Comments Thread For: Beterbiev Gets Off The Floor To Knock Johnson Out in Four

[SteveM]

Beterbiev looks old and stiff just like Kovalev and GGG started to at this age. When will people pay attention to science for once and realize fights have to be made by the age of 30 to 32 at the latest, otherwise the athletes will be past their primes? According to every scientific study you can find, Beterbiev is already one and a half to 4 years past his prime, depending on the study and the sport you think is most comparable to boxing. And we've seen that his last two fights where he started to struggle with guys the same level as he used to completely dominate, just like GGG started to go 11 rounds with guys like Martin Murray and 6 rounds with Willie Monroe Jr (which could have been longer if Monroe Jr kept going) who he used to knock out in 3-4 rounds, and then the decline just accelerated into the Brook and Jacobs fights where he couldn't even knock down a welterweight, and only knocked down Jacobs once with a flash knockdown.

These guys are all past their primes. Just like we saw Kovalev go 12 rounds with Chilemba and gas after 4 rounds in that fight, before gassing after 4 vs Ward both fights, and vs Mikhalkin where he got pushed near to the edge vs someone who isn't a puncher at all.

THESE GUYS ARE PAST PRIME. PERIOD. PROMOTERS NEED TO MAKE FIGHTS WITH GUYS LIKE THAT BEFORE THE AGE OF 33 IN THE FUTURE, OTHERWISE THEY WILL RUIN THE NEXT GENERATION'S CAREERS JUST LIKE THEY RUINED THIS GENERATION'S CAREERS. WAKE UP PROMOTERS, YOU ARE RUINING CAREERS WITH YOUR MARINATING!

It's more on the fighters then, they need to turn pro earlier. Although promoters screw them up as well - Golovkin's German promoter and Beterbiev probably found out he is getting screwed by his promoter or why would he be suing.

[landotter]

maybe not Bivol or Govik, or Stevenson, or Beterbiev, or Alvarez... or Jack for that matter... Ward and Alvarez showed the way, exposed Kovalev... Any top 10 guys trying to exploit those flaws might succeed since the essential part of him is damage... and I talk about confidence...

Sooo..... Not lining up for the Kov Fan Club applications are we?



I would still love to see Kovalev and Beterbiev. Think it would make for an interesting bombing run style fight.

[Madison Boxing]

very good win. i was telling people johnson is no joke and had a legit shot to win, not surprised he dropped him

[Damn Wicked]

I thought Beterbiev looked good. Not flawless, but very good. He was outboxing Johnson and landing hard shots consistently. There was one point...3rd round I think, where Beterbiev really turned up the heat and was really hurting his opponent. At that point in the fight I saw his viciousness and that he had plenty of stamina and fire power left to end the fight, while Johnson appeared to be just hanging on after he'd spent a lot of himself trying to end Beterbiev early. I didn't know that Artur had the kind of foot movement that he showed. He has vulnerabilities but he looks like a really tough fight for the best in the division. Bivol and Alvarez look like really solid guys in the LHW division too. I wouldn't count Kovalev out just yet either..... Adonis would very likely get beat by all of them. Badou Jack at least has the stamina, smarts and heart to possibly avoid getting KO'd, but I wouldn't bet on it.

[Marvlus Marv]

Ahh, CJ. Although it didn't end well you would have made your old man proud. Considering he'd fought 1 round in 2 years it was pretty heroic. But, damn, I wished he'd have jumped all over Beterbiev. Maybe he didn't see what we did - that Beterbiev was on shaky legs. You'll come again, Callum. No worries there.

[Flabble Scrote]

Johnson did great and had the right plan to take it to him early and close but Beterbiev too strong. I think Beterbiev loses to Bivol on that form and maybe Chickenson too but if the fight goes past 5 rounds Chickenson is toast

[Tatabanya]

Johnson proved to be a big, tough guy.
My concern about Beterbiev is less about the KD and more about his looking sloppy this time out. He was slow to retract his hands after punching. Body work was garbage (in technique). And, he did some really predictable swaying to dodge shots. Stuff that better boxers could have countered easily.

I still think he's a really solid guy but I'm not sure that I can call him the most talented guy at 175 anymore. He's not as crisp and focused as he was say 2 years ago. Could be a bad camp. Maybe a tougher opponent. But, I hope he takes some high profile fights soon before getting any older.

I think inactivity is deteriorating his skills, and agree with your analysis in full.

My inkling is that Beterbiev will be beaten handily if he faces one of the top dogs today. I believe his train has passed by now.

[Kiowhatta]

Felt johnson could/should have let his hands go more - especially after the knockdown, he didn't apply any pressure to Beterbiev and let him off the hook.
I did give a good account of himself, showed some potential - Beterbiev was lucky to get the win.

I doubt we'll see him fight a top 175-pounder just yet - probably a Joe Smith jr next.

[Stinger1]

Bivol is the most talented but Beterbiev is a monster physically. Let's not forget that Johnson is a good fighter himself and hits very hard. It's the first time I have seen Beterbiev really have to fight on the back foot but I thought he did well against someone coming forward, with power and a high guard.

I also think too much was made of the knockdown as he was largely off balance and recovered straight away

This.... When has Beterbiev fought a puncher that put him on the back foot? He tried to trade too much rather than box but next time he has a similar challenge he will be ready.

[1hourRun]

GIFS: Artur Beterbiev vs. Callum Johnson - Knockdowns, rounds 2-4





Come-on Artur, get-off the floor ; its not even that serious, you just survived British club fighter Callum Johnson.