It's Monday. Welcome back for another edition of Observe and Fight, The Boxing Observer's compilation of observations and random thoughts from the previous two weeks that were in boxing. Get caught up on some of the most recent events you may have missed out on, including a preview of Stevenson vs. Bika, an update on Mayweather vs. Pacquiao and the MGM's brilliant business plan, Gary Russell Jr. winning his first world title, and much more. Without further ado, check out the latest observations from the Boxing Observer, David Kassel.
Adonis Stevenson needs to make a statement against Sakio Bika. The lineal light heavyweight champion (even though most believe Sergey Kovalev is the best light heavyweight in the world) is in for a rugged, tough fight on Saturday afternoon against the battle-tested Australian, former super middleweight champion Bika. While Bika's style is brawl first, box second, he is a difficult out having only been knocked down once in his career and having never been knocked out. Bika can be hurt, but he is as tough as they come. He is going to come out swinging because he knows he cannot win a decision in Canada against the hometown hero, Stevenson. "Superman" Stevenson is going to have plenty of chances to land picture perfect left hands due to Bika's wide punching technique. The uglier this fight gets (and with Bika, it is almost always ugly), the more if favors the challenger. However, if Stevenson can make a statement and knock Bika out, he may very well force people to acknowledge who the lineal 175-pound king really is. Remember, just like in the middleweight division, Miguel Cotto is the lineal champion, but Gennady Golovkin is regarded as the best middleweight in the world. The same thing applies to the light heavyweight division. Stevenson is the champ, but Kovalev is seen as the best. Based on the last 12 months or so, Kovalev is clearly the fan favorite while Stevenson is seen as the man who ducked "Krusher." However, with the new Premier Boxing Champions on network television, more fans coming back to boxing, who don't know Kovalev, will have the opportunity to see Stevenson live and get a strong first impression. If Stevenson can make a statement with a big time knockout, it will even the playing field between Stevenson and Kovalev in the mind of the casual boxing fan.
Genius move by Al Haymon to put this card on right before the Final Four. Yearly, March Madness, and more importantly the Final Four, is one of the most watched sporting events in the United States. It is the culmination of a 3-week, 68 team frenzy, and people from all over the country have Final Four viewing parties and make them all-day extravaganzas. To feature the light heavyweight champion of the world on network television as a prelude to college basketball's Super Bowl should amount to absolutely ridiculous ratings for a Saturday afternoon boxing event. A lot of fans will be tuning in, and Bika's style, combined with Stevenson's explosiveness, should draw the attention of any sports fan. A statement win by Stevenson will make people remember his name and put he and Kovalev back on track for a mega-fight the world wants to see.
Leave it to the WBC to mess something up even when it is trying to do the right thing. The most well-recognized sanctioning body has forced Stevenson and Kovalev to meet in the ring to unify the light heavyweight division. This was sweet music to every boxing fans' ears last week. Only one problem. The WBC has forced the two opponents to begin negotiations, and if an agreement cannot be reached by April 17th, the fight will go to a purse bid. With as much money as will be on the table, a purse bid doesn't seem right unless the fight takes months and months to negotiate. Kovalev still has to make a mandatory title defense this summer against Nadjib Mohammedi in a fight Kovalev should dominate. The earliest this fight will take place is in early fall, but it's looking more likely it will be best served to take place in October or November. That would also give Stevenson another opportunity (should he defeat Bika) to make another optional defense to build the fight even more. I mentioned a couple weeks ago I felt that Stevenson was on track to face Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on pay-per-view for the light heavyweight title this summer. Stevenson would certainly be a heavy favorite and that fight would make him an instant PPV attraction. That would make it much easier to place Stevenson vs. Kovalev on PPV as well. There's just too much at stake, professionally and financially, for the WBC to make such a rash decision. I wouldn't be surprised one bit to see the sanctioning body back off its stance a little in the coming days once it reviews all the facts.
What if Bika pulls off the upset? Ummmmmm, yeah, I don't have much of an answer for that. I guess, technically, according to the WBC's ruling, he would have to begin negotiations with Kovalev for a unification showdown. However, Bika might decide to take another fight and opt for a voluntary defense to earn another big payday. It's not likely, but it's certainly a possibility not a lot of folks are discussing.
Here's your latest Mayweather vs. Pacquiao update. The fight is still a go for May 2nd. Whew, that was exhausting to think about, let alone write about.
By the way, another genius move to MGM. TMZ reported that only MGM-owned properties in Las Vegas will show the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight, so if you aren't able to get into one of those venues in Las Vegas on May 2nd, you'd better find a place to order the fight elsewhere or you will be out of luck. Talk about cornering the market and monopolizing the competition. As much as the haters are going to hate, you really can't knock MGM's hustle in this case.
