Artur Beterbiev at 40 (Bivol 2) vs Bernard Hopkins at 41 (Tarver)

Beterbiev by a decision or late stoppage.

Bivol managed to box beautifully on the back foot due to his quick feet, quick hands and sharp reflexes.

Hopkins does not have the feet to stay away from Beterbiev. He will eat too many shots. He will likely shell up to avoid getting ko'd but lose a decision.

 

Oh wow. I didn't realise how old Artur really was until you made this comparison to Bernard!
Yet what Hopkins did was considered miraculous. Is this just a case of new generation fighters not being *that old?

 

Hopkins had over 20 Middleweight world title fights and then moved up to Light Heavyweight and had very good success.

So yes it's more impressive for Hopkins considering Beterbiev has only had barely over 20 professional fights and Hopkins had over double the world title fights and 50 pro fights when he moved up at age 40+.

 

Beterbiev wins by UD or late stoppage.

 

Hopkins totally dismantled Tarver as the underdog, had great success and unified 2 major world titles at 175. I think that version of Hopkins out smarts and outboxes Beterbiev and wins a decision.

 

I actually take Hopkins

 

Beterbiev is stiff as a board with his movements. Hopkins is slick and quick. Imo Beterbiev would be exposed as a second rate fighter with no real technique fighting against Hopkins.

 

But... Beterbiev had well over 300 amateur fights with most of those being against elite international fighters like Uysk and Kovalev both of whom he beat. Don't underestimate the strain of those amateur tournaments where you fight multiple three round fights against different style fighters.

With that said, I lean towards BHOP in this one. He would use his legs and and IQ to navigate Beterbiev's thunderous power. I think BHOP simply had more left at 41 than what Beterbiev has. Beterbiev has had numerous injuries where BHOP stayed pretty damn healthy all the way through his career. BHOP never really got beat up because he was so defensively good. I guess Joe Smith kind of hurt him when he was 50.

 

BHop wasn’t big enough to win this.

 

he went life and death twice with Pascale.enough said

 

That wasn't the question. It's the Hopkins from the Tarver fight against Beterbiev not the Hopkins version against Pascal 4 years later in 2010. Enough said.

 

He always talks about that version, or older.

 

You got it Bob.

 

Good point! Let's see what Beterbiev looks like at 45 years old against a top competition. Pascal himself has had a nice 20 plus year career and has beaten some pretty damn good fighter's. BHOP was beating guys like Shumenov and Cloud when he was 48 and 48 years old.