Bivol is too small. He can make 168lbs without too much effort. Beterbiev fought as a HW as an amateur...there is a natural size difference between them that would become apparent if any inside fighting is involved. I also think they have sparred together.
I know there's an appreciable size deficit but Bivol is a good boxer and I tend to subscribe to this line of thought:
I hope it happens. I have him KOing current Kova, nailing The Nail, and losing a close decision to Bivol. But of course I can be wrong about all of those fights.
Kov's at the stage where he can be upset, im worried about Yarde to be fair. I think Beterbiev v Gvozdyk are the top 2 and its tight between them
But Kova's style ages better. He's still agile and uses his feet for great distance control with long hard 1-2's. In his rematch with Alvarez I was kinda holding my breath all the way through, thinking Alvarez could crack him on the chin and it would be all over.
Imo he smashes Kova... Just wish hed get meaningful fights already. Crazy how stale his career has been relative to his hype and talent.
Especially compared to the start of his career. Within 8 fights he had knocked out both Campillo and Cloud inside a couple rounds... then his career stalled dramatically after 2015.
He KO's Bivol and Kovalev. Gvozdyk is the question mark. Gvozdyk could outpoint him if he can survive the onslaught.