Did Gvosdyk lose his killer instinct because of the Stevenson fight?

I think Gvozdyk was too worried to get respect with his punches and did not let them flow freely. He needs more movement to generate power, when he's squared up his power isn't that great. Look at the Stevenson KO he was moving in with his punches. Against Arthur he was loading up to stop him in his tracks, didn't work.

 

This is what I thought too. Its the worst ive seen him look.

 

How has it not been mentioned yet that this is his first fight since he saw Dadashev killed in the ring?

This fight represented his first since both Stevenson and Dadashev. Maybe he left all that behind 100% come fight night, but I personally don't see how he could've. He nearly killed a man in an attrition fight and saw his buddy die in one...i don't think it's possible those events had zero effect in his own reaction to being in that kind of brutal fight.

 

No.

Gvozdyk actually tried to establish respect by landing hard early on Beterbiev (to both head and body) when shots were available.

Beterbiev did a lot of different things in the fight defensively while still applying sustained pressure. He'd have his hands up high and tucked behind the guard for a stretch, then he'd have his hands completely down in an attempt to goad Gvozdyk into opening up. He was a bit sneaky and clever in there.

There was a moment during Round 3 or 4 where Gvozdyk landed a flush, hard counter right on Beterbiev while his hands were down... and another one that he set up by throwing a jab to the body. Beterbiev just kept coming. <-- This moment was significant. Gvozdyk's body language appeared to deflate a little almost immediately after that. He had realized just how much harder it was going to be to keep Beterbiev off.