Artur Beterbiev against the recent elite LHWs

He would knock them all about the gaff

Not sure about Bivol though, I'd lean slightly more towards Beterbiev, but I'm still undecided on that one

 

He was pretty much even with Ward. I don't see him beating Bivol. Prime Beterbiev is 50/50 for me. Definitely H2H top 5 LHW this century

 

Beterbiev is clearly the most proven, I think he beats all of them.

Kovalev is inferior to Beterbiev in many departments: strength, stamina, durability (head and body), determination, pressure, inside fighting, discipline, intelligence, amateur pedigree (lost to Beterbiev twice), pro experience, overall power and best pro win. You can say that Kovalev really beat Ward but in Vegas as a clear B-side he needed to stop Ward or drop him multiple times and he didn't, whereas Beterbiev got on top of Gvozdyk after 8 rounds and retired him. Kovalev also partly unravelled mentally after the first Ward fight. Ward retired at 33 because he saw Beterbiev as too tall a task, even in America with the judges bought, which says a lot.

I don't see how Bivol is more proven than Gvozdyk; both are skilled, athletic, good amateurs but Bivol's smaller, less powerful and KO'ing Stevenson is the best win between them, above schooling the 5'7 plodding natural middleweight. He hasn't been too fussed about fighting Beterbiev, chasing the midget since 2018 at the latest. He gave a tiny, slow-footed, underpowered Canelo too much respect for the first 4 rounds, which could have got him robbed. He would have shown Beterbiev more respect still and for as long as the fight lasted.

 

You are right you need elite power to beat him.

 

I think I would favour him to beat all of them. I agree Ward is probably the easiest match up. I think he is too strong for Bivol but the timing of them actually fighting may favour Bivol who is far closer to his physical prime. Kovalev is an interesting one as Kovalev was a puncher who could fight and box well at long range. I think Beterbiev is the more durable and would sink him late

 

Destroys Jones, chinless. Beats up Ward. Kovalev 60/40.

 

Nope, not close. The fact that Cleverly is your pinnacle moment for him makes my point. He fought one elite fighter during his run and fought evenly in the first, dominated and KTFO in the second. You can't Cleverly your way to ATG status.