Beterbiev vs Bivol: Competitive or One-Sided?

Interesting points, because most consider Bivol the better boxer and Beterbiev the bigger puncher. I'm not sure Beterbiev could actually outbox Bivol. Bivol has some high level technical skills, and he's much younger. Hard to hit, fast hands, great footwork, and he seems to have a good chin on top of that. Though he was stunned by Smith Jr. I could see Beterbiev looking old against Bivol and Bivol just fighting a really smart young man's fight, taking Artur into deep waters, not getting caught and just befuddling Artur. But that's far from a sure thing, maybe Beterbiev does show his boxing skill and catches Bivol with something big. I did see a good jab on display tonight against Smith Jr. He'd have to use that a lot against Bivol to set up other punches, maybe pin Bivol against the ropes. He's not gonna just catch Bivol with the kind of stuff he caught Smith Jr with. He's gonna have to be far more technical and set up shots by misdirections working behind a jab. Which he can do, but I still think Bivol is the better more technical boxer who is capable of outboxing him. But you're probably right that Beterbiev's boxing skill is underrated. He's not just a puncher, he's a good boxer. The difference is his defense though, he's very hittable. We saw Smith Jr land on him early on. It's not easy to land clean on Bivol I don't care who you are.

 

If Bivol try to back up everytime Ab trow then AB would attack at the same time as bivol simple...who can take it? easy

 

If someone thinks Bivol is the better boxer they don’t understand the backgrounds of the guys. Easy to say in retrospect but Canelo’s slow feet, single shots and Bivol able to simply move and jab, cover up when necessary.. people are overrating Bivol now. I knew Bivol could potentially do that but I didn’t expect him to be able to keep focus and composure like that for 12. That was an intangible he showed that seemed to be lacking in his other fights.
His defense isn’t that amazing, he would certainly be taking shots. Especially considering Beterbiev is actually the better boxer, with better defense. Beterbiev could box and not get touched from a distance. That sort of defense is not the same sort of defense as making shots miss in the firing zone. I don’t know what punches Smith landed other than a right to the body. Beterbiev slipped ducked and blocked everything (not a huge achievement against Smith but he did it while destroying him).
I mean I hope I’m wrong and Bivol can be competitive, I just sincerely doubt he could do anything other than get beaten down. Gvozdyk was a better and bigger boxer than Bivol and he had his moments, but he still folded eventually. That was the 6’3 Olympic medalist, undefeated defending champ who had sent the devastating champ Stevenson to hospital. Beterbiev just broke him down. Bivol has nothing for Beterbiev imo.

 

If Adam Deines went to the last round with Beterbiev, Bivol also could do that, he's defense and moving are on another level compared to that of Deines, his stamina is also great, last rounds are always his best rounds.So the question is - can he win rounds against Beterbiev? Of course he can.Bivol won't be easy walk for Beterbiev.

 

Look at Johnson's KD of Beterbiev. He was caught clean by that left hook. Beterbiev's defense is not as tight as Bivol's. Bivol doesn't leave those kinds of openings. Beterbiev can be countered easier than Bivol. Bivol throws mostly jabs and straights and doesn't load up. When you load up you leave openings. Beterbiev especially when fatigued can be baited into trading, he can be caught between punches and potentially hurt. Bivol quite possibly has a better chin than Beterbiev. And Beterbiev is much older. What you gotta do is take Artur into deep waters, show good defense early, make him frustrated by not being able to land, give him movement, get him tired, then you can time him. The problem for Bivol is that he might not have the power to actually drop him and hurt him. But maybe he does I don't know.

 

Bivol by UD if he survives the early rounds. Bivol is younger and faster. I don't think Beterbiev has the stamina so he will slow down after 5 rounds.

 

Similar to the gvozdyk fight. Bivol would run around the ring and try to get some shots in, but beterbiev would get him late. Beterbiev is an exceptional fighter. Imo he walks through the cruisers even more impressive

 

I don't think it's possible. When you are fighting at the highest possible level, which this 2 are, the fight is going to be competitive, and maybe even close, which is an absolutely normal. If we see a dominant performance from one side or the other, than their level are not equal, simple as that.

 

Similar to the gvozdyk fight, who imo is as good as bivol. Beterbiev will pressure bivol till he gets him late. But it will be a great fight

 

Slugfest as Ward like Gatti.

 

Good take, although I differ slightly on a point.

I was one of the biggest fans of Gvozdyk but I don't think he's as good as Bivol. He also doesn't react as well to getting hit (not just got by Beterbiev but in other fights too). His one advantage against Bivol is that he's bigger, but that was actually a disadvantage against Beterbiev who had all that body to work on. Beterbiev is also getting older and slower, which is the other major factor.

Right now I'd still pick Beterbiev to get to Bivol late, like you. I do think it will be closer than the Gvozdyk fight (Gvozdyk won the very early rounds but I realized he would lose pretty quickly - he wasn't reacting well when he got hit). But if this doesn't happen soon, Bivol will be favoured.

 

I agree. Prince Dmitry Bivol wins in the battle of Russia.

 

Competitive until Beterbiev chins him late