We've seen an Eastern European LHW Golden Age this century. Let's assume these 4 fighters all fight each other and assume all are in their primes. Kovalev, Beterbiev, Bivol, Gvozdyk. Who is most likely to go 3-0? We actually did see Beterbiev Gvozdyk prime for prime. So we know Gvozdyk takes a loss. We saw a past prime Beterbiev fight a prime Bivol in a close fight with Beterbiev ultimately getting the win. Hard to see Bivol beating a prime AB. The other men didn't fight each other. Which is a travesty and shame. I think Kovalev and Beterbiev at their absolute best are a notch above and a level up from Bivol and Gvozdyk. Would rate Kovalev and Beterbiev as A level fighters and Gvozdyk and Bivol as A-. There are levels to this and the first 2 are just a little bit better. We can point to styles, but at the end of the day Kov and AB are just a little bit too good. So it really comes down to Beterbiev and Kovalev. Who would win prime for prime? Not sure. Tough call. I lean towards Kovalev winning by stoppage in the mid rounds. Feel like the long range 1-2 does the job. But if Beterbiev survives into the later rounds then I guarantee that Beterbiev stops him late as Kovalev begins to tire. AB or Kovalev go 3-0
Agreed 100%, I think Kovalev is the best all around out of the bunch - but how would he match up with Beterbiev and his best qualities?!? It’s splitting hairs between the two of them IMO. I tend to think if Kovalev can hurt Beterbiev early-mid rounds with his sharp shooting power punches and timing, he can stop him, or ride that to a decision win… but if he’s unable to do that, I see Beterbiev winning or stopping him later… But who knows! I admit I’m a bit biased as Kovalev in his prime was definitely one of my favorites of the last decade.. But he really was a highly skilled operator on many levels and had a crowd pleasing style to go with it. (You could say that about most of the guys you mentioned) I wish there was footage of their amateur fight (although I realize that may mean little to nothing about the prospects of a pro bout between them.) Kovalev actually fought much differently as he progressed through his pro career, the first time I saw him he had only had a few pro fights and it was on a local show, he seemed more like a slick boxer than the Krusher we’d all eventually come to know! Great post bro.
Thanks. I think the prospct of a Kovalev Beterbiev prime for prime is fascinating. One of the most skilled and destructive boxer-punchers ever against the scariest pressure fighter boxing has seen in many years.
@tinman It is for sure bro, I like your description of each of them there - and they were just SLIGHTLY out of sync with the timing of their careers!
Kovalev had no chin. None whatsoever. When people are criticizing Lennox's or Wlad's chin they tend to forget that every time they got KOed/stopped it was against big punchers. Unlike them, Kovalev was stopped by feather-fisted 50% KO percentage Andre Ward, was brutally knocked out by another non-puncher Eleider Alvarez and viciously KTFOed by a guy who went up two weight classes to fight him. Alvarez is solid puncher of course, but very far from somebody like Hearns, and even at super middleweight he rarely stops anybody. No way Kovalev goes undefeated against 3 elite LHWs possessing such a glass jaw. Plus, tell me, who exactly of his victims was on Beterbiev, Bivol or even prime Gvozdyk level? Definitely not 50 y.o. Hopkins. Pascal and Cleverly were few levels below them as well. So why are you thinking he would be able to beat 3 fighters of this caliber in reality he didn't beat a single one? My vote goes for Beterbiev
Saying Kovalev has no chin and pointing to the losses you did with no context from them is quite telling….its pretty clear he regressed hard and fast following the first Ward bout… and he looked like an emaciated old man in the Canelo bout and clearly had 0 explosiveness left. Nothing wrong with voting for Beterbiev here though.