Congratulations to Gary Russell Jr. on winning his first world title. A lot of folks were very surprised how easily Vasyl Lomachenko was able to handle the speed of Russell Jr. last June en route to what should have been a clear unanimous decision victory (but was ruled a majority decision thanks to the blind eyes that night of judge Lisa Giampa). Russell came back strong, Saturday, and while he isn't known to be a knockout artist, he destroyed the now-former titlist Jhonny Gonzalez in 4 rounds. Gonzalez had been knocked out in the past, but most thought he revamped his boxing life after a career-defining 1st-round knockout win over Abner Mares in 2013. Russell used his speed, accuracy, and precision to pick Gonzalez apart and the Mexican had absolutely no answer for the young southpaw. It will be very interesting to see who Russell gets in the ring with next. Possibly, Mares is an option. Maybe Leo Santa Cruz wants to make the jump up to featherweight. Who knows, maybe Russell will step up and accept Guillermo Rigondeaux's "accept all comers" attitude and take on the best at 122lbs.
Golden Boy Promotions really stuck it to Jhonny Gonzalez. Not that it would have mattered considering Russell would have destroyed Gonzalez regardless, but Oscar De La Hoya and company were very maniacal in filing a lawsuit against Gonzalez and promoter DPP the night before Gonzalez's main event, Las Vegas showdown with Russell. Based on the terms of the lawsuit, whether or not Gonzalez wins or not is irrelevant. The damage was done, and I find it hard to believe Gonzalez will ever win another world title, let alone get another title shot.
Kell Brook looked impressive, but he would have no chance against Mayweather or Pacquiao. On Saturday, Brook did what he was supposed to do. He manhandled Jo Jo Dan. However, the only other titlist in the welterweight division did little to improve his chances of landing a shot at the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao winner. Brook correctly called out Amir Khan after the fight, and I know Khan has a scheduled date to return in May, but Al Haymon should seriously reconsider because Brook is a fight Khan could dominate all around. Brook would not be able to handle Khan's speed and combination punching, and Brook's only chance would be to win by knockout. I believe it is a calculated risk and one Khan should jump all over this summer. It might not even have to wait that long since Brook barely broke a sweat against Dan. If Brook would be willing to fight again in just over 2 months from today, June 13th, Wembley Stadium has nothing going on according to its Events Calendar. That would leave the winner an opportunity to face the winner of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao in September to unify the welterweight division. There are also no major boxing matches scheduled that day either.
Juan Francisco Estrada inched a bit closer to a rematch with Roman Gonzalez. While a knockout win over Rommel Asenjo won't be enough to get the rematch signed, the fight gave Estrada more exposure keeping his name in the forefront of boxing fans minds. Gonzalez is scheduled to return as the co-feature to Gennady Golovkin on May 16th, but a 115lb. unification between Naoya Inoue and Gonzalez isn't expected until at least late this year. That might leave a sliver of an opportunity for an Estrada vs. Gonzalez rematch in August or September.
Don't forget about Big Knockout Boxing's (BKB) return to pay-per-view, Saturday. While most of the world, including myself, will be watching the Final Four, a fantastic, all-action bout will take place between Gabriel Rosado and Curtis Stevens. In the co-feature, Jesus Soto Karass vs. Ed Paredes should be another barn burner. I'm excited for this one and I just might order the PPV and watch the recording on Sunday. It might be worth the money.
Each week, I feature an email from a fan on Observe and Fight. This week's email comes to us from Johnny Tailormade regarding a preview show of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao...
"Good evening, I hope you're doing well. I have à question about the Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight. Will there be an all access or 24/7? I know business wise they don't need it to promote the fight. But it wouldn't be for promotion but for entertainment and me haha :). Here in Europe people always watch it if Floyd is fighting. Maybe it will be à great platform for fighthype to make an similar all access or 24/7. P.s. There are only à few more months left for Mr Mayweather too retire so let's just enjoy it while we still can and stop the negativety. Money Mayweather is just à Character, like the Rock was just à character ( and hated ) but Dwayne Johnson is loved. Greets from Amsterdam."
Last week, Showtime announced it would be airing a 4-part documentary titled "Inside Mayweather vs. Pacquiao." It will begin airing April 18th. Up until then, nothing had been announced, but it is very smart to get the ball rolling. Yes, the fight has enough of a buildup that plenty of people will buy it, but from a promotional standpoint, the more we hear about the fight, the more the casual boxing fan (and non-boxing fan for that matter) is likely to buy the fight as well. HBO has not announced if it will air anything, but I'm sure they are not far behind with this announcement from Showtime.
That's all I've got for this week. Email any questions or comments to dkassel@fighthype.com and I will answer them throughout the week. Your email may be featured in the next "Observe and Fight." Follow me on Twitter @BoxingObserver, and be sure to "Like" The Boxing Observer on Facebook.
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