So all HBO has to do to get Stevenson-Kovolev is match Showtime's offer

[DoktorSleepless]

It was part of a two-prong deal which would have had Stevenson facing Sergey Kovalev( who takes on Cedric Agnew this weekend on HBO from Atlantic City) in the fall, provided they both won their upcoming fights.() But sources have told Maxboxing that Showtime has made an offer for this fight and included in this deal is an opportunity to eventually face Bernard Hopkins, who takes on Beibut Shumenov on April 19th.

While Stevenson was thought to be an HBO fighter, what the network really retained was is known as a matching rights, or 'right of first and last refusal' with the hard-hitting southpaw.

"What that means is you negotiate with them first, that's the first part,"explained an industry insider, who is familiar with such deals."And then they're (in this case, Stevenson's camp) free to go off and try and find a better deal somewhere else and then if they find one, they bring that deal back to you( HBO) and then you have the right to match it."

At that point, once HBO is presented with a written offer they has seven days to decide on what they will do. That window is said to expire on Tuesday.

So whatever Showtime is offering for Fonfora/Hopkins, all HBO has to do is match it, and Stevenson can't escape anymore. No need to outbid. Just match and Stevenson is contractually bound.

Stevenson has every right to get the best offer. If HBO refuses to match Showtime's offer, it's on HBO's incompetent ass. Fucking Hershman is paying 3 million for Ward-Rodriguez when I doubt Stevenson-Kovalev would even be that much.

[HanzGruber]

He ducking doe

[Pain~Lucy]

HBO needs to settle this, smhm damn how much is that offer could be

He ducking doe

of course he's ducking, if he really wants to fight kovalev then he'll man up! but of course he needs to sign to haymon and ask ridicoulous amount of money

[El Angel]

Come on HBO.

[Beercules]

If they don't match Showtimes offer then HBO is offically ******ed, I think that they will though.

[Cuban Linx]

HBO is not the type to spend big money. After all they let Mayweather get away.

[DoktorSleepless]

of course he's ducking, if he really wants to fight kovalev then he'll man up! but of course he needs to sign to haymon and ask ridicoulous amount of money

It's not ridiculous if he can in fact get his asking amount somewhere else. If Stevenson was asking for a huge amount to fight Kovalev without a better alternative, I would agree, but he has a legit Showtime offer that's worth more than HBO's current offer.

[MrRolltide91]

I think hbo will match it

[Russian Crushin]

Im willing to bet that the Showtime offer is extremely high knowing HBO wont want Stevenson to get away

[Chiboxing123]

Haymon is pushing his fighters towards showtime. If I'm hbo I say f!!! It why overpay for a bs Stevenson fight that doesn't involve kovalev. Let showtime overpay for bs fights. Somebody above espinozas bit!! A$$ will catch wind soon enuff. Al Haymon,Richard shaffer and Stephen Espinoza making the calls in the sport. Damn. Was much better for the fans when don king and arum we're at the throne