Gennady Golovkin vs. Artur Beterbiev if both were the same size.

I don't really see why GGG needs lots of space to work. He can throw extremely short shots and even if he did need space, his jab let's him maintain it. Beterbiev has never possessed the head-movement to nullify GGG's jab. And GGG can fight backing up, he's shown as such against Canelo & Lemiuex. He's actually really good at it.

I definitely think GGG has shown more toughness than AB. For one, GGG has never been hurt like Beterbiev was against Johnson, nor has he been down. Beterbiev has already been dowm twice. I don't think being slightly winded against Derevyanchanko makes up for that. I suppose the best way of determining who hits harder is to see how Beterbiev reacts to Canelo's punch. And after Johnson dropped Beterbiev, he spent the rest of the round and the following round on his toes, avoiding trading.

 

he is. he never hydrates more than 170

 

Not entirely true

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Watch from 8:44 onwards

Beterbiev clears his head, looks lucid enough and is still throwing hard enough shots and setting traps for Johnson to make Johnson wary enough about coming in.
Johsnon had his moment and failed to capitalise. He is also a HUGE puncher and still couldnt put Beterbiev away. I doubt Canelo hits as hard, even with all the PEDs in the world in his system

 

I just rewatched it, and Callum Johnson made Beterbiev fight going backwards, for all the good it did him.

 

GGG cant fight when backed up?!?!?!?!??!

 

The Canelo fight is a perfect example of how Golovkin can’t fight backing up. The only time Golovkin had success was when he was keeping the distance with his jab. I don’t know what to say if you actually believe that Golovkin is ‘really good’ at fighting backing up. And that he can throw short shots. Just go watch video.
With the Johnson-Beterbiev fight, again, just go watch the video. You’re claiming things that didn’t happen. Johnson was more aggressive after the knockdown at the end of round two, so he pressed forwards in round three - making it necessary for Beterbiev to create space. You make it sound as if he was trying to stay out of trouble, when he was trading bombs with Johnson (a heavy handed light heavyweight) and throwing five punch combinations. To say that Beterbiev was actually hurt when he was dropped is misleading as well, go watch the video. He had his glove to the temple and a shot got thorough that he didn’t expect, as he was going down he was reaching out behind to catch himself. It was clearly a balance knockdown. Going down is not what is meant by toughness either, toughness means trading when it’s rough. If someone is shelling up and not throwing punches like Golovkin has done in multiple fights for example, that’s what showing a lack of toughness is. Golovkin has a good chin but he clearly doesn’t like it when it gets rough. He got bullied by both Canelo and Deverychenko at times.

 

No he’s terrible, I don’t understand why this is even a slightly controversial thing to say. Many of his opponents have pointed it out that he has a weakness there as well.

 

I just watched round three again, and a couple of rounds of Golovkin-Lemiux.
Have a look at the difference. Beterbiev was not on his toes in round three at all, he was trading bombs. See how he wrestles, throws shots at the same time on the inside, throws hooks to the body in the clinch? That’s a tough and rough fighter. See how he is always looking to land punches?
Now look at Golovkin in the Lemiux fight. Every time Lemiux is throwing punches, Golovkin is purely defensive, moving backwards in straight lines and not even thinking about throwing.
The contrast between them (Beterbiev and Golovkin) is night and day - a man against a boy. For another example, look at how Kell Brook backs up Golovkin in the first round of their fight. The way to get Golovkin to not even think about throwing is to back him up. That’s how you stay safe against him while you also land punches against him because he has poor defense. He simply cannot fight backing up. He needs space to use his jab and move forwards.

 

Beterbiev has insane leverage going backward and even when he is on the ropes

Look at the fight against Prieto, first knockdown. Ruthless

 

Golovkin would win if they were the same size. GGG is just more well rounded, has better technical skills and is probably just as physical. Beterbiev wouldn't be an easy fight by any means, but I'd put my chips on the better boxer with arguably more 1 punch p4p power who has never been off his feet.

 

I would say probably ggg but I wouldn't rule out Beterbiev either.

 

Beterbiev was definitely hurt to some extent by Johnson. He stumbles into the ropes when he first regains his feet, then steadies himself. His expression as the official was checking on him suggested some surprise/shock at the other man being able to put a dent in him, rather than the annoyance or embarrassment typically accompanying a balance knockdown.

He responded well enough, though.

Better men than Beterbiev have been hurt, it's not a big deal to admit it.

 

Should probably be added, I have it on good authority that Callum once punched a condom vending machine off a wall (the Boston, Lincolnshire version of Duran's horse story). So there isn't a lot of shame in being hurt by a good shot from him.