Kevin Mitchell's report
It’s time to wrap up. Tony Bellew’s last fight ended in brutal fashion, against a smart, ferocious opponent. This was a bridge too far for Bellew, but he can head into retirement with his head held high, as Usyk looks to work his way towards the superstars of the heavyweight division. Thanks for joining me; Kevin Mitchell’s ringside report will be online shortly. Goodnight!
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A few more quotes from Bellew, delivered to Radio 5 Live.
“[Usyk] is big and he overpowers you. I tried my best and he is probably the best cruiserweight that ever lived. He is better than what it says on the box.
“Heavyweights stay away, he takes a great shot and I don’t even know if I hurt him. It is heartbreaking because I gave it everything I had. I have been doing this for 20 years and it is over.”
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The judges’ scorecards were 67-67, and 67-66, 68-65 to Bellew. I felt that Usyk was starting to edge ahead – but that moment at the end of sixth, when he first really rocked Bellew in the round’s final second, was crucial.
Bellew is clearly struggling with concussion – he doesn’t know what round he went down, and doesn’t remember half the fight. Moments later, he calls Eddie Hearn a “great fighter”. It would be better for him to see a doctor than do a TV interview just now.
Over to the winner. “Manchester, I love you!” he says in English, praises Bellew’s fighting spirit and stays tight-lipped on the subject of future fights. “I want to spend some time with my family, it’s been a tough year.” His promoter is more direct – “he needs to fight Anthony Joshua”.
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“I tried my best. I gave it everything I’ve got,” says Bellew. “He’s an exceptional fighter, one of the pound-for-pound best, I’ve ever seen. The greatest man I’ve ever been in a ring with. He’s just better than me! I accept it, man. I’ve got nothing but respect for him.”
We’ll have reaction from both fighters shortly. Bellew will have his deserved moment in the spotlight – he surpassed many people’s expectations in those early rounds – but that was so impressive from Usyk. He took his time, made some adjustments, and then unleashed as Bellew tired.
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Usyk is quick to go over and embrace Bellew; plenty of mutual respect between the two men. Poor Tony Bellew, who all three judges apparently had at least level, is still bloodied and dazed. The crowd give him a huge ovation.
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Oleksandr Usyk beats Tony Bellew by eighth-round knockout!
When the end comes, it’s swift – Usyk landing a right jab, then a ferocious looping left hook that sends Bellew straight to the canvas. The referee starts the count, but he’s not getting up. Usyk remains the unified world cruiserweight champion!
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Round 8 of 12: Usyk has won his last seven fights, all outside his homeland – is he about to add an eighth? A clinical combo has Bellew on the ropes, his vision possibly distorted. Another big left for Usyk, Bellew swings bravely with that right hook one more time – but Usyk just keeps coming, and Bellew is down!
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Round 7 of 12: If Bellew edged the first three (and the first was a bit of a non-event), Usyk has surely taken the last three. Can Bellew bounce back? Usyk’s corner have told him to target the body, and he does so. Bellew lands a scrappy combination, Usyk responds with a grin through his gumshield. We’re starting to see the size of Bellew’s task now – his big shots aren’t shaking the Ukrainian.
Round 6 of 12: On my hastily-scribbled scorecard, this is even steven so far, but Usyk looks to have more in the tank. Dereck Chisora, sitting ringside, has urged Bellew to ‘let go’ with his best shot. Usyk keeps chipping away, backing his opponent into a corner and landing jabs. Bellew drops his gloves at the bell and Usyk nails a hook. That was a little careless, and gave Usyk the round.
Round 5 of 12: Is Usyk starting to wear Bellew down? The footwork is a little slower, while the champ’s fists are still whirring. Bellew lands another right, but Usyk counters with a fierce left jab. Bellew overreaches and Usyk lands another jab. The momentum may be turning towards the champion...
Round 4 of 12: A big left hand from Usyk rocks Bellew on his heels, and he backs the challenger into a corner, using his superior reach – but Bellew isn’t lying down, landing a big right-hander to rattle Usyk again! Usyk nods appreciatively – he’s in a fight here. He won that round, though – Bellew will need to keep finding those big hits.
Round 3 of 12: Usyk tries to step in, and Bellew almost lands a counter punch. The champion looks a little uncertain, and gets caught with the next, but shows great hand speed as Bellew drops his guard for a split-second. Bellew doing a good job of landing with the right and dodging Usyk’s ferocious left. The challenger may have pinched that one too, but Usyk is warming up.
