a boxer you would target the guy who brings more money and more belts, the same guy who happens to be ranked higher than the guy you are supposedly ducking.

Im a real boxing fan who likes to see entertaining fights. You are guy who likes boxrec and making excuses.

You need a new modus operandi, you're now beyond boring.

What you want and what you think would be an exciting fight isn't necessarily the biggest fight available, Hopkins holds all the cards in that division if he gets past Shumenov.

Nothing is as boring as your continued boxrec lenscope analysis and excuses. The best fight in the division goes to pot because Stevenson ducks out and you are on here like a financial advisor talking mortgage rates. Stevenson would have been well paid for fighting Kovalev. Huge fight. Tip of many peoples wish list. He doesnt fancy it. Not because Hopkins is a riskier option - absolute manure. But because Hopkins is an easier fight and he doesnt want to face the dynamite in Kovalevs fists.

Hammersmith harrier wrote:You need a new modus operandi, you're now beyond boring.

What you want and what you think would be an exciting fight isn't necessarily the biggest fight available, Hopkins holds all the cards in that division if he gets past Shumenov.

What cards are those ? A couple meaningless alphabet belts, seriously who wants to watch Hopkins ? Stevenson should be fighting Kovalev instead he wants to venture elsewhere , seems a running theme with fighters these days.

Cheers Rodders

Agree with Hammer here

Bhop holds the cards, more belts and is a bigger name by far.

Stevenson could have a huge fight with Hopkins to get more belts and gain more money and exposure from it.

Or he could fight Kovalev for less, obtain one belt if he wins, and get 3% more exposure.

Business talks in boxing unfortunately. I want the BEST and most EXCITING fights if course, like most.

But that's not always the case, and if i was a boxer, id look for the business side as well.

Shame, I was looking forward to that fight.After the Bellew fight it was clear that Stevenson wanted no part of Kovalev but I don't blame him at his age. Unless he ends up being another Hopkins then Kovalev could have seriously shortened his top level career.

How do you know fighting Kovalev would be for less money ? Hopkins is a bigger name but what recognition do you get for beating a 49 year old who lost decisevly against a fighter you sparked in one round ?
Stevenson didn't fancy Kovalev one bit , he even brought Frochs name in to it before Kovalev , did he think HBO brought him on his undercard so he could have a holiday in Montreal ?

Cheers Rodders

mobilemaster8 wrote:Agree with Hammer here

Bhop holds the cards, more belts and is a bigger name by far.

Stevenson could have a huge fight with Hopkins to get more belts and gain more money and exposure from it.

Or he could fight Kovalev for less, obtain one belt if he wins, and get 3% more exposure.

Business talks in boxing unfortunately. I want the BEST and most EXCITING fights if course, like most.

But that's not always the case, and if i was a boxer, id look for the business side as well.

Stevenson doesn't need belts - he's the champion. He's ducked out of a potential fight of the year to try and beat up on Hopkins. Sad thing is, Hopkins will clown him in another dull-as-dishwater dismantling.

Rodney

Those belts are not meaningless, if they were they wouldn't exist, stop living in the past and live in the present for a change, in todays environment a title belt means a lot.

Kovalev just like Matthyse before him is rated highly because he's a power puncher but for technical ability and know how he's a long long way behind Hopkins. Stevenson could rebuild to a degree from a knockout loss but recovering from a potential schooling by a 49 year old isn't quite so easy. Just like Pavlik, Pascal and Cloud, the fans don't forget that they got schooled by an old man but we do forget their other losses to an extent.

I know where your coming from Rodders, but it does make sense if your Stevenson.

Fight a household name known by many fans....or fight an eastern European not many have heard of or are starting to notice?!

More belts on the line....with larger exposure

the financial side is simply a presumption