Bellew v Usyk – The Perfect Fight For Cruiserweight Supremacy Or A Mismatch?

Bellew v Usyk – The Perfect Fight For Cruiserweight Supremacy Or A Mismatch?

By Joe Jessup

After Oleksandr Usyk’s stunning domination over Murat Gassiev in the WBSS Crusierweight final, the Cat promptly called out Tony ‘the Bomber’ Bellew. The former WBC king wasted no time in accepting the challenge, prompting Eddie Hearn to make contact about a potential bout later this year. At this stage of his career, is such a risky fight the right move for Bellew or should he pursue a lucrative, more straightforward way to end his life between the ropes.
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For those of us with eyes on Moscow this past Saturday night, a spectacle was witnessed.

In the World Boxing Super Series Cruiserweight Final, Oleksandr Usyk dominated Murat Gassiev over 12 rounds, showcasing a completeness seldom seen in modern boxing. So good was the Ukranian that Gassiev – an undoubtedly solid fighter – was made to look like an amateur, out of ideas after 6 rounds and out of heart shortly after.

Think Mayweather v Corrales, Calzaghe vs Lacy or Roy Jones Jr putting a beating on James Toney. This wasn’t just a great performance, this was special. In doing so Usyk became the first man ever to hold all the belts in the Cruiserweight division and only the fourth man in history to achieve this feat in any weight class. To make it more impressive, this was only Usyk’s 15th bout in the professional ranks

All through the build up to the fight, one name constantly linked with a shot against the eventual winner was Tony ‘the Bomber’ Bellew. The outspoken Liverpudlian won WBC gold at Cruiserweight 2 years ago before moving up to test himself at Heavy, impressively defeating former two weight world champion David Haye twice in a duo of seismic sporting shocks. Immediately after laying waste to a hapless Gassiev, Usyk called out Bellew for the ultimate prize – Cruiserweight supremacy. Bellew’s response was fitting of the man. Shortly after, his twitter account read ‘Usyk I was born ready! Let’s get this done.’

This poses an interesting dilemma for Bellew in terms of how to end a career in which many think the Bomber has already over-achieved. The question it leaves us asking however, is this the best option?

Bellew finds himself in quite the enviable position right now. From defeating Haye twice, he has found himself on the lips of many boxers wanting a slice of the action. Bellew brings charisma, box office money and what a lot of fighters naively view as a relatively easy fight. The list is interesting: a domestic showdown with former Heavyweight King Tyson Fury, a rematch with Adonis Stevenson (the only man who Bellew hasn’t defeated in his career), a legacy match up with Andre Ward, Dillian Whyte, Deontay Wilder and so on and so forth.

The self-proclaimed ‘fat scouser’ is quite the draw these days.

All the aforementioned bouts probably provide Bellew with a bigger purse than Usyk and the majority are possibly easier fights. Ward at Crusierweight is more winnable, Stevenson at Cruiserweight is more than winnable, Fury (in his current shape) is even winnable. Whyte and Wilder have mentioned Bellew, although no serious discussions seem to have materialised and one would have to admit, with good reason. What Usyk gives Bellew however, is the chance to forge a legacy. Win this fight and the whole spectrum of Tony Bellew’s career changes drastically, from a good fighter to a very, very good fighter.

How would the Bomber fare against Usyk? Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Bellew would be a severe underdog and rightfully so. Whether this fight takes place at Cruiserweight or Heavyweight, Usyk definitely has the edge. The Ukrainian fought and won World and Olympic gold at Heavy in the amateurs, so fighting bigger and stronger guys is not unknown for the mercurial tactician. His range of shots, ability to scrap or box, fast hands, underrated power and ring IQ would provide the Brit with his sternest test to date and it’s difficult to see a decision win for anyone but Usyk.

What Bellew would have to his advantage however is natural size and the bigger power of the two. Bellew is probably a harder hitter at his natural size than Gassiev or Mairis Breidis and seems to be getting better with age. Bellew has a chin to go with it and despite David Haye being a shadow of the once great fighter he was, still hits considerably harder than Usyk would be able to. The Cat can hit hard enough to earn respect, but it’s difficult to see him with enough pop to knock Bellew out.

The return question of can Tony stop Usyk also seems unlikely, given that Usyk appears to have a decent chin. As well, the fact that he is talking about taking on the likes of Anthony Joshua in the future tells of a man who isn’t fearful of being hurt by a big puncher, let alone a small Heavyweight. I’ve no doubt Bellew has enough to make it an interesting fight, but one I can’t make a case for him winning.

With all the options at present and Bellew looking for another big payday before calling it quits, one could forgive him for taking an easier, more lucrative fight. If the fight does get made – and all signs point towards it doing so – then the Bomber must get huge credit.

This is an incredibly hard fight against a technical genius with less financial clout, for a man who has nothing left to prove in his hard career. Yet this is the kind of test that separates the good from the very good, a throwback fight to when boxers wanted to take on the best despite the rewards or alternatives. If Tony Bellew could pull off yet another unlikely victory, he may well solidify himself as one of the best British fighters of this generation.