I think he is past it and looked like it vs Benavidez. However, i hope he can turn back the clock and fight for a world title again.
No, I don't think so unfortunately mate. He shouldn't have taken that long break out of the ring. That was career suicide, because he had a 5 year gap between meaningful fights.
He had a meaningful fight last year and still looked good. I think he can still be a force in the division if is committed. I hope he comes back and proves everyone wrong who has pushed the narrative he is shot.
I hope you're right, but I doubt it personally. He's 38 next month and doesn't seem to be well backed by any promoter. I only had him winning the last 3 rounds against Benavidez, in his younger prime I think the Benavidez fight would have been much different.
I think it is difficult to see him fight for the world title again. Gvozdyk will be 38 in a few days and has not fought since a clear defeat against Benavidez last June. Currently all the belts in the category are in the hands of Bivol, who will face Benavidez or Beterbiev, most likely both. And even if Bivol loses to Benavidez and Beterbiev, these two fighters have already clearly beaten the Ukrainian fighter and a rematch between them and Gvozdyk would not be interesting (so it would bring in little money, and the promoters want money). In addition to the fact that in the meantime Gvozdyk would have to regain credibility by beating a fighter well positioned in the world rankings. Ultimately anything is possible but I think it is really very unlikely to see Gvozdyk fight for the world title again.
Gvodzyk is just a couple levels behind Beterbiev and Bivol right now. He shouldn't have left the sport for so long.
He is fighting for money alone now. He invested in Ukraine and the war bankrupted him so he came back to get some of it back This means he has to sacrifice his body and health and it will probably affect his motivation
Gvodzyk has the appearance of a shot fighter. His inability to pull the trigger at times against Benavidez was symptomatic of a fighter whose better days are now well behind him.
It's a sign of Benavidez not allowing him to pull the trigger because of how good he is. Morrell didn't spend so much of his fight vs David, standing still in the high guard just for fun.
Gvodzyk was exchanging with snap on his punches vs prime Beterbiev, a considerably more devastating and arguably craftier puncher than Benavidez, and winning on two scorecards when the fight was stopped. Conversely, his shots didn't seem to have a hell of a lot on them against Benavidez, and he was not competitive until the latter third (quarter?) of the fight. So unless you believe Benavidez is just that much better than prime Beterbiev, and I sure as hell don't, don't tell me there was no discernable difference between those two versions of Gvodzyk.
