This is more about resumes than h2h. Wins: Joshua vs. Pink Wardley vs. Page Hrgovic vs. Tate Miller vs. Bey Lerena vs. Mitch Green Ls. Usyk x2, Joyce vs Holmes, Tyson, Snipes, Gordan, Williams and Mercado. 2x champ x 1x champ Zero defenses between them.
Dubois is a better fighter than Berbick. Sure. but Dubois being a top 3 heavyweight is pretty indicative of this being a fairly weak era. The guy has a strong jab and a big right hand. He is very crude . his high guard is an illusion. Dude does not know how to defend. While he has a decent arsenal of punches, he really struggles to use his left hook and uppercuts vs defensively good opponents. He made it work tonight because Wardley has no defence whatsoever. But against anyone who can defend, Dubois is simply a jab and right hand fighter. His left hook and uppercuts go missing for some reason. All in all, today’s era is comparable to the early 80s but can’t hold a candle to stronger heavyweight eras. Usyk, Kabayel and Huni are the only ones who impress me skill wise. Itauma has skills but is too untested. Joshua hasn’t been the same since losing to Ruiz and hasn’t beaten a decent opponent in 6 years at this point. Fury has beaten good in years and would likely have racked up more losses if he was willing to fight ranked opponents more often.
The 80s was an era of underachievers. Berbick was solid and consistent. His ranking achievement had more to do with other more talented guys underachieving than anything he did
I'd say Berbick has the better resume overall. He beat Greg Page when he was undefeated. He beat Pinklon Thomas who was undefeated for 7 years at that point. And Thomas may of been for that brief moment considered the best Heavyweight in the world at that time. Upset John Tate. Muhammad Ali was totally shot but was in better condition than when he fought Holmes IMO. Decent secondary wins over David Bey, Mitch Green. Joshua is the best single win out of the two fighters. But i'd rate Thomas, Page, Tate, better than the likes of Miller, Hrgovic, Wardley, based on what they've achieved so far in their careers. Plus Berbick has a shot Ali and the few other decent wins which I mentioned earlier. This could all change though depending on what the likes of Hrgovic or Wardley do in the future.
He does but you could argue Berbick had a much more respectable showing against an ATG in Holmes who was at his absolute peak at that time. Compared to Dubois's showings against against his ATG in Usyk. I know Berbick got destroyed by a peak Tyson but I don't hold that loss against him too much. Tyson was just unreal at that time and he's considered one of the best H2H fighters of all time. And I don't think Dubois would fare much better against a prime Tyson. In all honestly I could actually see Berbick winning 2 or 3 rounds vs Usyk and going the distance.
Usyk’s second showing against Usyk was as pathetic as Berbick’s showing against Tyson. But there are plenty of people who think Dubois might have a stoppage win over Usyk if a borderline low blow were called legal.
I was one of those people that used to argue over the low blow. But I've seen it enough and clued myself up a bit more to realise it was technically low within the rules. But I still don't think it was far off from being a borderline shot. I don't think the shot technically landed in Usyk's crown jewels. It was more just below his naval and partially in his bladder area IMO. But still low within the rules.
I’d say all of Dubois’ wins on that list are better in context. Joshua was coming off of a winning streak and was looking good before the Dubois fight. Page was inconsistent and Wardley shows up in shape and prepared for every fight, and his will to win and refusal to quit makes him a tough challenge for most. Tate had been KO’d cold very recently at the time, and had nowhere near enough time off, Hrgovic was undefeated and was a decent favourite at the time. Miller is just better than Bey. Lerena is a better gatekeeper than Mitch Green, have given solid fighters great worked and made them work for the win.
Page wasn't inconsistent when he fought Berbick though. He was undefeated and in good shape weighing 222 pounds. Berbick won a very convincing decision over a top 10 rated Heavyweight who was being heavily hyped at the time as a prospect with a big future. I'd rate beating Page as a better win than Hrgovic for example. Based on what Hrgovic has done so far in his career.
