What would Bivol have to do to surpass Usyk

Bivol is not a young fighter even if he is an elite fighter but he has age on his side compared with Usyk at 34 and 38 respectively.

He'd have to keep winning and beating top opposition in Benavidez, probably Canelo and Beterbiev again - simple as that and thats to even have any chance of surpassing Usyk's achievements.

 

I don’t think he can tbf.

 

I'm not a Bivol guy and don't think Bivol beats Usyk H2H but Bivols resume is better.

Bivols longevity totals look nearly identical to Usyk on paper theres 3 key differences that favor Bivol. They also apply to Beterbiev who on paper has even less longevity than Usyk but has impressed way more in less fight time.

a)Usyk split his career between CW and HW while Bivol and Beterbiev stayed in one traditional division and accumulated meaningful defense totals in that division. Beterbiev has the shortest total career of any LHW champs but is fairly high up there in terms of title defenses. The same can't be said for Usyk at HW.

b)While he has 5 defenses Usyk has fought only 3 men for the HW title and has come nowhere close to cleaning out the HW division. Before their trilogy Bivol and Beterbiev fought new challengers every fight. Besides Benavidez the best fighters at LHW that haven't fought for the title are prospects who are ranked high because Bivol and Beterbiev or someone they've beaten have gotten to everyone else. At HW almost everyone in the top 20 are in their 30s and have been collecting dust for years waiting for a shot. While Fury/Joshua and Wilder started this problem Usyk has been champ 4 years and has fought 3 sets of rematches. Its now Usyks problem.

c)This is more pronounced with Beterbiev but Bivol has been more dominant than Usyk. While Bivol lost quite a few rounds to Canelo hes fought near shutouts fairly consistantly.

Bivol is 4 years younger than Usyk. While Usyk and Bivols fight, win and round totals are almost identical today its almost certain that Bivol will be quite a bit ahead by the time both men are retired.

A fairly imporant nugget when comparing Bivol to Usyk is Bivol beat Gilberto Ramirez. Ramirez has won a belt in Usyks original weight class and Bivol is currently the only one to beat him.

 

He’d have to at least defend against Benavidez and move up and become undisputed at cruiserweight to be compared to Usyk

Even then I’d probably still have Usyk ahead tbh.

 

Idk who makes worse threads, @MarkusFlorez99 or @Mark Anthony

 

Bivol's two best wins are arguably better than any of Usyk's. Debatable.

 

Canelo and beve are better fighters than anyone on usyks resume. But usyk gives up a lot of weight.

 

A lot.

 

Beat Beterbiev again and Benavidez

Become undisputed at Cruiserweight

It would be pretty similar depending on how Bivol won

 

First step is fight Benavidez and beat him. Then beat Jai.

 

Beat Benevidez and then become undisputed at cruiserweight. Then we’ll talk.

 

He did not beat prime Beterbiev. The fight should have happened 4-5 years ago.

If Bivol beat Beterbiev in his prime convincingly, and beat Benavidez now and won a belt at cruiser, i would rank him same as Usyk. If he beat prime Beterbiev and Benavidez and beat Jai Opetaia at cruiser, i would rank him higher than Usyk.

 

I will take prime Beterbiev over Breidis but i will take prime Breidis over the 40 year old Beterbiev.