Even though I thought Bivol won we must remember Beterbiev is 40 coming off a knee injury

It's a scenario that would have been hard to envision. The convensional wisdom was if it went the distance, Bivol would win. It's crazy to think that Artur won a decision, despite being outboxed for much of the match, and without really ever having Bivol in any major trouble. It's hard to wrap your mind around that.

 

I'm over the moon man. Greatness solidified tonight.

 

Me too. You're right. AB winning on the cards is almost as satisfying as a blowout KO.

 

I bet @Rumsfeld is kicking himself more than ever. His original prediction turned out to be totally on the money!

 

This was one of the worst versions of Artur I’ve ever seen, 40 years old, inactive with ring rust, coming off a major surgery, at times slow and cumbersome…

But he still beat a prime Dmitry Bivol, on my card 7-5.

That’s the level between them both, Bivol is very good but AB is a great. Prime AB would have brutalised Bivol.

 

I think tonight showed that Bivol isn't a great fighter, just a good one. I think a prime Kovalev tears right through him. I don't even think Bivol sees round 8. Same with prime AB.

 

This.

 

Granit chin and KO power for 12 rnds can make up for age and speed.

 

Both are great fighters, but I don't feel like either really put it all on the line tonight to earn greatness. It was a very measured and cautious performance from both. When we think of the kind of performances throughout history that we use to set the bar for greatness, I can't help but feel underwhelmed by this fight. It wasn't a bad fight, but I don't think you can say Artur did anything that significant to become great. Despite the fact that he beat Bivol by decision, in a fight that many thought he lost. Despite the fact that he became Undisputed, a tremendous accomplishment. I know I know it's a lot to unpack. But I certainly didn't walk away from this result thinking Beterbiev became great tonight. That's just me, and I'm not hating on either guy. Hell even if Bivol won, would he have become great? Did Bivol not become great tonight because he didn't get the decision? Lets just call it what it is, it was very evenly matched and neither guy really risked it all or went all out to win. That's not exactly the kind of fight that makes a fighter great.

I mean if boxing is a zero sum game and you become great simply by who you fight, then fine. But if it's based on how you perform, the risks you take in the ring, the punishment you suffer in route to victory, how convincingly you win, this definitely wasn't that.

 

If you are going to say he is just an OK fighter then this win is just an OK win. So which is it?

 

Prime Kovalev had a good chance to beat Beterbiev in my opinion.

 

Bivol said it himself, Beterbiev has impressive stamina and reaction for his age.

I think Bivol was waiting for Beterbiev to be tired in the last round

 

It's not a great win. Bivol isn't a great fighter. It's impressive because AB is clearly well over the hill now.

 

LMAO, saying Bivol sucks but impressive win. OK man.

 

I disagree slightly in that I think Bivol is a great fighter, but maybe he was overhyped to an extent given how many people blown his win over Canelo out of proportion. It's a great win on paper but I didn't come away from this any more impressed with AB or how he managed to walk away the winner. He was largely outboxed throughout the night, he kept some rounds close with good blocking and an occasional flurry, and he upped the aggression in the late rounds. He had a great 11th round, but he didn't really have any big moments besides in that 11th round.