Tony Bellew Crowns Oleksandr Usyk as the Greatest Cruiserweight of All Time
Tony Bellew, the former world champion who made his mark in the cruiserweight division, has recently weighed in on the greatest cruiserweight boxer of all time. Having retired from the sport in 2018, Bellew has transitioned into a role as a pundit for DAZN, where he continues to stay closely connected to the world of boxing. Though he was gearing up for a potential comeback fight for the WBC Bridgerweight title against Lukasz Rozanski, his opponent chose a different path. Bellew's illustrious career includes capturing the WBC Cruiserweight title after a memorable third-round knockout win over Ilunga Makabu in 2016 at Goodison Park, the home ground of his beloved Everton FC. This victory paved the way for significant clashes against fighters like David Haye and an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to secure the undisputed cruiserweight title against Oleksandr Usyk. Bellew shared his view on the greatest cruiserweight of all time in a recent conversation on The Matchroom Boxing Podcast. The Liverpudlian boxer unequivocally proclaimed Usyk, the Ukrainian southpaw, as the undisputed champion in this category. He asserted, "That kid’s the greatest cruiserweight that’s ever lived. There’s not a cruiserweight that would beat Oleksandr Usyk in the history of the sport, I don’t care who you are. Evander Holyfield, he would have figured him out and he wouldn’t have caught him." Usyk's remarkable journey has seen him transition to the heavyweight division, where he has clinched three out of the four major world titles by defeating Anthony Joshua twice and successfully defending his titles against Daniel Dubois. His mission to collect the final piece of the puzzle, the WBC heavyweight title, is set for February next year, with a bout scheduled against Tyson Fury. Bellew's endorsement of Usyk's dominance in the cruiserweight division only adds to the Ukrainian's legacy and confirms his status as an all-time great in this weight class. His transition to heavyweight has been equally impressive, making him one of the most celebrated fighters in the world of boxing today.
