You can draw parallels with the beginning of GGG-Brook when people deluded themselves into thinking Brook nearly KO’d GGG with that uppercut. Just because British fans and Smith and Froch roar after a few decent punches it doesn’t mean anything. Bellew fought well but you could tell how that was ending after the 3rd and particularly the 4th rounds.
I know it's what Bellew himself has said, but why would he need to lose 34lbs to drop down to cruiserweight? He weighed 210 for his last fight, where presumably he didn't cut any weight as there was no logical reason why he would. If he can weigh 210 without a weight cut, he can have exactly the same diet and training, and just cut to 200. He's then got plenty of time to rehydrate to his fighting weight. Most of the top cruisers would fight at 210-215 if they weren't making the weight (Gassiev probably a lot more). The only reason he'd need to "lose 34lbs" is if he ballooned in weight after beating Haye, or if he has no idea how to cut weight. Bearing in mind how big he was at 175, the latter seems unlikely.
I don't think it was that much of a mismatch. At least not anymore than any of usyks other fights. Bellew boxed well early on, gave usyk a few things to think about and showed he's a very good fighter, a lot better than most give him credit for. Of course usyk is on another level to almost anyone on the planet but Bellew didn't embarrass himself here. He slowed down and gassed which is what ultimately cost him the fight. Brave effort from Bellew.
I think he had to put so much into those rounds though to be competitive / win them. Certainly more then other cruisers like Hunter / Breidis who had similar amounts of success. On a side note, I think he should go into the promoting side of things if he does something with boxing still. He clearly has the acumin for it.
