Archie Moore didn't get his shot at the title until he was almost 36. An out of prime Moore held the title for almost 10 years. So, it's safe to say the title of doing great things at an advanced age goes to Moore. Moore also has the record for most knockouts, period. So, yeah, AB has some stiff comp for the #1 spot at LHW.
He won't get any damage in Yarde match, so he will be fight ready in March. In March he takes Callum Smith, and in January he takes Bivol, and becomes the undisputed king of light heavy. Then he moves up to heavyweight an challenge the undisputed heavyweight king Usyk, the undisputed vs undisputed fight happens in mid 2024. That's how I see things will happen.
It’s no great achievement to have all those knockouts when you fought every other week back then. Considering the fact that Gvozdyk would mop up every guy on Moore’s record plus Moore himself I’m not going to even compare someone from such a primitive time to today.
Who are all these amazing light heavyweights? Do you have Roy Jones in your top ten light heavies? Because Beterbiev’s resume at light heavy is far superior, and head to head plus eye test then no one is above Beterbiev. He has a 100% knockout ratio at this level of competition. The way people value and discard what’s in front of them to hype up fantasy and nostalgia filled views of past fighters is wild. Boxing fans are the sort to hate their wives when they’re with them and then when they leave they were all of a sudden the best thing ever.
It's a shame that for such a great fighter he is, his profile is so low. Casuals have never heard of him. Imagine if Beterbiev wasn't white russian. And he was black american. He'd be a PPV superstar right now with a huge LDBC fanbase lol!
Yeah ok. AB is a bad dude, but he's 37 years old. Only 18 pro fights. No way is he going to considered the best LHW ever.
Yes this is the crux of the issue. Had AB not stayed in the amatuers for so long, and instead had 30-35 pro wins and all by KO then we're talking about an ATG.
Bivol is the only one left at LHW that helps his resume. After Bivol (if he wins) he needs to move up if he wants to enhance his status as a fighter.