Watch a couple of full matches. He's the sort you can't appreciate in bite-size chunks. He does a lot of subtle, foundation-laying work you have to view holistically.
how do you think Bivol vs Beterbiev goes? (let's say, if the fight were to take place this time next year)?
Its certainly a test to see where Bivol really is at, Bivol should be stopping Barrera but wouldnt be surprised if Bivol was exposed too. I fancy Bivol by Stoppage in 5th
I think Bivol hits Barrera with a clean 1-2 in the early rounds and makes him do the stanky leg, then he puts him down for good. All aboard the hype train.
Bivol mid-round KO/TKO. Barrera is highly underrated though, wish this fight happened 4-5 years ago. I still think Bivol is a class above him but he is slept on badly. He beat Chad Dawson in the World Juniors in 99 or 2000, I think 2000. That was a loaded class too, Andre Ward, Andre Dirrell, Kelly Pavlik, GGG (165).
barrera tends to get caught early. and if bivol's power is what we think its over. and either way bivol by ko or by UD.
I still have Bivol as the favourite and expect him to systematically break Barera and win by UD, may be even late stoppage. However, I think Barera is underrated and expect a very competitive fight. Will not be shocked if Barera takes this by a whisker UD, tbh.
I'd be very surprised if Bivol was exposed here. Barrera is a really solid guy - probably top 6-8 in the division. But Bivol is no Smith or Shabranskyy. He can punch just as hard if not harder but more importantly he's WAY more schooled in just about every aspect. That spells out to a clear Barrera loss here.
I rate Bivol highly, but to all you guys thinking its gunna be a destruction your just wrong. I think this will be a good fight I favour Bivol because he has shown more defense awareness but credit to Barrera for showing great recovery skills. Bivol hasnt really faced anyone who is coming to take his head off and is hungry as Barrera so this is a great test.