Can Bellew pull off the upset?

I think a lot of the British fans will be upset when they see how easily their man gets dismantled.

 

Yes.

 

I don't think a robbery will happen. It makes no commercial sense to favour Bellew on the verge of retirement. Usyk is being groomed as a Matchroom/DAZN star.

I think Bellew has a 10 to 15% chance. Usyk would need an off day and Bellew a big stroke of luck. I like Tony. He talks a good game and he's managed to pick his battles well and get himself into a good position as UK boxing took off. This last fight has looked like a cash in well before it was announced. He shopped Andre Ward's name around to measure interest, strove to land Fury because that would've been a far more lucrative and I suspect winnable fight and in the end he's wound up with the worst opponent he could. In the sense that he has few weaknesses to exploit and isn't a commercial pull here.

 

I really doubt Bellew can do it. I mean if someone like Gassiev, who is this young, strong, powerful, come forward fighter was unable to lay a hand on Usyk then Bellew's chances are slim. The way I see this fight playing is Usyk's power and combinations will prove too much for Bellew and either the fight will end via a referee stoppage or the corner will stop it.

 

Never count him out I didn't think he could beat a lot of guys and was proven wrong.

 

As talented as Usyk is he has a bad habit of posing and even taking rounds off. He hasn't been in with an opponent that can make him pay for it yet. He also like GGG seems to freeze up when combinations are landed on him instead of moving. He also gets lazy sometimes when throwing his jab and leaves his chin wide open. Briedis didn't have the handspeed to make Usyk pay, but Bellew does.

As long as Bellew didn't have a bad weightcut I can see him exploiting these weaknesses that Hunter and Gassiev weren't experienced enough to exploit.

I'm backing Bellew to stop Usyk, but more importantly I expect to see a highly competitive fight, since even when the WBSS was announced I didn't think anybody among guys like Gassiev, Briedis, or Dorticos had the tools to pose much a threat to Usyk and I was proved right. Bellew has the tools to give Usyk his first real test.

 

Damn you Jackomano, I've been talking myself out of ordering this for days now. Don't do this to me.

 

But I think Gassiev is more linear and predictable, when Bellew might be awkward and unpredictable, tricky and, unlike Gassiev, truly believes he can beat Usyk. Also, Gassiev had Sanchez aka "come on, you can do it!" in his corner, when Usyk had Papachenko. But now Bellew will have an elite trainer, and Usyk, most probably, a Ukrainian experienced but amateur boxing trainer (it seems it will be Tkachenko).

 

Doesn't matter if fights in uk, Usyk is no stranger to fighting on his opponents manor, he won 4 of his belts on the road didn't he

But course bellew can pull off an upset, it's very unlikely but he can do it

 

That's ultimately how I view it, too. The British public seem to really eat banter as though it shows someone's value in the ring - it means nothing. I keep hearing about Bellew's heart being a big factor here, as though his desire to win will help him achieve the win in spite of everything else - apparently oblivious ignoring the fact that those very things are a lot of what make Usyk so magic. Bellew's momentum also comes up, the evidence being beating Haye twice..... as though that somehow overshadows Usyk just coming off cleaning out the cruiserweight division in a few fights.

Two guys who are both have trained the house down, who are driven to the core and will leave everything in the ring to win - but one of them is a far better and far more proven boxer. The main thing Bellew is bringing that Usyk isn't is he is talking a LOT, as are the British commentators.

 

I don't think Usyk has it all his own way but in the end I think he's a level above Bellew and will stop him late.

I commend Bellew for taking such a difficult fight, he'll likely go out on his shield, having given it his all but this is too big a mountain to climb.

 

Yes i think he can but i cant see it being on the cards i can imagine Bellew picking off the 1st couple of rounds on workrate cuz he will wana try make a statement early and Uysk is a slow starter but once hes got going hes far too skillful compared to Bellew so unless Tony is dropping him hes not winning the rounds. Home fighter could get the nod in a close one but its not going to be that close in my opinion.

Hes guna have to knock Uysk out, i reckon hes got the power and hes going in to knock him out, it wouldnt be the 1st time a heavy favourite has just not seen one coming in and been knocked out against all odds whilst comfortably winning the fight.