Former cruiserweight titleholder, Tony Bellew, remains confident that Oleksandr Usyk has the potential to achieve undisputed status in the heavyweight category. Bellew’s belief in Usyk is deeply personal; the Ukranian star handed him a knockout defeat in Bellew’s final fight back in 2019. Recently, Usyk successfully defended his WBO, IBO, IBF, and WBA titles with a decisive ninth-round knockout victory against Daniel Dubois in Poland. The reigning champion now looks towards a complete division unification against the WBC world champion, Tyson Fury.
Despite Usyk showing a performance considered subpar against Dubois, Bellew is bullish on Usyk’s prospects against Fury. Speaking to Safe Betting Sites, Bellew remarked, “After he goes for the WBC title and unifies the division, I don’t foresee him staying on. My gut says he’ll exit at his peak, and deservedly so. Should he triumph over Fury, a feat well within his reach, where else would he have left to climb?”
Having already etched his name in boxing history by becoming the undisputed cruiserweight champion during the four-belt era, another conquest in the heavyweight division would be monumental. Bellew went on to add, “If he topples Fury, his place among boxing greats is assured. While I wouldn’t label him the best ever, he's undeniably in that elite discussion.”
However, before any potential clash with Fury, Usyk might have a mandatory defense to consider against the IBF’s leading contender, Filip Hrgovic.
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