I think Pimp has a good point, but I also think Beterbiev could test the chin of Prime Roy more than anyone Roy ever fought in his prime. The question is could Beterbiev land a clean thudding shot on Roy. That's not easy to do. Prime Roy's speed would give Artur all kinds of problems finding him. But maybe he could time him.
Pros matter more. Bivol is too good. Beterbiev would be the best Bivol has faced but the reverse is true and i stand on that. Gvozdyk was outboxing him before getting broken down, but Bivol is better, arguably a level above. Faster hands, better timing, better punch selection, more agile, better reaction speed, better upper body movement, faster foot, and a hell of a precise counter puncher. Gvozdyk has size and power over Bivol. That is it. Bivol is easily a smarter more technically enhanced boxer than Gvozdyk and you can compare both of their performances against common opponent Chilemba. It's crystal clear. Gvozdyk is just bigger and hits much harder. Bivol will come out on top in a modern classic and i hope it happens soon.
Amateurs have nothing to do with the pros. Also how many pro fighters don't get dropped or hurt in their careers? Rjj at 175 before he went to hw had a fine chin. A prime rjj was a boxing God with gloves and the best fighter I've seen prime live.
To pick Jones, I would have to believe one of two things. 1. That Beterbievs pressure wouldn't get to Jones at some point, and he would be able to go all 12 rounds without getting hit clean. 2. He could take a clean power punch from Beterviev. I can't say I believe either one of those.
Roy got stopped with big gloves and head gear on No he didn't. He just avoided savage punchers, his opponents bought into the Superman mystique, and he was too quick to for these light-average punching LHWs. Artur has his own rhythm and has a way of making his bombs land on everyone No question he was a special talent and like I said I'm not saying he couldn't win but I'm sorry if Artur clipped him it would be Glen Johnson x 10
A prime Jones had great reflexes he was hard to hit clean unless you had speed. His foot speed was also sick he could move around the ring in and out if range at will. His reflexes for a man his size were outerworldly.
He has to land first and that's not easy and rjj wasn't a feather fist he could hurt you at 175 because he hit people all the time with shots they didn't see. Now to be fair if Beterbiev hit him clean he would probably end him his power is up there with the biggest punchers at the weight of all time.
He wouldn't need to test his chin because Roy is categorically not talking that power if Beterbiev lands Thing is Beterbiev doesn't need to land clean to hurt you and I've heard numerous American fighters say that their counterparts from the Soviet school have a different and difficult style for them and, like I said, Beterbiev is a lot more cerebral and skillful than many give him credit for. He doesn't telegraph his shots and he has a way of making them land on everyone.
Good point about him not needing to land clean to hurt you. But Roy's footwork kept him out of danger. I just wonder if Beterbiev could actually trap RJJ, maybe he could though. We'll never know of course. One thing's for sure, RJJ better not play around with Artur, he better not do no hands behind the back stuff against Artur or it could be night night. Artur's no one to play around with.
Definitely a dangerous fight for Roy. For any LHW in history really. I'd still be putting my money on Jones though. Immense speed, skill, and ring IQ combined with formidable power.
Roy Jones was explosive and lightning quick and I tend to pick Speed as deciding factor with all things being equal. And I’m giving Jones the benefit of the doubt that he somehow lost his reflexes and chin when he came back from heavy. Even granting him that - this is tough match up. Most guys Roy fought at light hesvy were intimidated and not the wrecking ball this guy is. To be fair Beterbiev took apart tonight a big light heavy brawler. A guy with bad defense, no survival skills and below average footwork. I’d pick Smith to beat only about half maybe a little more - than Jones light heavy opposition.
Well, that's the thing - Roy could punch and he was obviously very fast. But it's comical, and his fans are the worst of all time for this which is why I rag on him (contrary to what many think, not only do I like Roy but I've always liked him and I've never even disliked him a little bit ), when they say it would be easy for him. If Beterbiev clips him he takes him out. Beterbiev might never have seen speed like that at LHW but likewise Roy has never felt power like that at that weight either and it's a different and unique type of power. - six inch shots which generate tremendous brute force and don't even have to land clean to hurt you and scramble your senses.
Beterbiev lunges in and can close the distance quickly and catch you with his brutally heavy hands when he does so. As fast and gifted as Roy was we've never seen Beterbiev fail to land with consistency on anyone. If he was the crude dumb caveman than many dumb fans think he is that wouldn't be the case at all. He would be easy to outbox and I've never seen anyone box his ears off or have him swinging and missing and make him look stupid.
people forget AB is very quick too with good timing,he would land easily when he run like in the Jeff Page fight.Bivol is too easy...a 168 pouder having success at 175.
Gvozdyk is a far better boxer than Bivol. Doesn’t matter either way, Bivol won’t be able to do anything to Beterbiev. I’m a Bivol fan now, and I don’t really want to see him get Joe Smith’d.
