It shouldn’t really come as much of a surprise but, Kathy Duva – promoter of WBA/WBO & IBF 175 lb champion Sergey Kovalev – is not going to get her sought-after Thanksgiving dust-up in Moscow between her man and fellow Russian puncher Artur Beterbiev.
Duva had stated after Kovalev battered mandatory challenger Nadjib Mohammedi that she was taking the “Krusher” to Moscow in November, and had approached Beterbiev’s promoter Yvon Michel about the fight.
In an email to Duva yesterday, Michel politely refused Main Events “honest offer” which would have guaranteed the (9-0, 9ko) Beterbiev a career high half million dollar payday, although he refused to rule out the fight possibly happening in the future.
Beterbiev has been ordered to face Bernard Hopkins in an IBF eliminator for the right to then face Kovalev at a later date. Hopkins, who was beaten by “The Krusher” in his last outing, is unlikely to accept the fight, and in that event Sweden’s IBF #4 Erik Skogland will be offered the opportunity.
While it may seem odd that Beterbiev would rather fight the eliminator than go straight for Kovalev’s IBF & WBO/WBA titles, not fighting now will give him more time to adapt to the paid code – extra experience Michel is keen on him gaining before any all-Russian showdown with Kovalev.
Despite being 30 years old, he has been a pro a little over two years, although he holds two amateur wins over Kovalev and knocked out Tavoris Cloud inside two rounds a year ago.
Beterbiev is also “advised” by Al Haymon, alongside lineal 175 lb champion Adonis Stevenson, who has himself been reluctant to face Kovalev in a unification fight – although Michel insisted the Stevenson/Haymon/Kovalev saga had nothing to do with Beterbiev not going to Moscow in November.
In a response to Michel, Duva said in an email published by ESPN;
“You told the media that Beterbiev would take this fight if our offer was fair, which it clearly was. Sergey and I are quite disappointed that you have turned it down without even making a counter offer.
“Sergey was in a similar position in 2013: After he won an eliminator to face Bernard Hopkins for the IBF title, he was offered a fight against Nathan Cleverly for the WBO championship immediately. Though a Hopkins fight would have been more lucrative, Sergey would have had to wait for months during which anything could happen. Without a moment’s hesitation Sergey chose to take the immediate, guaranteed title shot in his opponent’s backyard.
“Of course, Sergey went on to fight Hopkins and unify three light heavyweight belts in a major promotion. As you, yourself, said to a reporter last week, when you get your first title shot, you take it. You say that you want to bury the hatchet, but actions speak louder than words. It seems that you would rather posture and look for purse bids rather than actually make a fight.
“I hope that I am wrong and you will prove it by at least attempting to negotiate a fight, whether it be for Kovalev to fight Stevenson or Beterbiev. After all, Sergey is the only one contractually bound to a TV network and you have never once made an offer to me to make either of these fights that the fans so want to see.
“In the meantime, we will continue to make fights for Sergey against the best fighters who are actually willing to face him. As his star continues to rise, the terms I have offered to you for Beterbiev and Stevenson will not be open for long.”
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