Kovalev/Ward aftermath..

[p4pking]

This is interesting because the winner will have limited options. If Kov wins , Stevenson will avoid him even more. who else is there? it's all well and good saying "go up to CW", but
a. there's not much money in the division and
b. People underestimate the fact that it is 25lbs north of LHW!
If Ward wins , I doubt he gets back down to SMW, so he just has to wait for somebody to knock him off his perch!
This all goes to show that for many reasons, this was the only fight out there for both of them and had to happen.
there is only one possibility for either of them if they win to enhance their profile and make big money, and that is Beterbiev!

I don't think Beterbiev represents much of a payday though? The winner could always go up to CW and beat Bellew

[Primo Carnera]

This is interesting because the winner will have limited options. If Kov wins , Stevenson will avoid him even more. who else is there? it's all well and good saying "go up to CW", but
a. there's not much money in the division and
b. People underestimate the fact that it is 25lbs north of LHW!
If Ward wins , I doubt he gets back down to SMW, so he just has to wait for somebody to knock him off his perch!
This all goes to show that for many reasons, this was the only fight out there for both of them and had to happen.
there is only one possibility for either of them if they win to enhance their profile and make big money, and that is Beterbiev!

I don't think Beterbiev represents much of a payday though? The winner could always go up to CW and beat Bellew

I know what you're saying about Beterbiev and the money , but they could hype that up. The man that beat Kov in the ams, the beast novice that ko'd Cloud. The new Drago!
Bellew is an option because it would be an easy payday for both of them , but only if they want to come to the UK. I'm sure that's no problem for Kov, but Ward wants that money without crossing the street.

[p4pking]

Perhaps, KOing Cloud isn't much of a selling point though. That guy was basically exposed, lost 4 straight and retired. Beterbiev looked like he was getting big momentum at that point but has just been treading along since, through no fault of his own I'm sure.

I've never seen this Gvozdyk guy who is fighting Chilemba on the undercard of Ward-Kova, if he's really good and makes a statement then that might make sense. Looking through the rankings, outside of him or Beterbiev there really isn't anyone who is in a position to be an interesting opponent for the winner, assuming Aducknis doesn't want to cash out with a real fight.

[vidgil]

Beterbiev looks like a real beast!

[Primo Carnera]

Perhaps, KOing Cloud isn't much of a selling point though. That guy was basically exposed, lost 4 straight and retired. Beterbiev looked like he was getting big momentum at that point but has just been treading along since, through no fault of his own I'm sure.

I've never seen this Gvozdyk guy who is fighting Chilemba on the undercard of Ward-Kova, if he's really good and makes a statement then that might make sense. Looking through the rankings, outside of him or Beterbiev there really isn't anyone who is in a position to be an interesting opponent for the winner, assuming Aducknis doesn't want to cash out with a real fight.

You're right, and that goes back to the first sentence of my OP. There's not much out there for the winner . Of course people will say "he should do this" or " he should fight so and so" in reality it doesn't really work like that, it's never that easy.

[Mr140]

If Ward loses he has all the options in the world as for Kov who has a great chance to win he is kinda fucked CW just not that great of divsion the biggest fight there was Holyfeild vs Dwight and that was in the 80's. I am not sure how much weight Kov cuts but he could try to go to heavyweight he would get bigger payday and if he wins some fights people would really get excited be good for his legacy as well but that is a huge jump.

[powerpuncher]

If kovalev can't get Stevenson or beterbiev right after the ward fight, he might as well go to cruiserweight. There are some decent fights at LHW for him, but I think that he will get more respect by beating cruiserweights. And becoming the man in 2 divisions.

If Ward wins, he needs to stay at LHW and just fight whoever he is able to. Knowing his inactivity though, I wouldn't be surprised if kovalev is really his last big fight. He may fight a few more times, but ward has said multiple times that he doesn't want to fight too long and wants to think about his life after boxing.

[Paul Kevin]

Why we have to care about it

[Spicoli]

Can see a loss being devastating to either but would think they would take time to appreciate the level they were facing and continue on. The simple fact that we have the 175 division arguably deciding a..or the..top notch p4p claim is amazing. Prior to this being made there was a massive gap where Wards desire and drive could be rightfully questioned, a devastating loss would seem to open both doors to either rededicate or even pack it in. Kovalev on his side has cocooned himself into some kind of one man wrecking crew of invincibility and a one sided hiding or being outclassed might just be more devastating than if he was caught early. That babble said I think both clown Stevenson who has seemingly gone out of his way to avoid a confrontation and still reminds me of a rigid legged top heavy Sam Peter.

[Freedom]

Why do people want Kovalev to go to cruiserweight? No money there.

Light heavyweight is loaded with talent.

I'd like to see the winner fight Beterbiev, Browne, Bivol, Gvozdyk, Shabranskyy, Alvarez and/or Stevenson.

[vidgil]

Nobody wants to go to cruiserweight... there's more money in flipping burgers at McDonalds!

I suspect Kovalev will win a UD or a late stoppage.

But if Ward wins this fight... wow! He is the #1 p4p for sure, and the rightful heir to the throne!

[X]

Cruiserweight is indeed quite barren.

Ward is probably too small to become a proper CW in his prime (he may bulk up when he gets older).

Kovalev could do CW, and he would beat the crap out of Bellew.

However, I'd love to see him against Usyk, who I rate really highly.