British boxer Tony Bellew will challenge Oleksandr Usyk for all the world cruiserweight titles at Manchester Arena on November 10.
The Merseysider is stepping down a division following his heavyweight victories over David Haye after receiving a challenge from Usyk, the winner of the World Boxing Super Series final in July. Bellew previously held the WBC cruiserweight title following a 2016 knockout win over Ilunga Makubu and intends to pull off one more famous upset win to become the division’s undisputed champion. “This is the ultimate test for me,” said Bellew. “There is no greater test than Oleksandr Usyk, he is one of the most feared men in boxing. This is nothing new to me, everyone says that I can’t do it again. Everybody is saying that I’ll get beat-up quickly, but we’ll find out won’t we. Make no mistake, I know this is the most dangerous fight of my life, but I’m also going into this with my eyes wide open, I’m not in awe of Oleksandr Usyk. I won’t stand and admire him and allow him to rattle off five-punch combinations on my head. He’s meeting someone now who’s just as quick as him, someone that’s competed at a division lighter than him and someone that’s come across fighters much more powerful than him. I’m going into this fight with absolutely nothing to lose because the whole world thinks I’m going to get smashed. I have everything to gain and nothing to lose. On November 10, I’m going to do something that nobody has ever done before, I’m going to knock out an undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world.”
A 2012 Olympic gold medallist, Usyk became the WBO champion in just his 10th fight, adding the WBC belt with a points win over Mairis Briedis in the WBSS semi-final, before collecting the IBF and WBA titles in a final points win over Murat Gassiev. “I’ve been preparing for this fight for a long time and I’m delighted that we’ve got the venue and the date finalised. I cannot wait to fight in the UK,” said the Ukrainian pound-for-pound star. I am deep into my training camp with my team, working hard and preparing for a long fight with Tony. He says he will beat me and I love his attitude, but you cannot beat-up somebody who is invisible in the ring. As always I will be victorious on Nov 10.”
Photo Credit: Getty
