BETERBIEV VS. THE GREATS
Katz: “Charles also had way too much skill and savvy. I see the outcome being similar to Moore: wide decision.” CHARLES: 3-0
also with others. “Outside the gym, he is very reserved, and if the majority of
Jack Dempsey, Harry Greb, Tommy Gibbons and Georges Carpentier all said Tunney could punch – to keep even the most aggressive opponents wary. The Dempsey ‘Long Count’ episode showed that Tunney not only knew what to do when hurt, but how to respond in the subsequent rounds (knocking Dempsey down in the next round and nearly stopping him before the final round). Tunney by decision.” Ron Katz: “[Tunney was] an all-time great, a master technician who fought many of the best of his time. I can see him winning every round. He was that good.” TUNNEY: 3-0
with a great chin (besides the two Joe Louis losses, his only stoppage defeat was suffered in his fourth pro fight, where he was sick to his stomach). But other than the Louis fights, where he looked great (first match) and awful (rematch), the only video we have is 10 minutes of Conn beating Melio Bettina for the light heavyweight title. What you see is a fighter with a beautiful jab and an impeccable judge of distance who also knew how to fight on the inside. This is another matchup where I see both guys winning if there were multiple fights. But with one fight, with everything on the line, I pick Conn by decision.” Katz: “A gifted boxer who controlled his opponents with a great jab. His lack of power would present a big problem for him against Beterbiev, who would eventually get to Billy and stop him late in the fight.” CONN: 2-1
12-round unanimous decision.” Bottjer: “A prime Moore doesn’t exist on film. That Moore knocked out Jimmy Bivins, Holman Williams, Bob Satterfield and Cocoa Kid and won decisions over Joey Maxim, Harold Johnson and top heavyweights like Nino Valdes. But Moore also was stopped once by Charles and dropped repeatedly by middleweight Charley Burley. The Moore we see today on film was wonderful – and that’s when he was in his late 30s – but, like his younger self, vulnerable to punchers. I pick Beterbiev in a 12-round war, very close, with a knockdown giving him a needed extra point for the decision.” Katz: “Moore had way too much skill and savvy. Moore by wide decision.” MOORE: 2-1
could see him stopping Beterbiev at any point in the fight. This could be another knock-down, drag-out brawl, though, because I can see Beterbiev hurting Foster also. In the end I go with Foster by KO.” BETERBIEV: 2-1
people perceive him as a machine of destruction in the ring, in normal time he is rather calm and very funny. He has a very particular humor.” Following previous iterations of “vs. The Greats” with Naoya Inoue, Terence Crawford and Oleksandr Usyk, we decided to enlist the services of renowned matchmakers John Beninati, Eric Bottjer and Ron Katz to discuss mythical matchups with 12 of the best 175-pounders of all time and ask how Beterbiev might’ve done against each fighter. Here’s how they thought it would play out:
BETERBIEV VS. BOB FOSTER
Foster had uncommon height (6- foot-3) and reach (79 inches), and he used those advantages to keep his opponents on the outside and at the end of his one-punch knockout power. He took out the smaller but formidable Dick Tiger (KO 4) to become champion and went on to make 14 successful defenses, including 10 inside the distance. During that reign, he fell short in two shots at heavyweight legends, against Joe Frazier (KO 2) and Muhammad Ali (KO 8). Against Foster, Beterbiev would need to get inside and avoid taking damage on the way. With the raw power on both sides, violence and drama would be assured. Beninati: “Bob Foster was a great fighter but did not have a great chin. Artur would stop Foster – not from the loading up, but the short shots would wear Foster down. Artur by KO.” Bottjer: “Foster’s left hand is perhaps the best in light heavy history, not only for his deadly hook but also his jab (Muhammad Ali said Foster had the best jab of any man he faced). But Foster’s light heavyweight championship years are filled with no- hopers and he struggled with quality challengers (Chris Finnegan and Jorge Ahumada). It comes down to who has the better chin, and Beterbiev is the clear choice in that department. Beterbiev by KO.” Katz: “If Bob could control the distance with that great jab he had, I
BETERBIEV VS. MATTHEW SAAD MUHAMMAD
