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Promoter Yvon Michel of GYM says that Adonis Stevenson's move to Showtime is simply business, nothing personal or anything else, and that their side has nothing but good things to say about HBO.
Here's a statement from GYM on Facebook:
"First we want to thanks HBO for the ride with Adonis in 2013. They gave him his first chance and they have raised him to the star status. We only have great comments for all HBO's executive with whom we have worked very well and have established great relationship. I have presented what I believed was an excellent multi fight deal offer to Adonis from HBO with a deadline set for March 11th for approval.
"After discussions we have decided to pass and we got a better offer Showtime. HBO had the right to match any offers so we sent them a copy. They had until today to match it but have decided otherwise. This was pure business decision for all parties involved, nothing personal or immoral.
"We wish to praise M. Steven Espinoza of Showtime for his ambition to do business Adonis and GYM which was reflected into the offer he has presented, we are thankful to him. We are looking forward for a fruitful association. Adonis Stevenson was the fighter of the year for many websites and publications in 2013 and feels he is treated that way. His goals are to keep fighting and winning spectacular fights by knockout, to unify the light heavyweight titles and raised his recognition to the top 5 pound for pound this year. The next step is May 24th at the Montreal Bell Center against young #1 IBF/WBO and #3 WBC contender Andrzej Fonfara."
Stevenson (23-1, 20 KO) will make his Showtime debut on May 24 against Fonfara (25-2, 15 KO), a fight that HBO didn't want to pay for without the guarantee of Stevenson fighting Kovalev, which I'm told was never in the works. In turn, Stevenson went to Showtime, something that may have been predictable as soon as he inked a deal with Al Haymon, whose fighters are basically all working with Showtime at this point.