Cruiserweight king Usyk sends Bellew crashing into retirement

Boxing - Oleksandr Usyk v Tony Bellew - WBC, IBF, WBA & WBO World Cruiserweight Titles - Manchester Arena, Manchester, Britain - November 10, 2018 Tony Bellew reacts after he lost the fight Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk remained undisputed world cruiserweight champion on Saturday with an eighth round stoppage of British underdog Tony Bellew at the Manchester Arena.

The 2012 Olympic heavyweight gold medallist stunned Bellew with a right to the head before banging in a looping left to send him crashing to the canvas and, ultimately, into retirement.

British referee Terry O'Connor stepped in and stopped the fight, with 31-year-old Usyk stretching his professional record to 16-0-0.

Boxing - Oleksandr Usyk v Tony Bellew - WBC, IBF, WBA & WBO World Cruiserweight Titles - Manchester Arena, Manchester, Britain - November 10, 2018 Tony Bellew reacts after he lost the fight Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

In a fight that was more evenly matched than most had expected, Bellew was ahead 67-66 68-65 on two of the scorecards and level 67-67 on the third going into the decisive round after coming out fighting from the start.

The Briton, a former world cruiserweight champion who moved up to heavyweight and twice beat compatriot and former world champion David Haye, paid an emotional tribute to his southpaw rival.

"I tried my best. I gave it everything I've got," Bellew told the crowd, admitting he did not know what round it was or how he had been felled.

Boxing - Oleksandr Usyk v Tony Bellew - WBC, IBF, WBA & WBO World Cruiserweight Titles - Manchester Arena, Manchester, Britain - November 10, 2018 Oleksandr Usyk during the fight Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

"Make sure you clap him because he's an exceptional fighter ... one of the pound-for-pound best. He beat me fair and square, I've no excuses.

"He's an amazing fighter. He is a great champion, the greatest man I've ever shared a ring with...he's just better than me."

Usyk, the first man to hold the IBF, WBO, WBA and WBC belts simultaneously, has made no secret of the fact he wants to move up to heavyweight and challenge Britain's reigning champion Anthony Joshua.

Boxing - Oleksandr Usyk v Tony Bellew - WBC, IBF, WBA & WBO World Cruiserweight Titles - Manchester Arena, Manchester, Britain - November 10, 2018 Oleksandr Usyk makes his entrance before the fight Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

"Bringing Usyk to heavyweights will bring some new spirit to the heavyweight division. He definitely needs to fight Anthony Joshua," said the Ukrainian's promoter Alex Krassyuk.

Joshua, who holds the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight belts, was the 2012 Olympic super-heavyweight champion.

Boxing - Oleksandr Usyk v Tony Bellew - WBC, IBF, WBA & WBO World Cruiserweight Titles - Manchester Arena, Manchester, Britain - November 10, 2018 Tony Bellew makes his entrance before the fight Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

(Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Greg Stutchbury)

Boxing - Oleksandr Usyk v Tony Bellew - WBC, IBF, WBA & WBO World Cruiserweight Titles - Manchester Arena, Manchester, Britain - November 10, 2018 Tony Bellew kisses promoter Eddie Hearn after he lost the fight Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Boxing - Oleksandr Usyk v Tony Bellew - WBC, IBF, WBA & WBO World Cruiserweight Titles - Manchester Arena, Manchester, Britain - November 10, 2018 Oleksandr Usyk celebrates as he is declared the winner of the fight while Tony Bellew looks dejected Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Boxing - Oleksandr Usyk v Tony Bellew - WBC, IBF, WBA & WBO World Cruiserweight Titles - Manchester Arena, Manchester, Britain - November 10, 2018 Oleksandr Usyk celebrates after knocking out Tony Bellew to win the fight Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Boxing - Oleksandr Usyk v Tony Bellew - WBC, IBF, WBA & WBO World Cruiserweight Titles - Manchester Arena, Manchester, Britain - November 10, 2018 Tony Bellew loses the fight after being knocked out by Oleksandr Usyk Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine

Boxing - Oleksandr Usyk v Tony Bellew - WBC, IBF, WBA & WBO World Cruiserweight Titles - Manchester Arena, Manchester, Britain - November 10, 2018 Tony Bellew with Dereck Chisora after he lost the fight Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge