Can the LightHeavyweight champion become the Heavyweight champion in the era of the modern superheavyweights? Can Bivol, Beterbiev, or anyone else in this era do what Michael Spinks, Michael Moorer, and Roy Jones Jr. did?
Definitely. Size can be neutralized against an opponent that has the edge in experience, mobility, and handspeed. Also, talented heavyweights have always come in all sizes, so I still don’t get this whole idea of modern super heavyweights. Also, If beterbiev was 5 years younger I don’t see any of the top heavyweights having an easy time with him. Even at almost 40 Beterbiev with his experience and ability is good enough to be a top 10 heavyweight. Ring experience and mobility has really been lacking in the heavyweight division over the last 20 years. Bivol’s experience and mobility would also be enough to make him a top heavyweight. As for him beating Fury or Usyk I wouldn’t favor Bivol, but I would favor Bivol to beat a champion like Parker and it wouldn’t shock me if he took a decision off Joshua. Ward, Stevenson, and plenty of other light heavyweight champions also would good enough to be a factor in the heavyweight division. A tough and experienced light heavyweight can be a nightmare to even the best heavyweights as history has proven.
I wouldn’t pick any of the current light heavies to do it no. But from a conceptual standpoint, could a very talented light heavy still bulk up, acclimate to the heavyweight division and defeat a large modern HW champion ? Yes, I think it’s still possible. The closest thing we’ve seen to it in recent years is Usyk ascending from cruiser to win the heavyweight title, so the idea isn’t that far out of reach