Former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew is more than familiar with undefeated Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk unified the entire cruiserweight division last year, and then KO’d Bellew – which was the final fight of the Liverpool star’s career. After that bout, Usyk vacated his four belts and officially moved up to heavyweight.
Usyk is now the WBO’s mandatory challenger to world champion Anthony Joshua, who reclaimed the IBF, IBO, WBA world titles.
Joshua reclaimed the world titles when he dominated Andy Ruiz over twelve rounds on Saturday night in Saudi Arabia. While Bellew believes Usyk could beat most at the weight, he doesn’t see him overcoming Tyson Fury and Joshua.
“Oleksandr Usyk is a big danger to anyone. He’s a very, very good fighter in his own right. I just think that the only thing that is missing with Oleksandr Usyk is the sheer size and the weight. What he’ll find is he’ll probably be beating all these guys for five or six rounds – very similar to how I was beating him, to be honest until I got tired – and then what’ll happen is they’ll catch up with him,” Bellew told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast on Talk Sport.
“I do think he beats everybody, I think the only two guys who are gonna be a step too far will probably be Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua – depending on which Joshua comes in. The Joshua who turned up on Saturday night, I think that’s the perfect model for the Usyk fight.”
But he gives Usyk a very good shot to defeat WBC world champion, Deontay Wilder.
“I just don’t think he’s big enough for Fury or AJ. I do actually think he’d beat Deontay Wilder, not gonna lie. I think technically he’d make Deontay Wilder look absolutely ridiculous. And Wilder will know that, so won’t touch him. Styles make fights,” Bellew said.
Source: www.boxingscene.com
