I more or less agree with this but I'd also like to add that we may not have seen the best of Bivol yet. I'm crossing my fingers that Bivol shows us another gear and turns out to be a diamond. He's got a very attractive style to watch and I like how he carries himself.
The main thing that makes me doubt he's a true elite is the way he puts his combinations together when he's got the opponent on the backfoot. They're not, devastating, precise, going for the kill combos, more throwing punches to keep you on the backfoot, with most not connecting. He hasn't got that vicious side to him. It's a bit of an EE amateur style and won't wash against the likes of Beterbiev
I'm not convinced that Bivol beats Gvodzyk, much less a prime Kovalev. Notwithstanding some of the more superficial aspects of this hypothetical match up, the "boxer vs slugger" analogies don't apply here. Kovalev's boxing ability is often grievously underrated. His jab was both thudding and an excellent range finder for heavier artillery, and his straight right was as destructive a punch as there was in boxing at that time. Moreover, he was a patient stalker with sneaky speed and athleticism. Remember Kovalev outboxed Ward in their first fight. Certainly, Bivol's speed and movement would trouble the hard-hitting Russian, but I think he has more avenues to victory.
