Canelo vs Kovalev Live Stream, presser reveals a great many things from fighters, promoters, and DAZN, Brand new world we are in, isn’t it? And that was
cemented a few different ways in the weeks leading up to the kickoff
presser in Los Angeles, to bang the drums and honk the horns for the
Nov. 2 clash between middleweight/sometimes super middleweight Canelo
Alvarez and light heavyweight ace Sergey Kovalev, who is seen by some
(many? including his foe?) as being on the downside of the aging slope.
Hardcore fight fans know that this presser had some
issues swirling around it, namely, mostly, the goings on at Golden Boy
Promotions.
What a half week they had, as their lead dog next gen
hitter Ryan Garcia went at it, publicly, on social media, and took aim
at Oscar De La Hoya and company for not managing his last fight, set for
Sept. 14, correctly.
They all kissed and made up, or so it looks, with the formerly warring parties announcing that they’ve
gotten on the same page, and that the 21-year-old Garcia has received a lucrative contract extension.
That kerfuffle is actually pertinent to the Canelo vs
Kovalev deal, because Canelo’s relationship with Golden Boy has also
been a work in progress. Need evidence? This is something he said on
Wednesday about GBP boss De La Hoya, as reported by Mike Coppinger:
Hmmm...OK.
Now, first things first. Let’s stay in the present, and
try to stay on message, and deal with the present reality, re: the
middleweight versus light heavyweight scrap.
But, darn it, that Canelo statement is a bit too tantalizing to gloss over.
What does he mean by that? One would assume — I would
assume, I did assume — that a third Canelo vs GGG fight was a given.
Didn’t and don’t all of us assume that? But maybe Canelo doesn’t? How is
that possible? I mean, he had to know that a third fight with Gennadiy
was the main driver of
DAZN signing him to
that monstrous deal. Didn’t he?
Now, I haven’t seen the contract which laid out terms for
Canelo. But I would assume, and hope not to make and “ass” of “u” and
“me,” that the Canelo-DAZN deal spells out the stated desire to have a
third Canelo vs GGG fight. But I think I may have been assuming
incorrectly — and Canelo’s phrasing there gave me the hint to understand
that.
Canelo has immense power, and he’s driving his career
vehicle. That has become more apparent in the last six months. But when I
say “his” deal with DAZN, I think it’s wiser for me to reframe it, and
refer to it as “the deal between Canelo and Golden Boy and DAZN.”
Because, if you recall, when at the end of last year Canelo made that
ballyhooed announcement, we also learned that
Golden Boy would be entering into a relationship with DAZN.
GB’s fighters would have a new platform home, and the OTT behemoth
would be paying handsomely for use of services of Oscar’s fighters on
the streaming service.
And, again, I don’t see that contract, no one is letting
me take a gander at that. But maybe there exists contractual phrasing
which promises a third Canelo vs GGG fight — only, those terms are
shared by Golden Boy and DAZN, not Canelo and DAZN.
That interpretation, that would explain the seeming gap
that exists, and how Canelo isn’t on that same page as other people you
would assume he would be. And back when the massive windfall deal was
being formed and hatched, perhaps Oscar and his guys knew that Canelo
wasn’t crazily keen on a third fight, but figured they’d get their guy
to come around to it — but they didn’t want to force his hand, they just
wanted to get the deal done, and then circle back, and tie up that
loose end. Does that sound plausible, knowing what we know now, and
hearing Canelo’s take on the issue?
And here now is an opportune time to get back to the
present, traffic in the now, because none of the principals are going to
wade into contractual terms with this media member.
On Nov. 2, we will see Canelo fight a much-anticipated
scrap. His last one was fairly anticipated too, fans were amped to see
if Danny Jacobs could wreck the momo of Canelo’s deal with DAZN. It
turns out no, Jacobs couldn’t out-box or out-fight the redhead.
You agree, “much-anticipated?”
OK, my anticipation dipped a quarter notch when I saw
Kovalev seem pleased to be involved, as he and Canelo posed for a selfie
together. Maybe I’m old school, but I prefer the fighters to stomp and
growl, show a degree of snarliness in the leadup to a bout, as that
suggests the in-ring action will match the tone of the pre-fight
interaction. Jacobs and Canelo had snarling and then the bout was really
all chess-match. I do worry that we see the same come Nov. 2, and that
“let’s take a selfie” vibe bleeds into the ring.
I have pondered this new reality we are in more than a
bit, and sometimes think aloud that maybe these outsized purses, while
massively beneficial outwardly to the athletes, do have unintended
negative consequences.
If Kovalev’s package is $12 million and after chopping up
pie slices he comes away with maybe $9 million or whatever, then that
could function as a fallback pillow. It could enter into a head, when
the going gets tough, “Eh, whatev, I got my retirement fund and it’s
fat, why should I soldier on when it looks mega-bleak?”
OK, I hear you — that is a theory, one grounded in human
nature of some beings, and one could argue with conviction that Kovalev
deserves my trust, that when the going gets tough, he won’t get going
into fallback mode, but will rise to the occasion and deliver a rousing
response. Here’s hoping!
Money matters, and it often corrupts, and that’s not an
indictment made from a high horse--human nature is complex, and I’d
rather see the fighters get paid more handsomely than less. But that
element could be something in play, in regards to what type of fight we
see in Las Vegas Nov. 2. I hope for the best.
Another issue that popped up right around this presser
was the word that DAZN has a “new sheriff in town” mentality. Joe
Markowski told Mike Coppinger that “the days of inflated purses are
over” at DAZN. Interesting that Markowski came out and said that, rather
than letting a new pay scaling system be revealed behind close doors.
Might as well blast that memo out, far and wide, so managers understand
that what played in the last year won’t so much going into 2020.
From the fan perspective, I dare say this development
could be beneficial, in that the marketplace will or should reset, and
expectations will be right-sized. This could result in managers
and fighters not getting seduced by the thought of a DAZN lotto ticket
and instead grind the old fashioned way.
To summate, it feels to me like the Canelo case is being
smartly played by Team DAZN. Fair to say we all know they wanted Canelo
vs GGG 3, but they didn’t get it. And rather than going scorched earth,
or letting pride take over, it looks like they will be patient. Fans
will continue to let Canelo know they want to see him battle GGG a third
time, and I am betting the Mexican pugilist and Oscar get back on that
same page, and figure out when that makes sense.
Seems smart if that is what John Skipper and company are
banking on — give Canelo, a proud warrior, a bit of space. Maybe in his
next fight, he takes on a Jaime Munguia, maybe in May, and then, after a
nice long break from GGG, signs on to do a third Golovkin bout in Sept.
2020.
But of course, we ponder, with the full realization that
this sport is that theater of the unexpected, so only fate knows what
will actually transpire between now and Sept. 2020. Stranger things have
happened than seeing a light heavyweight “welcome” a middleweight
rudely to his house, and force a reset of all parties’ plans.
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