Oleksandr Usyk and Artur Beterbiev currently stand at the top of the boxing world. Though no longer an undisputed champion, Usyk cemented his legacy with a decisive win over his rival Tyson Fury last month. On May 18, he made history by handing Fury his first career loss, becoming the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 1999.

Five months later, Artur Beterbiev followed suit. In Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, the same venue where Usyk was crowned, he defeated Dmitry Bivol to become the undisputed champion of the 175-pound division. Beyond the similarities in their careers, what makes these two modern-day greats truly remarkable is that they were once fierce rivals as amateur boxers. Beterbiev is now preparing for a rematch with Bivol, scheduled for February 22. What happens next is anyone’s guess. However, given Usyk’s recent hints about moving back to cruiserweight, talk of a potential clash between the two former rivals has been gaining traction. That said, when asked about the possibility, Artur Beterbiev didn’t seem too optimistic.

Oleksandr Usyk vs. Artur Beterbiev: Remote chances of a duel

The Russian-Canadian fighter was in discussion with Marcos Villegas. Following their amateur trilogy, the Fight Hub TV founder inquired about the possibility of a fight between the two. Maybe a catchweight bout would make things more feasible for either of them.

“No, he’s too strong for me. You know, he’s like heavyweight; you know he’s too strong,” replied Artur Beterbiev. Villegas then pointed to Oleksandr Usyk’s comments about a potential move down from the current heavyweight division. This prospect made Beterbiev stop and think. “When he comes back down, yeah, if he comes back to light heavyweight, no problem,” he said.

What about cruiserweight? “No,” Beterbiev replied. He admitted that in the higher weight classes, Usyk would clearly dominate. He is way too strong and skillful. That pretty much sums up the likelihood of a match between these two living legends of boxing.

An enduring rivalry through the years

Their rivalry dates back to 2007 when Usyk and Beterbiev first faced off at the Amber Gloves tournament. The Russia versus Ukraine showdown saw Beterbiev defeat Usyk on points. It wasn’t until the 2011 World Championships that the two met again at the Heydar Aliyev Sports and Exhibition Complex in Baku.

During the quarter-finals, the future heavyweight champion suffered a knockdown. Nevertheless, he prevailed and defeated Beterbiev on points (17-13). A year later, Usyk and Beterbiev met again at the 2012 London Olympics.

In their trilogy, the two clashed once again in the quarterfinals. Once again, Beterbiev’s powerful body shots posed a tough challenge for the Ukrainian. However, Usyk persisted, scoring points that ultimately allowed him to overcome the hurdle and reach the finals, where he won another gold medal.

Three days from now, Oleksandr Usyk will turn 38, and just a few days later, Artur Beterbiev will turn 40. As much as fans want to see them continue fighting, it’s important to acknowledge that these boxing greats are nearing the end of their illustrious careers. Yes, it would have been amazing if they clashed one more time, but considering all they’ve accomplished, many fans may feel it might not matter much anymore.

What about you? Do you think Usyk and Beterbiev should face off for one last round?