Hear me out: Usyk is willing to get back to cruiser and beterbiev said a couple of times after undisputed he wants to move up and face usyk at both guys natural weight (cruiser or heavy at amateurs). Usyk beats fury in the rematch in December and beterbiev clubbers bivol in October to become undisputed at light heavy. Next year in Saudi in May cruiser and heavy undisputed and undefeated vs light heavy undisputed and undefeated with a perfect ko record at cruiser for atg top 10 status. And beterbiev imo could give usyk a real run for his money at cruiser in an epic fight with both guys having infinite stamina and boxing IQ. Beterbiev is the p4p biggest puncher in the sport and he loves going to the body. Both guys have history and three close! Fights at amateur level (2-1 for usyk, and usyk was the only time in his career put down by beterbiev). That would be the greatest (not the biggest) fight of all time imo. Who is in for that?
Would be a fascinating fight if it happened. But a lot of things have to fall into place for it to happen. Beterbiev has to beat Bivol and we really don't know if Beterbiev will be back after a meniscus tear that can be a career ending injury. Even if that all happens both are already past their prime, so while's it's a great match up calling it the greatest of all time is a stretch.
I think people are putting too much stock into Beterbiev dropping Usyk in the amateurs; if they met today at heavyweight then Usyk would school him, most likely stopping him.
Lame Fury would chin berterbiev quite easily so would chisora and AJ etc Usyk has come a long way in 10 years. He's made lots of effective style changes to be an effective heavyweight and his learnings would translate back down to CW again which i dont see him doing.
Imo beterbiev if he is not weakened by his actual injury would tear through the cruiserweight division. He is used to fighting big guys and also small and fast guys. And his style is not usyk favorite style to fight against, also look at the Italian Olympic guy who usyk fought. Imo a fascinating match up
There is nothing that interests me about this fight, it would be a blowout. Usyk would stop Beterbiev, probably brutally. Let's be real there's no HW's in even the top 20 that Beterbiev beats but we're matching him against the alpha of the division? Hell I don't think Beterbiev even beats anyone in the top 5 at CW.................and I like Beterbiev.
I like the idea of this fight but I really don’t think Beterbiev will want it after this latest injury. That in itself will take some work coming back from. Than he has Bivol. I just think he’ll basically have one foot out the door after Bivol. And you REALLY can’t have one foot out while facing the best PFP boxer in the world who also happens to be bigger than you. Doubt it happens. Cool thought though!
I have actually been advocating that Usyk fighting the winner of Beterbiev-Bivol would certainly be better than beating Joshua a third time or Dubois again. But its not going to happen, probably. They are both nearing 40, a lot would have to fall into place, and the WBC doesn't sanction Russians now, and would certainly not against a Ukrainian.
Beterbiev v Opetaia at cruiserweight would be awesome and I could see it happening if Arthur beats Bivol.
We would 100% have to see that first before Usyk vs Beterbiev made any sense - or maybe Beterbiev vs a faded Breidis (that would be a WAR!!!) But there is no guarantee that a 40 year old Beterbiev can come back from a meniscus injury and go straight into the Bivol fight and come through with the win - Bivol will be as mobile as he's ever been and that will really challenge Artur's injury on top of what the normal challenge would be. Personally, I think it's actually a bit unfair for Beterbiev to come back from an injury like that and not be afforded a tune-up to REALLY ensure the injury has no residual effects, but obvs that will delay things even further which AB can't really afford at his age
Usyk should be calling Shawn Porter to come out of retirement. Usyk needs this for the sake of his legacy!
No belts on the line at cruiser, no one needs these belts if these both fight. The fight would be enormous and p4p of the decade status
I remember when people were saying that AJ was "too big, too strong" same people keep repeating it about other fighter it seems.