Usyk vs Bellew Preview

Usyk vs Bellew Preview

By Michael Richards

When Tony Bellew makes the walk from his dressing room on Saturday night, his mind will be fixed on the mammoth task in front of him. For other people involved in the sport and watching, they will be reflecting on what has been an outstanding professional career, which could cumulate in the biggest of fairy tale endings.

Olexsandr Usyk and his four world title belts await. The fearsome Ukrainian appears to propose an almost impossible task for Bellew, from the outside looking in that is. The undisputed cruiserweight king has just won the inaugural Muhammad Ali Trophy by simply out classing the big punching Murat Gassiev. He’s got the power of a heavyweight, the feet of a middleweight and glides across the canvas.

It’s no exaggeration to say he’s one of the most complete fighters of the modern era. With his hunger to fight Anthony Joshua next year, there is pressure on him to defeat Bellew and look good doing so.

For Bellew to win, he has to do what every other of his previous 15 opponents has been unable to. He has to bully Usyk and in Bellew’s own words ‘take away his soul’. We all know he has the heart of a lion and a left hook to match, but make no mistake, Tony Bellew can box and has better boxing ability than all of Usyk’s previous foes. Everything needs to click perfectly once that bell goes.

Usyk will not have come across an opponent in the mould of Bellew. Someone who never knows when they are beaten and will most definitely stand toe-to-toe and have a fire fight right up until the end. The Liverpudlian has nothing to lose don’t forget. He’s been a world champion and more than secured his and his family’s future. He will go down as a British boxing great regardless, but what if he wins? We may very well get the answer to that question around 11pm on Saturday night.

Undercard Preview

Chief supporting bout sees Anthony ‘Million Dollar’ Crolla battle tough Indonesian Daun Yordan in a WBA final eliminator. The local favourite Crolla will enter the ring expecting to win and move on to a potential showdown with pound 4 pound king Vasiliy Lomachenko (assuming he overcomes Jose Pedraza in December). Yordan will take some stopping however, having only failing to last the complete compliment of rounds once. Crolla admits he is expecting a long and brutal fight, conceding Yordan is a danger, carrying an excellent KO ratio in the fights he has won.

Also featuring on the undercard is a hastily organised scrap between former world super lightweight champion, Ricky Burns and Scotty Cardle. With Joe Cordina pulling out of a fight with former British champion Cardle, Burns has stepped in to set up an intriguing affair. With Burns at the back-end of a successful career, the pressure is really on Cardle to perform after defeats to Lewis Ritson and Robbie Barrett previous to that.

Another recently added fight sees Sam Hyde battle hard-hitting Richard Riakporhe in the cruiserweight division. Both men are unbeaten and will be keen to put on a show. It’s a step up for the two of them and could arguably be fight of the night.

The now lengthy undercard also features an appearance from ever improving Josh Kelly and fan favourite Dave Allen, both in 10 round outings against Argentinians. Kelly shares a ring with Walter Fabian Castillo, whereas ‘The White Rhino’ takes on Ariel Esteban Bracamonte, in a bid to continue his recent winning run.