Would Bivol be a hofer if his career finished today?

The IBHOF is 35 years old and had a 100 year backlog when they started. They have not gotten to the borderline HOF cases yet. You should not be judging who is or isn't a HOFer by who is currently inducted because to get in now a fighter is by definiton not borderline.

Truth is that doesn't matter here Bivols got as many as 14 title defenses which is the same as Bob Foster and more than everyone I can think of off the top of my head except Virgil Hill . Whether we considered him the champ or not that distinction is not keeping him out of the Hall of Fame. From the list of inductees anyone with a long title reign in this division makes it. He also beat Canelo which shouldn't matter for a 175er but if theres any doubt that removes it.

Some of those are defenses from the interim but he got promoted outside the ring.

Normally I say guys this era are going to have a hard time competing with guys from past eras cause their resume is so short. That doesn't really apply to long reigning champs.