Potential Hall of Fame Implications for Beterbiev-Bivol Undisputed Title Fight
The highly anticipated light-heavyweight unification clash between champions Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol has been rescheduled for October 12 in Saudi Arabia. With all the titles at 175lbs on the line, the question arises: could the winner’s resume be boosted enough to warrant International Boxing Hall of Fame induction?
In a discussion on ProBox TV’s “Deep Waters”, retired champions Chris Algieri and Paulie Malignaggi offered differing perspectives. Algieri expressed skepticism, stating, “As of right now, neither one gets in, but a win over the other one and it becomes arguable.” He highlighted Bivol’s victory over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez as a potential advantage, while noting that the 39-year-old Beterbiev, who recently tore his meniscus, is nearing the end of his career.
Malignaggi, however, pushed back, arguing that the two are the best light heavyweights of this era. “If you can’t get into the Hall of Fame as the best of your era in a weight class, that just means the entire weight class wasn’t good? It was a pretty solid era of light heavyweights,” he contended.
Algieri maintained that neither fighter has defeated any Hall of Famers, but Malignaggi countered by asserting that the destructive Beterbiev could potentially knock out most of the light heavyweights already enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
The outcome of the Beterbiev-Bivol clash could have significant implications for the winners’ Hall of Fame aspirations, as they aim to cement their legacies as the premier light heavyweights of their generation.
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