In our sport, where best avoid the best, light heavy was pretty entertaining last years, wasnt? Defo my favorite division:
2017:
Kovalev vs Ward 2
Alvarez vs Pascal
Barrera vs Smith
Browne vs Monaghan
Gvozdyk vs Gonzalez
2018:
Kovalev vs Alvarez
Beterbiev vs Johnson
Stevenson vs Jack
Bivol vs Barrera
Bivol vs Pascal
Gvozdyk vs Stevenson
2019:
Kovalev vs Alvarez 2
Kovalev vs Yarde
Canelo vs Kovalev
Pascal vs Browne
Pascal vs Jack
Hart vs Barrera
Beterbiev vs Kalajdzic
Bivol vs Smith
Jack vs Browne
Beterbiev vs Gvozdyk
2020: (corona year)
Alvarez vs Seals
Smith vs Hart
Smith vs Alvarez
I know many of them are not a top fights for you guys, especially when we did not had Kovalev - Stevenson and Beterbiev - Bivol fights, but TOP 15 fighters faced each other over years. Thats good enough for me
I feel that the light heavyweight division has been pretty weak since the start of 2017.
Apart from the Gvozdyk beating (with his performance perhaps being flattered by Oleksandr’s poor mind-set for the bout), Artur Beterbiev’s IBF title reign has been underwhelming to say the least.
He looked very beatable against Callum Johnson and he’ll be 36 years of age soon, which means time is already running out on the underachieving Russian’s career. And before anyone jumps down my throat, please don't forget the fact it has taken Artur more than four years to compete in only five bouts.
The ageing Artur Beterbiev’s reputation appears solely reliant on his victory over Gvozdyk. So the jury is still out for me. He might prove himself to be the real deal, but I remain unconvinced (due to his apparent stylistic flaws).
Dmitry Bivol’s own career has stalled. He’s beaten very beatable foes, achieving nothing of any note… and barring the Barerra stoppage, he’s also looked quite feather-fisted
Jean Pascal (who tasted defeat to the near fifty-year-old past-his-prime version of Bernard Hopkins), keeps winning and losing… and winning and losing… against top-tier opposition because the division seems quite weak.
Sergey Kovalev seemed ruined by the Andre Ward stoppage. Even though the heavy-drinking racist Russian deserves praise for avenging the Alvarez loss, he shouldn’t have even been stopped in the first place. His lack of form is due to his lack of dedication and desire for the sport.
He struggled badly against an unproven British domestic level fighter (Yarde, who himself had never beaten any top-ten UK or European opponent), faced two no-name unranked no-hopers, before suffering a terribly bad stoppage when he was overpowered and bullied by a super-middleweight (Canelo).
Sergey shamefully admitted that he never thought he’d beat Canelo and only took the fight for the payday. And he even went so far as to accuse any of his supporters of being “ignoramuses” for having faith in his ability to win.
I’ve always been a big fan of Kovalev’s (not his out-of-ring antics I might add), but his dedication to the sport has seemed lacking over the last few years (due to heavy drinking, which resulted in him being removed from flights, felony assault charges etc.).
Therefore, I feel that the light heavyweight division was better during 2015 and 2016. The last few years has been sub-par.
I actually enjoy the division better than the Stevenson/Kovalev era. Stevenson and Kovalev didn't fight each other these guys are at least doing that. Pascal, Jack has been underrated due to coming back and putting on good performance despite being clear dogs. Beterbiev domiance of Gyvoydk and his domination of Stevenson and Bivol clear wins over the contenders has gave the division clearity which I like. I will say after maybe top 15 it isn't much there. The division is pretty top heavy especially in the states. I personal prefer this version over the Kovalev/Ward debate and Stevenson run of crap after beating Dawson.
world ranked wrote: ↑01 Sep 2020, 17:18
I actually enjoy the division better than the Stevenson/Kovalev era. Stevenson and Kovalev didn't fight each other these guys are at least doing that. Pascal, Jack has been underrated due to coming back and putting on good performance despite being clear dogs. Beterbiev domiance of Gyvoydk and his domination of Stevenson and Bivol clear wins over the contenders has gave the division clearity which I like. I will say after maybe top 15 it isn't much there. The division is pretty top heavy especially in the states. I personal prefer this version over the Kovalev/Ward debate and Stevenson run of crap after beating Dawson.
To be fair on Stevenson, even Kathy Duva admitted that Krusher Kovalev ducked him.
The WBC gave the Russian a guaranteed shot at Stevenson, which was something Kathy Duva had passionately lobbied for, but Team Kovalev ultimately declined to take the fight when they refused to participate in the purse bid process.
People forget Kovalev’s ducking of Stevenson, as well as all the other so-called top dogs at 175lbs that declining opportunities to face Adonis.
world ranked wrote: ↑01 Sep 2020, 17:18
I actually enjoy the division better than the Stevenson/Kovalev era. Stevenson and Kovalev didn't fight each other these guys are at least doing that. Pascal, Jack has been underrated due to coming back and putting on good performance despite being clear dogs. Beterbiev domiance of Gyvoydk and his domination of Stevenson and Bivol clear wins over the contenders has gave the division clearity which I like. I will say after maybe top 15 it isn't much there. The division is pretty top heavy especially in the states. I personal prefer this version over the Kovalev/Ward debate and Stevenson run of crap after beating Dawson.
To be fair on Stevenson, even Kathy Duva admitted that Krusher Kovalev ducked him.
The WBC gave the Russian a guaranteed shot at Stevenson, which was something Kathy Duva had passionately lobbied for, but Team Kovalev ultimately declined to take the fight when they refused to participate in the purse bid process.
People forget Kovalev’s ducking of Stevenson, as well as all the other so-called top dogs at 175lbs that declining opportunities to face Adonis.
Yeah the fact that it didn't happen is all I really care about no matter who's fault. It hard to say to division was better off when the top 2 or top 3 didn't fight each other.
margaret thatcher wrote: ↑01 Sep 2020, 14:18
Dudes canned Pascal and Smith when Bivol fought them, but lol look at them now!
Though Dimmy bruh, get a move on ffs
It's a funny thing, that prior to the Bivol bouts both Pascal and Smith looked like no longer relevant and Bivol handled their both easily. Now they are in the contender's spot again.
While Gvozdyk not so long ago was seen as a future of the division, but then he was battered and retired by Beter, who had been seen prior to it as an overblown easily tracked guy with nothing, except power.
