British boxer Tony Bellew faced off Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk in Manchester Arena in an attempt to gain four world titles. However, his dreams came crashing down, as the Cat dispatched him defeat in 8th round, astonishing the audience as well as his opponent.
35-year-old Briton couldn’t handle the onerous situation and was subdued by Usyk. While speaking at a press conference, Bellew showed his Achilles heel stating that his latest performance was a “failure” against the reigning world champion.
Bellew’s wife immediately stated that the Briton “had not failed at all” while his father also shouted some words of encouragement. Nonetheless, Bellew seemed to have a heavy heart as the British boxer said,
“It’s definitely over, you’ll not see me in a ring again. Now I just want to be normal, so please leave me alone. No one who knows me calls me Tony, I’ve always been Anthony to them. Tony Bellew exists for these cameras really. Tony Bellew died tonight, it’s Anthony that’s left. I have won. I sit here as a loser, heartbroken, but I have won in life. When I was expelled in school, I had nothing, with nowhere to go. Now my family are millionaires. I never dreamed this would be possible.”
Views Of Bellew’s Kith & Kin Over His Loss
Had Bellew won the fight, he would have been the first Briton to hold four titles in a single weight category.
Following his loss, the Briton held a 40-minute conference in which he showed gratitude to his father and mother for being an inspiration he could always look up to. Bellew’s father was quick to say to his heartbroken son “I’m proud of you lad.”
Trainer Dave Coldwell couldn’t fight his tears while talking about Bellew. He regarded the five years they spent together as the best part of his career. Promoter Eddie Hearn also shared his thoughts on Bellew’s career stating,
“Tonight, I watched a great fighter. Someone who has improved so much. He has gone from being not at world level as we saw when he fought Nathan Cleverly in 2014, to elite level. We are so proud of this man and what he has achieved.”
Usky In Eyes Of Bellew
The Ukrainian’s last three away-performances have brought him success against Mairis Bredis, Murat Gassiev and Tony Bellew, while he successfully defended his IBF, WBA, WBO and WBC titles.
Though some bookmarkers ranked him 1-7, it was his ferocious feats inside the ring that dropped jaws of many. But, soon the tables were turned and the Briton faced stoppage at 8th round. While talking about his loss, the dejected fighter said,
“I got tired for the first time in my career.”
Bellew was all praises for his opponent. According to the Briton,
“No excuses, I won’t make any. I lost to the best fighter I have ever faced. I am not weight drained. He was awkward, intelligent. He fell for my traps a few times. But ultimately he got me. He is potentially the greatest cruiserweight that’s ever lived. For me it is always Evander Holyfield but Usyk’s done what no other cruiserweight has ever done by having all four belts.”
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