Really is a black mark on the sport at this point. It's gotten outrageous. Hard to believe it's been allowed to go this far without any significant and measurable uproar from fans and the boxing community. The man is 38 years old FFS. The best in the world are not even denying the fact that a man pushing middle age is not worth the risk. Most boxers and their fans at least try to construct some type of grifting excuse for why they aren't fighting the biggest challenge. Not true with Beterbiev's contenders (and that's what they are). Bivol is a paper champ, he's not the man. He's a paper alphabet titlist. I have no personal animosity towards to Bivol, but I'm telling it like it is. Everybody is just throwing up their hands saying I just don't want it. Maybe when Beterbiev is 40.
True. A few imbeciles on here blaming Beterbiev's management but the reality is today's boxing politics allows avoidance and the collection of paper belts. Listen to the blurb they gave for Tank Davis who has still nothing significantly on his resume. Money is the goal. Fighting Artoor Beterbiev almost guarantees an ass whipping that reduces future earnings potential. It makes sense, but the system needs to be changed to allow Beterbiev and the like to fight and succeed.
You know, Bivol beat a smaller p4p elite fighter which is something that Tank Davis has never done. So in that respect Bivol is a more accomplished fighter, but at the end of the day neither Davis nor Bivol have ever challenged for the title. Like, the real title. They are both world champs, but of the alphabet paper variety.
I agree. Beterbiev is the man. I think he, like Mayweather Jr, is able to be so great at an older age because of their training regimens which allowed them to use their specific skill sets to succeed where most in the past have failed at that age.
When Beterbiev is 40+ and still dominant and still maintaining his 100% KO rate people will still be avoiding him. Genetics + clean living = monster. You might as well face him, he is going nowhere.
The two biggest let downs in boxing today are Spence-Crawford and Bivol-Beterbiev not happening. Damn shameful
