Tony Bellew vs Oleksandr Usyk press conference - as it happened
Tony Bellew refused to be daunted by Oleksandr Usyk, as the pair met for a press conference in Manchester ahead of their eagerly anticipated title fight on 10 November.
Bellew, who previously held the WBC cruiserweight title before stepping up the heavyweight to twice defeat domestic rival David Haye, will return to his old weight class to challenge the formidable Usyk.
The affable scouser will start as the underdog. Usyk boasts a flawless professional record of 15-0 amd became the first boxer in history to hold all four major world championships at cruiserweight when he took apart Murat Gassiev to win the World Boxing Super Series in July.
The Ukrainian dominated at amateur level too, winning Olympic and World Championship gold alongside his compatriot and good friend Vasyl Lomachenko. It promises to be an extraordinary fight. Here's how the press conference played out.
The undisputed king of the cruiserweight division is arguably the most feared man in boxing, but according to his team he remains respectful of his opponent.
"Usyk does respect all of his opponents. He does give credit to Bellew's strength and power," Alexander Krassyuk of K2 Promotions.
"He does realise that he will have a lionheart as his opponent in this bout, but he is confident in his training and in the work that he [has done] within the last 16 years."
Earlier this year, Oleksandr Usyk became the undisputed champion of the cruiserweight's: the first man to hold all four major world championships in the division.
He defeated Murat Gassiev in the World Boxing Super Series with a convincing unanimous decision victory.
The Ukranian fighter is currently 15-0-0, with 11 knockout victories to his name and should he successfully defend his titles on 10th November, could look to move up a division and take on the likes of Anthony Joshua at heavyweight.
Bellew was ringside for Anthony Joshua's fight against Alexander Povetkin at the weekend, and if you missed the action or just want to relive it, you can do so with Luke Brown's brilliant report of the fight, as well as the undercard.
"He is what he is, he does what he says on the tin and he's a big dude and yes, he tried to intimidate but I am not scared of him, at all.
"Of course he tried to get to me in that stare down but if he thinks that is going to do anything to me, never mind get me worried, he is just a big fool.
"I am not scared of anyone, certainly not Usyk. He can give me that crazy Ukrainian look, so I just gave him a crazy Scouse one back.
"He can do what he wants. I have been written off throughout my whole life, so it's nothing new."
While Bellew's press conferences for his two fights against David Haye were more about abusive words, the pre-fight hype for Usyk is likely to be more intimidation tactics.
Neither man is scared of the other and although Usyk will be the major favourite going into the fight, it'll certainly be interesting to see how the mind games play a part.
"I believe this could be the fight of the year. It's a massive event. We have a huge night of boxing planned and already there are a number of fights already planned.
Ryan Walsh will face Isaac Lowe, Joe Cordina will fight, Josh Kelly will be on the card. A massive night of boxing, so important for these two men."
"There's a lot of people going on about me being on the undercard for the first time in a long time but I'm honoured. They're two fantastic fighters. I'm better than I've been in a long time."
Whoever wins this could go on to face Vasyl Lomachenko. Wow.
"It's something that I look at as once in a life time. I've been working with Tony for a long time, to cap it all off in a unified cruiserweight championship fight is as big as it gets. It's for all the marbles, it's the pinnacle. We watched Usyk dismantle Gassiev and I heard Usyk call Tony's name and just thought to myself 'oh shit, we're going again'. I just knew it was going to happen again, I didn't even need to call Tony.
"He's the man everyone loves to give zero chance. Way back from domestic level to European, now he's done what he's done and he's showing his mettle, his heart, his determination. He's going to put it all on the line."
"I need to pinch myself a little bit being among not only Tony Bellew but Usyk and Lomachenko - the pound for pound greats. As we saw with AJ-Povetkin on Saturday, more spills, more thrills and more great nights for the fans.
"When Eddie told me about this match-up, I had to sit down. I couldn't believe it."
"I'm sure it won't be an easy fight, an easy challenge for me. I'm really glad to come back to the UK, the country that gave me a chance to get the trophies that mean so much to me in my life."
"I'm not thinking about Tony Bellew at this moment, I am just concentrated on my training camp and how I can overcome all the challenges I have ahead."
"I was on my honeymoon and for one reason or another I was stood there watching Usyk beat Gassiev. He made the ultimate sin, he said my name. It didn't take long, I knew. The world is going to write me off, I'm going up against the monster, the man no one wants to fight. Make no mistake, he's looking past me already. He's already asking Eddie 'who am I going to fight at heavyweight?'
"He passed a comment after Saturday's stare down, 'you are arrogant'. It is not arrogance he sees, he sees a man looking back at him who can win."
