Comments Thread For: Tim Bradley: No Doubt Bivol Beats Beterbiev If They Fight; Beterbiev Has A Puncher's Chance

[GhostofDempsey]

The more I think about it the more I'm not so sure who wins this fight. Beterbiev was getting outscored by Yarde and at 38 he is slowing down. Bivol is improving with each fight. If Bivol fights a smart fight and uses his footwork and jab he can pull of a decision win. It probably won't be pretty, but surviving Beterbiev means you don't stand in his range.

[Monty Fisto]

A puncher's chance doesn't give enough credit to Beterbiev. It's not just about a single punch. He breaks his opponents down; makes them go to where they are not comfortable. Bivol is very talented, but I don't think he's faced anyone who will ask the same kinds of questions as Beterbiev.

[PredatorStyle]

What is Bradley's agenda here, does anyone know? He can't be so ridiculous to only give Beter 'a punchers chance' - that's just silly. But of course we will probably not find out because someone behind the seems is spoiling it.

[landotter]

I do think people are elevating Bivol a tad higher than he should be off the Alvarez win. I think any top 175 would have beat Alvarez, simply because it is one division higher than Canelo should have gone . A win over a shot, easy to hit Kovalev may have given Canelo's team a feeling he could do anything. Bivol owned him, but I think any of the top 5 LHWs would have.

Bivol is hitting his prime. That is the biggest "pro-Bivol" argument. He has improved every fight and has better movement and is quicker than Beterbiev. But where Beterbiev has the advantage is his dedication to offensive firepower, and his underrated footwork. While Yarde did nice work, but how many times did we see Artur getting hit, only to maneuver Yarde back into the ropes or the corner for body shots and inside work? It di not just happen once, it happened repeatedly. Yes, Bivol has better defense than Beterbiev. Yes, Beterbiev has been hit clean. But he walks through other LHW shots to land his near CW power punches on them, so a lot of that was is by design. Both men are patient. Both men press offense. Both men have been in big fights.

I am not as sure of a Beterbiev win now as what I was 2 years ago when us fans started asking for this fight. And it sure leans further and further to Bivol the longer it goes unsigned. But if it happens at all this year, I will stick with Beterbiev.

[StephenM]

I kind of wonder if Timmy has watched Beterbiev before? He always gets hit. He gets knocked down.