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I've always had Bivol winning that fight since they both burst on the scene.
Now I am flip flopping and its not because of the Smith fight (only seen the highlights) probably a little more down to the Arthur fight than anything and just thinking a little deeper.
On one hand I think Bivol has the style to pull it off and he is almost untouchable when he takes centre ring but on the flip I can see him lacking the firepower and being and this might not be popular but him being just too damn basic. I think he is excellent - Great defence just beautiful subtle movements making you miss by mm's, good footwork but if there is one knock I have its he just spams the 1-2. Jab, cross, jab, cross over and over. As a fan its almost frustrating because even with such a limited offense he is levels above everyone to the point of annoyance, he should be getting them out of there! Can someone teach him how to throw a hook or uppercut? seriously.
I'm no longer so sure.
I can still see Bivol outboxing him and fairly routinely but another part sees Beterbiev taking 3-4 to get used to the handspeed and crispness and just saying **** it and doing his usual steamrolling. I don't have any questions about Bivols toughness or stamina but 12 rounds must feel like a lifetime being in there with that guy.
I don't want to compare him to Joe Joyce as that wouldn't be fair on him he is a much, much better fighter but its a similar sort of brute force approach. Relentless pressure, heavy hands, throwing a lot of volume behind a hard, stiff jab. Doing 12 rounds is one thing but doing it against this relentless pressure and being forced to move and to fight at a pace you're not comfortable with, getting hit and having to react to 4s and 5s being thrown and from someone very heavy handed, its different.
This is a whole lot of nothing just to say I have no idea who wins. Good fight, I need to see it, I can see both sides of the argument for sure.
Now I am flip flopping and its not because of the Smith fight (only seen the highlights) probably a little more down to the Arthur fight than anything and just thinking a little deeper.
On one hand I think Bivol has the style to pull it off and he is almost untouchable when he takes centre ring but on the flip I can see him lacking the firepower and being and this might not be popular but him being just too damn basic. I think he is excellent - Great defence just beautiful subtle movements making you miss by mm's, good footwork but if there is one knock I have its he just spams the 1-2. Jab, cross, jab, cross over and over. As a fan its almost frustrating because even with such a limited offense he is levels above everyone to the point of annoyance, he should be getting them out of there! Can someone teach him how to throw a hook or uppercut? seriously.
I'm no longer so sure.
I can still see Bivol outboxing him and fairly routinely but another part sees Beterbiev taking 3-4 to get used to the handspeed and crispness and just saying **** it and doing his usual steamrolling. I don't have any questions about Bivols toughness or stamina but 12 rounds must feel like a lifetime being in there with that guy.
I don't want to compare him to Joe Joyce as that wouldn't be fair on him he is a much, much better fighter but its a similar sort of brute force approach. Relentless pressure, heavy hands, throwing a lot of volume behind a hard, stiff jab. Doing 12 rounds is one thing but doing it against this relentless pressure and being forced to move and to fight at a pace you're not comfortable with, getting hit and having to react to 4s and 5s being thrown and from someone very heavy handed, its different.
This is a whole lot of nothing just to say I have no idea who wins. Good fight, I need to see it, I can see both sides of the argument for sure.
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