Beterbiev is not a brute

I just think he's highly unproven and overrated, and he's squandered the best years of his career already.

A lot of the hype he is riding is similar to the things they said about Kovalev... apparently he is some type of demon from Hell that everyone was supposed to be scared but just like Andre Ward shattered that myth Beterbiev will suffer a similar fate

 

I agree. AB isn’t flashy or particularly fast, he uses his strengths very well and is a brutal puncher. He gets hit a little too much for my liking but is powerful and has a great chin. So far, he’s handled all of his opponents and has never gone to the cards. Also, I don’t recall him ducking anyone or going out of his way to fight weak opposition. At 175, he’s a pretty strong favorite against anyone else. You can’t say that for many fighters. He needs to fight more often and is old but I don’t understand the hate.

Which other weight class has a guy like AB, a legit dominant favorite willing to fight anyone with no drama or diva tactics?

 

How so?
He had Ward down in R2 then failed to capitalize. Ward easily climbed back into fight and pulled it away.

 

no one denies beterbiev skill , unfortunately for him he is in a barren division with the only options being bivol, or taking a scalp against shot kovalev/jack/pascal. he should move up and challenge newly crowned okolie or dorticos to add some life to his career.

i think he will end up retiring undefeated and turn into a mithical "what if?", the same way people discuss valero and ibeabuchi, fighters with decent wins but no marquee victories.

 

Been saying that about him since his last fight against Gvozdyk.

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threads/artur-beterbiev’s-skills-is-very-underrated.638101/

 

Idk if that's a good thing. Rings as a weak division.

 

You mean Wards coming back to fac Beterbiev...wow
He really is overated 16 fight 16 Wins 16 KNOCKOUTS ...he box goodenough

 

You left also knobbling Kovalevs trainer sniveller Jackson...sort of helps along with a ref who thinks the belt line is on the knees...

 

Light heavy is one of the most contested division in boxing, Beterbiev is one of several claiming top spot and he's been the least active and also has the least amount of time on his side.

 

Canelo had problems with a thrice-beaten (though the first two weren't entirely legitimate) several years past his prime, weight-drained (dehydration clause) steroid-restricted, alcoholic, disinterested, cashing-out (probably paid more to lose tbh) Kovalev who had a gruelling fight in the last three months (little time to recover or train) and had legal issues hanging over him. And immediately after the Kovalev farce (whom Canelo laughably declared was better than Beterbiev and Bivol) he hightailed it back to 168 lmao. So you can rule out Clenelo Alvaroids. He may not even be the best fighter at 168 or below, at least not without his judges saving him.

Smith Jr. got his head boxed off by Bivol who outlanded him something like 3-4/1 and came within an inch of stopping him in the 12th so he's not in the running. Bivol is a genuine contender though. If he's just a little more skilled, faster, durable and mentally strong than Gvozdyk, he has a very good chance against Beterbiev (2 judges had Gvozdyk up going into the 10th, though in my view Beterbiev was winning). And Beterbiev is 36 so time is on Bivol's side, by the time they fight (if it ever happens) Beterbiev will likely be on the slide if he's not already. He's certainly not a caveman though; he's a rugged, skilled boxer with monstrous power.

 

The caveman remarks are always weird. Even if he was a 'caveman', this is a fighting sport, not a dance. I'm sure plenty of Ice-age cavemen would have success through sheer toughness and strength and natural athleticism.

But he was a decorated amateur in the E-Europe system, so the idea he lacks skills is plainly absurd. People just like to align skill with defence and elusiveness these days due to the American 'slick' fetish.

Of course we saw the same thing with GGG and Kovalev. The reality is they've all fought 'highly skilled' opponents and beaten them with their lack of skills, so there we are.