Both Zurdo and Canelo wanted Bivol badly. They were humbled quickly. Both were overconfident and underestimated Bivol's power and skill. They paid a stiff price. He's a really tough assignment. Let's just call it like it is, he's a really tough puzzle at 175. That said, he's clearly considered by his peers the lesser of the two big challenges at 175. Trust the art not the artist as they say. None of the guys want Beterbiev. They want Bivol. There must be a reason for that. Bradley said Canelo "Doesn't want Beterbiev, that's pain". Ward said "He'll never fight Beterbiev". Then Kellerman responded "Right". I really hope Beterbiev still has enough left in the tank. Would be a travesty to see a great fighter get lit up in the ring by a much younger opponent because he can no longer pull the trigger.
I agree with what you wrote. There is an argument that it's not necessarily that they think their chances against Bivol are that much better, but they/their teams might simply be wary of the damage Beterbiev could inflict. Losing to Bivol, they won't take career ending punishment. They might against Beterbiev, even an old Beterbiev. I'm pretty sure prime Beterbiev would have beaten Bivol. He's got underrated skill, enormous power, and is actually quite a lot bigger than Bivol. But he's really getting old now, I doubt we'll see what he really was capable of. IMHO you need to look at the amateurs and see how he beat Michael Hunter, gave Usyk a really tough time, etc.
I don’t blame them for choosing Bivol over Beterbiev. I would rather get schooled and embarrassed than being bludgeoned and knocked around by a puncher like Beterbiev.
Lose to Bivol and you can put on a pair of dark glasses, a low hat and go eat dinner at the casino buffet. Lose to Beterbiev and you can spend the night in the hospital while they check your skull for cracks. It's not hard math.
I told you all Bivol isn't just a super skilled master boxer/all round good guy gentleman He's a Eurasian dog and Zurdo was made to realize that very quickly last night too. Bivol stepped to him immediately to let the much bigger man know that not only was he not going to allow him to intimidate him but he was the one who was going to be doing the intimidating Bivol rolls with Russian, Kyrgyz, Korean and Moldovan gangsters, mainly old-school Soviet bloc gangster types and he's bringing that Eurasian heat This content is protected
Gvozdyk had to go the ICU because his brain was bruised. Jesus Christ, his goddamn brain was bruised from repeated heavy Beterbiev punches to his skull.
Bivol would find the way to make Beterbiev gas out within the middle and would win. Too smart fighter. A+ IQ ring A+ stamina A-+ defensive skills Master pressuring fighter Bivol by UD all day PS: Usyk and Bivol have many things in common as to boxing skills. Canelo is below them. Fortunately boxing is beyond the flags. Hats off to both!
