Quote Originally Posted by IamInuit View Post
Quote Originally Posted by Spicoli View Post
Anything Kovalev does wil revolve around hbo, Hopkins, Pacal and all leading to showdown with Stevenson. Any questions about Kovalevs big Sgt. Slaughter beard will be answered there, if Adonis last long enough to ask them
According to reports that's what GYM wants also and according to Yvon HBO is pushing hard for it and are involved in early negotiations. He says they want three fights this year starting with Fanfara and ending with Kovalev. Adonis is up in May and Kovalev in March so the calenders do match up barring an injury. He talks a lot about unification with the WBO as if that's their major goal. Nowhere do they bring up Hopkins. HBO cant stand the old war horse and it would not surprise me that GYM has been asked by them not to mention his name. They never liked him before the cold war but now they really hate him.

There is probably a real chance at true unification if Shumenov manages to beat the cagey old man but its at least 50/50 that he beats the Russian. I think Hop is starting to lose the edge but he has proven me wrong so many times. I think this division will be one of the most interesting to follow this year. That is, if all the dominoes fall into place. I'm a little cynical though. I dont believe Yvon Michel means what he says but his hand could actually be forced anyway unless the 168 names start to move up.
I share that cynical vibe when it comes to unifications as we've seen time and time again the alphabet boys conduct things like a crime syndicate. I like the fact that Kovalev got in front of Hopkins by calling him out in interviews and if Hopkins takes care of Shumenov I have a sliver of hope there, a small sliver. Deep down Hopkins cannot go out not attempting the biggest dog in the yard. This division is interesting, it has life and Kovalev v Stevenson is one to wait for barring some underdog upsetting the plot, but I don't see it.