‘BELLEW IS THE ROUTE TO JOSHUA’
Usyk explains his thinking behind taking on ‘Bomber’
AFTER going head-to-head in the ring at Wembley stadium ahead of Anthony Joshua’s fight with Alexander Povetkin, Tony Bellew and Oleksandr Usyk hit Manchester for their first press conference in the build up to their cruiserweight clash on November 10 which will be broadcast by Sky Sports Box Office.
Bellew will challenge for the Ukrainian for the undisputed cruiserweight crown at the Manchester Arena. Usyk unified the WBO, IBF, WBA and WBC world titles when he soundly outpointed Murat Gassiev in Moscow to win the World Boxing Super Series final in July.
This is likely to be Usyk’s final bout at 200lbs as he targets a move to heavyweight and, more specifically, a shot at Anthony Joshua.
“One reason we have agreed to fight Bellew is to get to Joshua,” Usyk told British reporters.
“It is exactly part of the strategy and why we have this co-operation with [Bellew’s promoter] Eddie Hearn. He has Tony, he has Anthony and a couple more heavyweights. It’s the best way, the shortest - not the easiest - way to fight Anthony.”
Bellew, who ended the career of David Haye earlier this year, is under no illusion about the task that awaits him.
“I’m going up against this monster, the man who no one really wants to fight, the man who just dismantles fighters and beats them easily,” said Bellew.
“There’s only one difference in my eyes. He passed a comment after Saturday’s little stare-down. The comment was he thinks I’m arrogant. But it is not arrognace he sees.
“For the first time in his whole career he sees a man looking back at him who believes he can win. I don’t just think or believe, I know. I’m going to find a way to win. I always do.”
Bellew considered retirement after his May rematch success over Haye, before getting married in July. It was while on his honeymoon he decided he was going to fight again.
“For one reason or another I stood there watching Oleksandr beat up Gassiev on a mobile phone,” Bellew explained.
“The fight stops and then he makes the ultimate sin. He says my name. And it didn’t take long. Soon as he said my name, I knew. The world’s going to write me off. We will see.”