Bob Arum speaks on the Canelo, Kovalev, Yarde triangle!
For some time now, Anthony Yarde (18-0, 17 KO’s) has sought a showdown with WBO heavyweight champion Sergey “The Krusher” Kovalev (33-3-1, 28 KO’s).
Earlier in the year, the WBO officially mandated the interesting prizefight. However, nagging legal issues and behind the scenes concerns, an official announcement and fight date were delayed.
That is until recently where a date of August 24 and a location of Russia became headline news.
Even with these irritating delays, it has consistently appeared as if everything would eventually come together.
Yarde was confident and earnestly wanted his shot at the belt and Kovalev wasn’t running nor did he want to be stripped by the WBO.
Well, everything appeared to be a foregone conclusion until Saul “Canelo” Alvarez (52-1-2, 35 KO’s) made his desire to chuck knuckles with the Krusher a public matter. As one of the premiere cash cows in the game, this news obviously carried a great deal of weight.
So much so, that shortly after the declaration, loose talks initiated between Kathy Duva, of Main Events Promotion, and Canelo’s Golden Boy think tank. Since that time rumors suggesting less than stellar results have run rampant.
In a recent interview conducted by Kugan Cassius, of IFL TV, veteran promoter Bob Arum, of Top Rank Promotions, took the occasion to supply his opinion on the matter.
With no official dog in the race, Arum is not privy to any exclusive inside information regarding the Alvarez-Kovalev-Yarde triangle.
That didn’t stop the Top Rank founder from using his old jungle eyes, sharpened by over forty years in the biz, and sharing what they saw unfolding.
In his estimation, Kovalev v Yarde will proceed as planned. Arum fully believes that Alvarez v Kovalev could have happened had Golden Boy offered a hefty enough bag of money to the Krusher. Yet, in his opinion, he feels that could not have happened.
According to Arum, Yarde and his team had already agreed to step aside money in the event that Kovalev v Alvarez was actually finalized.
Therefore, he believes that the lack of further announcements is damning. That combined with the fact that Kovalev’s back is against the wall with regards to his WBO requirements. Arum can only foresee the mandated defense getting the green light.
“Canelo wants to fight Kovalev for another title and it’s a good fight. The problem is they have made Kovalev’s people an offer outstanding for the fight in Russia against Yarde.
“Our understanding with Frank, which we reached before the Tyson Fury fight in Las Vegas, and Kathy, was that if Yarde was asked to step aside Frank and Yarde would get a substantial payment and they agreed to that.
“But everything is coming really too close, my feeling is, I believe that Yarde and Kovalev will proceed sometime in August in Russia.
“If Kovalev wins that fight, a fight with Canelo can take place in the winter of this year. I don’t think it’s possible to put it together for September 14.”
Bob Arum – Top Rank Chairman
If Arum is correct, Yarde and Kovelev’s immediate future has been written, while Canelo remains boxing’s radical wild card.
By: Bakari Simpson
