what lineal heavyweight champs could Beterbiev beat

Potentially a few of the smaller ones, he has some nasty hands.

 

On a side note he competed at heavyweight in the 2012 Olympics, and defeated Michael Hunter, so I suspect that he would have done just fine on a 175lb + heavyweight division.

 

Ezzard Charles

 

Beterbiev is an excellent fighter, he has punching power in both hands, and he’s fearless, so he has a fighting chance against any of the lineal heavyweight champs. That said I wouldn’t favor him over any of the lineal heavyweight champs.

 

He 'might' beat any of them.

 

I'd like to see him in with old pops. And Archie Moore. I think he takes Virgil Hill but depends on where the bout takes place, But I think it goes like the Dariusz fight and Hill not doing what he wants to do in there, but hanging in until the end. Jorge Ahumada would be a very good fight.

Sure would not like him at all against Mike Spinks. Or Bob Foster.

 

He's already beaten Usyk in the amateurs. Usyk has also beaten Beterbiev. I suppose he'd have a chance against most small heavyweights, but after watching the punches of Callum Smith just bounce of him yesterday, I'm beginning to get very suspicious that he's on something.

 

A few of the early ones more than likely.

 

Tommy Burns
Gene Tunney ??
James Braddock
Floyd Patterson ?

 

Wait, are some people here saying he could beat any lineal Heavyweight in history?

Surely we are joking?

 

He would kill late 70s Ali and completely take Leon Spinks apart.

 

Beterbiev could be favoured over some of the smaller champs pre-60s, but the majority of the lineal champions would likely decimate him. Even the likes of Briggs.

Important point, Beterbiev hasn’t even faced a great Light Heavyweight, never mind beating one or competing at Heavy.

Bit of a silly thread. Perhaps the result of recency bias and getting overexcited about beating a Smith brother. Not sure why that would carry much prestige, but here we are.

 

Would favor AB:
Corbett, Fitz, Sullivan (Easy work)
Dempsey (beaten soundly by a LHW)
Tunney (a LHW himself)
Braddock (not that great)

Even money or worse for AB:
Leon Spinks (Lazy, not great, was demolished by a former LHW in Qawi)

AB would have a chance, but I wouldn't favor him:
Marciano
Charles
Patterson
Michael Spinks (AB has never fought someone as great as M Spinks)

The rest I feel would be way too much for him.

 

All pre-Louis champs, except Dempsey which would have been a firefight. Maybe heavyweight Charles, but probably not lightheavy Charles. Walcott. Marciano would have been another firefight. Ingo. Beyond that, not many, if any.