Bellew faces the complete fighter in Usyk but I’ve learned NEVER to write him off

TONY BELLEW says Oleksandr Usyk will be his last fight, win or lose. That is because of how deep he will have to go to prevail.

I think he is right and commend him for stepping into the ring with Usyk, the first undisputed cruiserweight champion since the division’s inception almost 40 years ago.

Bellew says a fight at heavyweight against Tyson Fury would have been way more straightforward than the challenge he faces in Manchester in November.

I agree. Fury is quick for a big man and anybody turning over 18st plus can end a fight with one punch, but Fury does not set up to knock out opponents.

Usyk is the complete article, a cerebral fighter with knockout power. He won the WBO title two years ago and defended it three times before dethroning WBC champ Mairis Briedis and WBA and IBF king Murat Gassiev, both undefeated, in successive bouts. After a glittering amateur career in which he won gold at the 2011 world championships and the London Olympics at heavyweight, he is unbeaten in 15 as a pro.

All his world title wins have come on the road, and he is travelling again to defend against Bellew.

I have come to admire Bellew as a fighter. His two career defeats – against Nathan Cleverly on points and by KO to Adonis Stevenson – came at light heavyweight, where he boiled himself down to make the weight.

He is not as vulnerable at the 200lb limit.

Before the first David Haye fight I had pretty much written off Bellew. Even in the second, despite doubting Haye was properly recovered, I thought he would rekindle something of his youth. I was wrong. I won’t underestimate Bellew again. He is as brave and committed as they come. This is certainly a standup-and-be-counted fight. Bellew is a rock-em-and sock-em merchant. He loves to beat you up and knock you out. But he knows he will have to take some heavy punishment to be there at the end against this guy.

Usyk (left) is targeting Anthony Joshua and sees a fight with Bellew on a bill promoted by Eddie Hearn as the route to the loot. Only Evander Holyfield and Haye have converted cruiserweight domination into world titles at heavyweight.

Bellew, who beat Haye at heavyweight, considers a fight with Joshua or Deontay Wilder too dangerous, so credit to Usyk. Beating them, however, would be a different matter, even for him.