Oleksandr Usyk has retained his WBC, IBF, WBA & WBO cruiserweight titles after seeing off a spirited challenge from Tony Bellew.
Usyk extended his professional record to 16-0, stopping the Liverpudlian with a devastating left in the eighth round that almost sent the challenger through the ropes.
Bellew, fighting at cruiserweight again for the first time since 2016, was ahead on two of the three judges' scorecards after an exceptional start at the Manchester Arena.
But in what is likely to be his last fight, Bellew was ultimately not able to live with the technique of the man he described as "the best in the world" post-fight.
Bellew, 35, entered as a significant underdog against a man who has never been knocked down as a professional and won Olympic gold as a devastating amateur fighter.
But a slick start offered hope as he attempted to become the first Briton since Lennox Lewis to become an undisputed world champion.
But as he tired, Usyk's supreme technique and ring movement came true, summoning the finish with an outrageous demonstration of his ability.
A right jab sold Bellew who left himself open for the left; a thunderous one that dropped the challenger and ended the contest.
Bellew, a former world champion, insisted in his post-fight interview tonight would be his last fight.
"I have won at Goodison Park, and Eddie Hearn has stuck by me all the way. I tried my best and it is heart breaking because I gave this everything I had and it didn't work out. It is definitely the end."
For Usyk, it is only the start. Having become the first man to unify the cruiserweight division, the 31-year-old has designs on moving up to heavyweight to challenge Anthony Joshua.
