BELL TOLLS
Tony Bellew vs Oleksandr Usyk result: Brit boxer stopped in eighth round by Usyk in farewell fight
Despite dominating the early stages, the Ukrainian turned it on in the later stages of the fight and floored Bellew in the eighth
TONY BELLEW can sail off into the sunset and retirement after going out on his sword to cruiserweight sensation Oleksandr Usyk.
The brave Evertonian tried to grab all four belts from the undisputed undefeated king and he was doing a brilliant job.
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But he ignored a couple of land-handed warnings and was poleaxed in round eight and denied his Cinderella story and dream ending.
The noise was so deafening we did not even hear the first bell that signalled the start of the chess match.
Usyk prodded out a little southpaw jab occasionally but it was the local legend, daring to be great, who threw the meaningful few punches in round one.
The visiting southpaw used his lead right hand just to test the water and gauge just how dangerous the Brit was.
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After a couple of right hands landed on Usyk, one to head and another to body, Bellew came alive, roared at his opponent and sapped his thighs.
It looked like the occasion might have been overwhelming him but another successful right hand proved the gameplan in place was working.
The Scouser held the centre of the ring and made Usyk bounce around him, Usyk soon realised he was in with a serious challenger.
Bellew even started taunting Usyk in the third. When Bellew was tagged he shrugged his shoulders and smiled. Another overhand right scored points and Usyk was being made to look average.
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Bellew’s head movement was sublime and a right uppercut when briefly up against the ropes landed on Usyk’s chin to finish another thrilling round.
The fourth was a firefight. Bellew grinned like a psychopath when he was hit and fired off a counter attack that spurred on the enthralled crowd.
The Merseyside ace was loving the evening, he even dropped his hands at one stage and strolled around the ring, safe in the knowledge Usyk had no answer for his right hand.
The savagery stopped for a special moment in the fifth. A low blow to the 2012 Olympic winner’s groin upset him and Bellew, acknowledging his genuine mistake, held out a log to tap in apology.
Usyk enjoyed the round, apart from the foul show, with a left hook a particular highlight, It would have impressed the judges but had no effect on Bellew.
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Bellew was loving the sixth until the bell went. Usyk landed a late shot accidentally but the challenger’s legs went to jelly and he looked in trouble.
The walk back to trainer Dave Coldwell in his blue corner would have been a painfully long one. But he returned to the action seemingly clear headed.
Usyk’s fitness and footwork were almost unbelievable. The 6ft 3in 31-year-old danced around like a teenager for every second of the fight.
Bellew slugged his way out of a corner in the seventh and caught the champ with two flush shots. But instead of wincing he grinned and had the audacity to request more of the same.
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Usyk got him back to that corner moments later, just before the bell and unloaded again. He was enjoying growing success but did not look in possession of the power to stop the Rocky star.
Bellew was warned with a left hook at the start of the eighth but he did not learn his lesson. Another sensational shot sent him to the ground and he was never going to beat the count.
The former WBC world champion has promised wife Rachael that he is now a retired fighter. And he goes out a hero, who faced everyone possible and in Usyk a possible future boxing legend.
Oleksandr Usyk provokes Tony Bellew wearing Man City scarf at weigh-in ahead of cruiserweight title fight
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