Saad Muhammad had impressive punching power and otherworldly recuperative powers. The Philadelphia native dug himself out of hopeless situations on several occasions to score dramatic wins. He held the WBC title in the late 1970s-early ’80s and thrilled fans with shootouts against Marvin Johnson (1979 Round of the Year), Yaqui Lopez (1980 Fight and Round of the Year) and Dwight Muhammad Qawi. Muhammad- Beterbiev would likely be one for the ages, a firefight between two all- action warriors. Beninati: “I would call this the aggression fight. Incredible fight. You heard the term fighting in a phone booth. This is it. Matthew was nonstop. This is a great, great fight – an all-time great fight. He would KO Beterbiev late.” Bottjer: “The 175-pound version of Hagler-Hearns, perhaps with more knockdowns. Matthew simply gets hit too much to last here. And Beterbiev, even if he’s hurt or down, he will find the finishing touch against a defensively flawed Saad Muhammad. Beterbiev by KO in four.” Katz: “A typical Saad Muhammad fight, but Beterbiev’s power would be too much as he would bludgeon Saad, stopping him in around eight.” BETERBIEV: 2-1
BETERBIEV VS. BILLY CONN
BETERBIEV VS. GENE TUNNEY
Conn learned on the job after turning professional at age 16 in 1934 with no amateur experience. He weathered several early defeats as a young welterweight and, after campaigning at middleweight for a few years, eventually won the Ring light heavyweight championship in 1939. After three defenses and numerous non-title fights, common at the time, Conn elected to vacate and made an ambitious bid for Joe Louis’ heavyweight title. He gave the defending champion fits but got a little too bold when he went looking for the knockout and got stopped himself in the 13th round. Although Conn wasn’t a noted puncher, he was blessed with a high ring I.Q. and boxing skills. But could he hold off the marauding Beterbiev? Beninati: “Billy Conn was a great fighter with a great chin and would outbox and outwork Beterbiev. Artur would be too easy to hit. Conn, 12-round unanimous decision.” Bottjer: “Conn was a natural fighter
BETERBIEV VS. EZZARD CHARLES
Tunney, who served in World War I, was best-known for winning the heavyweight title. Before that, however, he excelled at light heavyweight. “The Fighting Marine” beat Battling Levinsky (PTS 12), Georges Carpentier (TKO 15) and Tommy Gibbons (KO 12), and won three of five meetings with middleweight champion Harry Greb. He was a smart boxer able to handle powerful and aggressive opponents, as evidenced by twice beating Jack Dempsey up at heavyweight. John Beninati: “Gene Tunney was as tough as they come and would wear down Beterbiev. Tunney was a good boxer, good chin and better boxer. Tunney, 12-round unanimous decision.” Eric Bottjer: “Ezzard Charles is one of the two best light heavies in history; the other is Tunney, who was a bigger, better version of [Billy] Conn. Tunney was calculating, always in prime condition and had enough power, according to his opponents –
Charles, a veteran of World War II, is widely recognized as the best light heavyweight ever despite never winning the title. “The Cincinnati Cobra” had superlative boxing skills along with excellent defense; he beat the best 175-pounders of his time, including Joey Maxim, Jimmy Bivins, Lloyd Marshall and Archie Moore. He later won and defended the heavyweight title eight times. Beninati: “The Cincinnati Cobra was a slick fighter, great defense, and would outbox Beterbiev. Charles, 12-round unanimous decision.” Bottjer: “Ezzard is one of the two best light heavyweights in history, and Beterbiev would learn more in 12 rounds against Charles than he’s learned his entire pro career. Ezzard deftly avoids trouble and has Beterbiev in trouble in the later rounds but is content to win a clear decision.”
BETERBIEV VS. ARCHIE MOORE
Although Moore turned professional at 21, it took him almost two decades to secure a title shot against Joey Maxim, whom he defeated by 15-round decision. “The Old Mongoose” at his best was a savvy veteran with bone-crunching power that Harold Johnson (TKO 14), Bobo Olson (KO 3) and Yvon Durelle (KO 11, KO 3) all succumbed to. In total, Moore made 10 defenses, and during that tenure he lost fights for the heavyweight title against Rocky Marciano (KO 9) and Floyd Patterson (KO 5). Beninati: “The Old Mongoose is one of the all-time greats. In his prime, a terrific fighter. Moore would be too cagey, too smart and would outwork and outsmart Beterbiev. Moore,
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