If Beterbiev knock outs Bivol and Benavidez and retire, is He ATG?

He was champ for 5 years hes an ATG regardless but how great he is depends heavily on KO'ing Bivol and Benavidez not just beating them. Not only does he have the 100% KO rate neither Bivol and Benavidez have ever been stopped and that would really give that record shine. If he beats them hes the best of the era if he easily stops them he retires with the record and people will be speculating about him going up to HW for the rest of time. If he loses the narrative will shift to him being protected from the best fighters.

But yeah Beterbiev would have one of the shortest careers of any champion in the history of boxing not just LHW. Right now hes had only 98 total rounds though he started fighting good opponents almost immediately and would have 7 lineal title defenses if he beat those 2.

He no doubt would be in the pantheon but would have a very unique place at both the back and front of that pantheon.

 

This thread is silly as hell.

Would the undefeated, undisputed, long reigning champ who has ducked no one and has a 100% KO ratio be an ATG?

What? Who is saying no to this.

 

A HOF fighter, yes. All time great? Maybe a head to head qualifier.

 

Right? Seems like some people have absurd standards for ATG status which most of the time don’t even hold up under scrutiny.

 

Read my post again,Bivol and Benavidez have never fought a LHW Champion !

 

Bivol was rocked by Joe Smith Jr and he got tagged a few times by the Libyan fighter in his last fight. Bivol is slick and smooth but he does have a tendency to stay in one place to too long while he waits for his openings to land combinations.

Beterbiev does get tagged but I saw a MASSIVE improvement from the Yarde to Callum Smith fight - meaning that he has a very good ring IQ and is ADAPTABLE and very versatile. BIVOL is BETTER at what he does than Beterbiev (slick footwork, in and out, jabs and combinations) but Beterbiev has shown different nuances and styles to his game whereas Bivol has largely retained the same but amazing style.

In short, I think Beterbiev has shown he is more adaptable and has different styles and levels to offset your rhythm. That's why I have Beterbiev winning - EVENTUALLY he will find his range, close the gap and slow Bivol down before stopping him.

Early rounds I got Bivol staying on the outside trying to land quick eye catching combinations and moving out of the way.

However, Bivol CANNOT stay perfect for 36 minutes nor maintain his pace WITHOUT getting caught.

Bivol has been caught in PLENTY of fights before, to hand and body, coming in or backing up. We need to stop pretending that Bivol is Pernell Whittaker when he really isn't. Anyway, that's my take - Beterbiev TKO between Rd7-10.

If it's close or controversial, Turki will make a rematch but I think Beterbiev finishes it decisively and then batters Benavidez before moving up to CW to face Opateia or Billam Smith and maybe Turki might try and make a Usyk fight at catchweight.

 

Bivol by UD

 

Depends what Bivol and Benavidez go on to do I guess? None have done that much.

 

cry for 100% ko rate

 

Not sure
He did beat Canelo an accomplishment only TBE another ATG was able to do.

is up pose we would have to dissect the top 10 light heavyweights to deep dive.

 

OK, top 25 all time LH.

 

LH is an historically stacked division, no joke.

 

Yes