If Beterbiev KOs Bivol at 39 years old?

Ward shouldn't be mentioned alongside those guys. But yes Beterbiev will be in good company should he get the job done against Bivol.

 

Somewhere in the top 3. Usyk, Inoue, Beterbiev. Probably in that order.

 

It's a good resume but there's lots of asterisks next to his name. Ultimately a guy who never fought in hostile territory, headbutted/low blowed his way to victories and got a gift decision in his career defining win isn't going to be in the same league as someone (Usyk) who fought in hostile territory for their entire career (ATG road warrior) fully unified the CW division and very will likely do the same to HW next month. Beterbiev likewise has mauled through his opposition without controversy and while on the road for much of it as well.

 

That would be something…

 

If Beterbiev fights on and beat the winner of Briedis/Opetaia II I'd give him a clear edge over Inoue, and he would honestly have an argument against Usyk at that point. That's asking a lot though. At 40 to go up and beat an elite CW champion.

 

Still isn't a 50/50 for me. If Beterbiev has declined it's not enough for Bivol to have a good chance at beating him. Haven't seen anything in either of their recent fights to suggest that a Bivol victory is on the cards. I do wish Beterbiev has arrived on the world scene sooner. He was ready for fights with Kovalev/Ward/Stevenson in 2015-2016....

 

Yeah. He was also already ready for the elite by then. 2015/2016 would have been the best time be relevant at LHW though(Ward, Kovalev, Stevenson) something tells me none of those fights would have happened even if he was in the title picture then lol.

 

Beterbiev is the kind of fighter to start declining at 45 at the minimum, not drinking does wonders for the body. I really can't see Bivol beating Beterbiev because he will catch him hard early and then the panic will set in.