Former world champion Briton Tony Bellew believes that his compatriot heavyweight Tyson Fury (32-0-1, 23 KOs) is avoiding a fight with Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk (20-0, 13 KOs) – it was assumed that in a head-to-head fight they would determine the first in the era of the four belts of the absolute heavyweight champion.
In August, Usyk retained the WBA Super, IBF and WBO titles in a rematch with Briton Anthony Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs), but later made it clear that he would not meet WBC champion Fury until the end of the year, as he was injured during the fight. Tyson verbally “ride” on Alexander, after which he offered a fight to Anthony – he agreed to fight on December 3 at Principality Stadium (Cardiff, UK).
Bellew ignores all of this. His
opinion: I don’t know exactly what the problem is. I’m not saying for sure that he doesn’t like the fight with Usyk stylistically. But let’s talk like garlic, beating a Ukrainian is very difficult. Fury has already had two chances to face Usyk. And he missed both. And this is not my vision of the situation. It is a fact. If you really consider Usyk a “middleweight”, then what’s the problem?
“All I hear from Fury is how he calls Usyk a “middleweight,” Bellew throws up his hands. – “You are a middleweight! You are a middleweight!” Well, why not beat the “middleweight”? In his place, I would have done just that: I would have beaten Usyk, collected all the belts and beautifully left boxing. Then there would be no debate that this dude cleared the division, was the best in this era and deserved to retire as a champion.
Usyk is the former undisputed cruiserweight champion. It was with Bellew that he made his first and last defense of all titles – he brilliantly knocked out in the 8th round. The Briton knows for sure that it is very difficult with the Ukrainian: “Everything is different with him. This is a task on a completely different level. A very difficult task. All these are his chips: footwork, manual speed, movements. Do not forget that now Usyk has become even more powerful. After all, in the heavyweight he gained more muscle mass.
According to Bellew, “Fury suddenly wanted to fight Joshua, because he understands that in this fight there will be twice as much money at stake as in a fight with Usyk. As for me, Joshua is a more readable opponent for Fury. Did you notice that Fury did not want to fight on the same short 3-month notice with the “middleweight” for some unknown reason … “
Yesterday, Olympic medalist Joe Joyce talked about heavyweight tops: “I used to think that Fury would easily beat Usyk.” Meanwhile, the Ukrainian returned to the house near Kyiv, where the Russian invaders visited.
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