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Tony Bellew loses the final race as Oleksandr Usyk maintains cruiserweight titles

united kingdom November 11, 2018 Sports, unitedkingdom

Tony Bellew was hit in the eighth round as his brave attempt to overcome Cruiserweight's undisputed champion, Oleksandr Usyk, ended with a spasmodic pace in a tragic Manchester Arena.

In her last professional career, Bellew tried to become the first Briton to hold all four major world titles – and the famous Ring Magazine – in a weight class at the same time.

The heavy underdog made a courageous start in an electric atmosphere, but declined a fairytale finish in his career as Usyk (now 16-0, 12KOs) demonstrated why he has been rated among the best fighters on the planet.

Oleksandr Usyk - Tony Bellew - Manchester Arena "data-copyright-holder =" PA Wire "" Nick Potts "data-use-terms =" srcset = "https: //image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/314ae7ceed86c371a944bbaa7cc38c33Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaCwxNTQxOTG1MTcy/2.39632653.jpg?w=320 320w, https: // image. assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/314ae7ceed86c371a944bbaa7cc38c33Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaCwxNTQxOTg1MTcy/2.39632653.jpg?w=640 640W, https://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/314ae7ceed86c371a944bbaa7cc38c33Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaCwxNTQxOTg1MTcy/2.39632653.jpg?w=1280 1280w "(maximum width: 767px) 89vw, (maximum width: 1000px) 54vw, (maximum width: 1071px) 543px, 580px" />

<figcaption>Oleksandr Usyk celebrates victory against Tony Bellew (Nick Potts / PA)</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Usyk gradually began to consolidate his dominance and closed the show with emphasis on his opponent's floor with a devastating referee Terry O'Connor, who caused the two-minute round of the eighth round.</p>
<p>So he kept WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO titles at 200 pounds and now he can have the heavyweight scene – and Anthony Joshua in particular – at his sights.</p>
<p>An emotional Bellew told BBC Radio 5 alive afterwards: "I gave everything I had, it's a great champion, it's everything I'm afraid of, it's the best I've ever played.</p>
<p>"I had a great plan, I tried the best, but it was not good enough, it's so hard and awkward, putting pressure, tapping, tapping, tapping, then squeezing it, neutralizing you and being bigger than you think.</p>
<p>"He's probably the best cruiserweight he ever lived in. He's Evander Holyfield – I'd love to see this fight.</p>
<p>"Heavyweights stay away, takes a big shot and I do not even know if I hurt him. He is even better than what he says in the box.</p>
<p>"It's my last step – I've been doing it for 20 years now and it's over."</p>
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Oleksandr Usyk - Tony Bellew - Manchester Arena "data-copyright-holder =" Nick Potts "data-usage-terms =" srcset = "https: //image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/87c3a375bb55486978e63ff3573d8b37Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaCwxNTQxOTg1MjY3/2.39632562.jpg?w=320 320w, https: // image. assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/87c3a375bb55486978e63ff3573d8b37Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaCwxNTQxOTg1MjY3/2.39632562.jpg?w=640 640W, https://image.assets.pressassociation.io/v2/image/production/87c3a375bb55486978e63ff3573d8b37Y29udGVudHNlYXJjaCwxNTQxOTg1MjY3/2.39632562.jpg?w=1280 1280w "(maximum width: 767px) 89vw, (maximum width: 1000px) 54vw, (maximum width: 1071px) 543px, 580px" />

<figcaption>Tony Bellew was hit in the eighth round by Oleksandr Usyk (Nick Potts / PA)</figcaption></figure>
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<p>Bellew was tempted to delay his plans for retirement after his appeal by Usyk immediately after the victory of Ukraine in the world's Super Series Series Boxing, with the process of achieving the rare achievement of the unification of the four major global bands.</p>
<p>Never to avoid a challenge, Liverpudlian acknowledged that he would need to "shock the world" against a London 2012 gold medal who had made significant strides in his professional adventure with 15 fights.</p>
<p>Bellew, re-emerging in the 200lb section after taking British rival David Haye into heavyweight on two lucrative excursions, may have stolen an open round thorn in the back of an aggressive shortly before the bell.</p>
<p>Usyk began creating the southpaw jab at the start of the second round, but Bellew proved he would not just be content with absorbing the punishment.</p>
<p>A pair of right hands brought the crowd to their feet before Bellew stood in the central ring making his opponent come forward, something he did right with two left lefties in the third.</p>
<p>Usyk then dropped the best punch of the fight in the fourth round when a short left instantly surprised Bellew.</p>
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