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Round 2 of 12: Usyk’s jab does connect early in the second, Bellew still trying to figure out his opponent’s southpaw stance. The challenger hits back with a couple of jabs to the body, then a right – and Bellew urges the champ to come at him! Usyk responds with a combo that puts Bellew on the ropes momentarily – but Bellew hits back with a clean hook. That’s Bellew’s round, although Usyk surely has much more in the tank.
Round 1 of 12: Its a very tentative opening, Usyk keeping his guard up as Bellew stays out of range. A couple of shots to Usyk’s side don’t really connect, and that’s about it.
Seconds out
Here we go, then. Bellew is in Everton blue shorts, Usyk in white with gold trim. The atmosphere is electric.
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Tale of the tape
Usyk is 31, four years younger than Bellew. Both men are 6’3”, with Bellew weighing a pound more, but with a shorter reach (74in to Usyk’s 78). Usyk has fought 15 times, and won them all. Bellew has 33 fights, winning 30. The champion is a 1-8 favourite.
And now it’s Oleksandr ‘The Cat’ Usyk, who enters to ‘Sweet Dreams’, mixed with what I have to presume is Ukrainian rock. He gives the camera the full thousand-yard stare as the crowd boos with all their might.
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Here comes Bellew, to the blare of air-raid sirens – before his customary walk-on music, the theme from ‘Z Cars’.
@niallmcveigh I wouldn't wanna pick a fight with Bugzy but is he miming?
— John Rogers (@JohnRogersShow) November 10, 2018
No comment.
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Let's get ready to rumble!
Bellew is about to head out, but not before a warm-up performance from Manchester grime guru Bugzy Malone. He’s not dropped this, which is a shame:
The lights are low. ‘Sweet Caroline’ is being belted out by the entire arena. You know what time it is...
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Dillian Whyte and Dereck Chisora have popped into the ring for a photo op, ahead of their rematch next month. The winner of that could well be in line for a Wembley date with Anthony Joshua. If Usyk takes care of business tonight, his stock will rise in the heavyweight stages. And that’s without mentioning Fury v Wilder. The heavyweight fight game is in good shape.
A reminder that this is a unified world title fight, with Usyk holding the WBA, WBO, WBC and IBF cruiserweight titles. They would all belong to Bellew if he can pull off a shock, but he insists he’ll walk away from boxing regardless.
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Tony Bellew has given his pre-fight thoughts, and he’s certainly talking a good game.
“We’re here. The talking stops, the bravado stops. The ultimate battle, one last war. I know it’s coming. I’m going to take him out. I’m gonna find away. [You’ll see] the best of me, in the most formidable challenge of my whole career, my whole life. He’s a monster, he’s got the reputation of a lifetime, but I’ve got to take it away. I told him yesterday – be prepared to go to war.”
Crolla wins! It’s a points victory for the local boy, with all three judges scoring it 116-112 in his favour. He will now take on Vasyl Lomachenko for the WBA world lightweight title – and would be understandably keen to take him on in this very arena.
Naseem Hamed, who looks a touch over fighting weight, reckons Bellew’s best shot is to try and floor Usyk with one big punch. Easier said than done, of course.
Into the eighth, and Crolla is back on top, landing plenty of blows as his opponent starts to tire. Backstage, we’ve seen shots of Tony Bellew and Oleksandr Usyk. One of them is grinning away and wearing a blue bobble hat. No prizes, etc.
So far, Crolla has been the tidier, more positive fighter – although his Indonesian opponent has rallied in the last couple of rounds.
Earlier on, Amir Khan told Sky that he fancies a Wembley fight with Kell Brook next March. Brook is fighting Australia’s Michael Zerafa in December.
So far on tonight’s undercard, we’ve seen Ricky Burns defeat Scott Cardle by third-round knockout. The veteran Scotsman, in his 51st professional fight, ended the contest with a clean right. Next up, local hero Anthony Crolla is taking on Daud Yordan. The winner will become the mandatory challenger for the WBA lightweight champ, Vasyl Lomachenko.
Preamble
Tony Bellew has vowed to hang up his gloves and pursue his acting career after tonight’s fight – but after landing his first role in Creed, he’s hoping to remake Rocky IV in Manchester tonight.
The people’s champion, a persistent, spiky competitor in and out of the ring, takes on Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk, an ice-cool, relentless mass of sinew with a 15-0 record and fearsome reputation.
The Bomber has always shown guts, but he’ll need every ounce of inner strength to emerge from this last fight as a winner. Whatever the outcome, the man written off so many times before deserves his dues at the final bell.
Ring walks are expected at 10.30pm GMT; stick around for buildup and news from a lively undercard.
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