Hearn: It’s Usyk or retirement for Tony Bellew

According to promoters on both sides, a cruiserweight match-up between undisputed titleholder Oleksandr Usyk and challenger Tony Bellew is in the final stages of negotiations. There is currently a November 10 date on hold for the fight and Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn tells Sky Sports we should know within the next two weeks if the fight will be happening or not.

But if it’s not a fight with Usyk, Hearn says it’ll be the end of the line for Tony Bellew:

“Ever since Usyk called him out after the Series, Tony’s had it in his head that he’s fighting him.

”And it’s the only fight that he will come back for. It’s Usyk or retire. That’s what it will be now. It’s only really the Usyk fight that gives him the buzz.”

Bellew is coming off of two straight stoppage wins over David Haye after he moved up to heavyweight, while Usyk recently unified all four major world titles at cruiserweight, becoming the first fighter ever to do so.

In the meanwhile, with both sides hash out the remaining details, Hearn says Bellew is training as if the fight will indeed happen, saying that if the Nov. 10 date sticks that Bellew will need this time to cut back down to the cruiserweight limit properly.