Bellew: I’m going to take Usyk apart

Tony Bellew is set to face undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk on November 10 in Manchester, and the British star says that not only doesn’t he fear Usyk, he plans to take him apart.

“The only thing I can say is - out of all the opponents he’s faced, I am the only one who when he looks into my eyes, I will not be in awe of him. I have no fear of him. I have 100 percent belief that I’m going to take him apart. Out of all the guys he’s faced, none of the other guys believed that. They just don’t believe it, and I’m crazy enough to believe it.”

Bellew (30-2-1, 20 KO) is indeed crazy enough to actually believe it. He failed to win a world title at 175, but believed he could at cruiserweight, and he did it. He then believed he could beat David Haye at heavyweight, and he did, twice.

Now, Usyk (15-0, 11 KO) is not an aged Haye or Junior Makabu, it’s a whole other story here. Bellew is the underdog for a reason, he should be. But I just can’t count him out. He doesn’t have Usyk’s skill, but he has a real fighter’s heart and mentality, and that counts for something. Maybe it just gets him whacked around and knocked out. But maybe it gives him a chance.