Is Arthr Beterbiev overrated ?

Turned pro too late (aged 28), left his best years and form in the amateurs (at least 300 fights), and has had absolutely rotten luck since turning over which has really stalled his career and hindered his progress. Aside from his ridiculous power, Artur possesses underrated boxing ability, and one hell of an engine on him. He trains like a spartan and can throw bombs from round 1-12 offering his opponents very little respite.

He turns 37 next January but he was the most feared amateur in the world for a reason and he has a superb amateur CV.

This content is protected

Here's some quotes from some of Beterbiev's opponents, sparring partners, and members of his team etc regarding his power

Bob Ajisafe

'He's very strong, very tough. Hits very hard with a lot of power. I think he's definitely going to be one to watch in the division. I don't think there's many who could last with him.''

What is it about Beterbiev that makes him so good?

''It's his power. I mean sometimes you box with him or out box him but sooner or later he's going to catch you with one of those big shots and he's just got so much power for a light-heavyweight.''

Blake Caparello

Beterbiev has sparred recently with Bob Ajisafe and Blake Caparello, who believes Campillo (25-6-1, 12 KO) is in for a brief outing. "I really think it will be a short night for Campillo," Caparello said. "This guy has some incredible brute force. He could even chase and hunt down a strong Sergey Kovalev in the ring''

“I do believe experiences like this will help me grow not only as a fighter but also my reputation,” said Caparello in closing. “Artur Beterbiev has a good reputation as being a beast and not many sparring partners can go with him''

Oleksandr Usyk

Q: Oleksandr, you won most everything as an amateur, including the gold at the 2012 Olympics. Who would you say gave you your hardest fight as an amateur?

Oleksandr Usyk: “Well, all those fights, they all took place within the last couple of years or so, so it’s hard to say. Maybe, if I was pushed to say, it was Artur Beterbiev of Russia who gave me my roughest fight. He is very aggressive and he does hit very hard.”

Gabriel Campillo on both Kovalev and Beterbiev

Almost a year after Campillo’s scandalous loss to Tavoris Cloud in February of 2012, ‘Chico Guapo’ stepped into the ring with then rising danger man Sergey Kovalev, now recognised as one of the best fighters in the sport. In hindsight a third round loss to the Russian was no disgrace at all and Campillo believes that Kovalev would have a good chance at defeating Ward should that bout come to fruition.


“Kovalev is in his prime and we don’t know how long that will last but there is also Artur Beterbiev who is very strong, for sure he was the hardest puncher that I fought. I would favour Kovalev in that fight but anything can happen with a strong guy like Beterbiev.”

Someone posted this on another forum

''I've heard scary stuff about this guy from behind gym doors, including a high HIGH praise and a glowing endorsement from Ovill Mckenzie who has been in his camps, said he will win world title within 10 fights without question''

Jean Pascal

Pascal is convinced that despite Beterbiev's short experience as a pro, he will be ready for Tavoris Cloud.

Pascal: ''Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if he knocks Cloud out.''

Artur Beterbiev is renowned for his power, as Pascal confirms.

Pascal: ''Artur is a brute, I remember the first time we sparred, he hit me so hard my neck hurt for a week. He's a very big puncher, he's very strong physically but he's also very smart.''

Russ Anber

I posed this question to Russ Anber, a trainer who helps Marc Ramsay with Beterbiev, and has worked in the corners of Sergio Martinez, Roy Jones Jr., and Jean Pascal. He drew on his 36 years in the boxing biz, and was straightforward with his appraisal of the Russian, a two-time Olympian.

"Beterbiev is almost too good to be true," Anber told me of the fighter, who resides with his wife and kids in Montreal. "Technically, he's a complete student of the game, old school. He's university educated, understands biomechanics. His style is strength, imposition, but he's complete. He's as strong as a heavyweight, spars heavyweights here, like Oscar Rivas. He's the kind of guy, he comes into the gym, he doesn't turn the music on, he turns it off. He goes to the body, his infighting is good. And he's beaten Sergey Kovalev in the amateurs twice!"

"This is the most complete boxer I've seen up close," Anber continued. "It's an effin privilege to be with him. His mental approach is that of a spartan. And I mean, he's the sort of guy you'd want your daughter to bring home. It's almost too good to be true."

Yvon Michel:

How impressed are you with the rapid progress of Artur Beterbiev?

Look, he is really impressive in every aspect of what you dream of for a fighter. He has a personality; he is an intelligent person, he’s a family man. He has strength, power, speed, technique and dedication. The only thing that is missing is experience and we’re working on it. It’s a huge step (facing Cloud), we understand that, but we’ve seen him spar, I’ve had reports from his strength and conditioning coach, his trainer Marc Ramsey, who trains a lot of high performance fighter. Everything is telling me that we have an exceptional fighter on our hands

Beterbiev's strength and condition coach (Andre Kulesza):

One last word that Andre Kulesza. This guy was coach with the greatest athletes in the world. Including Lucian Bute, a beast of training.

"Phfff, it does not compare. That's what I've seen stronger in my life. It is measured scientifically. The recovery time, strength, relaxation. Artur Beterbiev is in a class by itself. "

Mark Ramsey

“No matter if the fight is short or long, Artur will fight like hell in every round, promised Marc Ramsay, Beterbiev’s trainer. I know that a lot of boxing fans in Canada are worried to see Beterbiev, who has only five pro bouts, face one of the biggest name on the international scene. But not me. I am working every day in the gym with Artur. I know how much this fighter is great and mature. Andre Kulesha, our physical education’s specialist, told me he never worked with a fighter stronger and resistant like Artur. Cloud has no idea how much Berterbiev is good, strong physically and resistant. Trust me, Artur has the stamina to attack from the first to the 12 rounds if it's necessary.”

This content is protected

And yes Beterbiev was down against Callum Johnson but Johnson has extremely heavy hands

You only have to listen to the sound of Johnson's shots to get a gauge on how heavy his hands are. His hooks are vicious

This content is protected

This content is protected

This content is protected

 

“I’m not a guy that normally leans towards a puncher,” said Ward. “I’m a guy that wants a fighter to have multiple things he can fall back on in case that punch doesn’t bail him out. But Beterbiev is a little bit different. I’ve called his fights, watched him, and studied him. He’s different.

“He throws his body into every punch. He’s physically a hard man, and he’s strong. He hits extremely hard, and he doesn’t even have to hit you clean. He can graze you, and you can have problems. But he’s also an underrated boxer.

“He [Beterbiev] has over 300 amateur fights, and he comes up from the Soviet system. He’s a lot better skillfully than people give him credit for him, and he’s going to be a hard guy to beat,” said Ward on Beterbiev.

--Andre Ward

This content is protected

This content is protected

 

Gvozdyk is a superb talent.

This content is protected