Very proud of Bellew tonight

I was at the fight so didn’t have the benefit of watching it on tv but I gave Bellew the first 3. I was surprisedhow good his right counter was as it tagged Usyk every time he tried to engage.

From 4 onwards though I thought he was a knockout waiting to happen it was just a case of when. He backed constantly up to the ropes and threw mainly single shots apart from the occasional flurry after Usyk landed which seemed to get the crowd going but looked like they were being taken on the gloves.

If you look at it objectively though without knowing that Belllew was the big underdog I can’t see how they could have Bellew 3 up.

If he was the 1/8 favourite then was backing up like he did and sitting on the ropes, throwing single shots and still trying to showboat the same analysts/commentators would be saying he’s struggling/panicking/looking out of sorts.

You can’t just give fighter rounds because he’s coping better than expected which is what seems to have happened.

 

Bellew has already called out the winner of the WBSS numerous times before Usyk and Gassiev has even fought.

 

Bellew called out his PPV looting partner

 

No one mentioned the size difference in the ring so far also.

I knew Usyk would be the bigger man but Bellew actually looked a weight class below him I thought.

 

Fair point and a good one.

British, Commonwealth, European and World Title were all vacant titles and it just doesn't get mentioned.

 

Bellew has nothing at all to be ashamed of, good luck to him, enjoy retirement tony!

 

Check the thread for the boxing last night - it was mentioned that people noticed the huge size of Bellew's tongue in the lead up to the fight compared to Usyk's tiny tongue full of silence pre fight.

'I am going to take him places he has never been before' then Tony PPV books a table for 2 down Canal Street.

 

I don't like Bellew, at all. However, credit where its due he was a decent operator with underated ability in the ring. I have never been more impressed with him skillwise than I was last night, he defnitely had Usyk thinking in there for a while.

 

He started well enough, took the first 3 (though by no means dominated them) but then I didn't give him a single round. Usyk starts slow; both Hunter and Mchunk banked early rounds as a result of this. Bellew did look better than I expected in those rounds though. Coldwell's plan seemed to be to focus on the straight right counter over Usyk's jab and stepping to Usyk's left, which worked well, as it ought to against a southpaw. Usyk then started to double the jab up a little and throw the left hook instead of the straight, which seemed to shake Bellew pretty much every time it landed.

Problem he had - and that everyone who faces Usyk has, is that he makes you work constantly. Bellew rook those early rounds buy Usyk feints and moves you around the ring. Trust me, that is physically and mentally exhausting to be on the end of. And I knew that would be a factor. Sadly for Bellew, I don't think he took this into consideration when he started leaning on the ropes trying to goad Usyk in. I think they're the same ropes he got knocked through, actually.

So in short, he didn't get embarrassed but I think there was an evident difference in levels there. I hope we can all appreciate the irony in 'feather fisted' Usyk ironing out Bellew with is own trademark shot.

N.B having Bellew 3 up is a disgrace of a card.

 

Does hiding the truth make you prouder of him?
He never took one belt off a champion.

 

Bellew was a great fighter and fought one of the best p4p boxers when he could have took other fights for more money, Usyk is unbelievable but Bellew deserves every credit for his performance and not quitting.

The punch Usyk got Bellew on the bell was the beginning of the end for him