Tony Bellew’s bid to become world cruiserweight champion was thwarted after he suffered an eighth round knockout defeat to Oleksandr Usyk. 

Roared on by a vocal home crowd, Bellew started like a train before eventually tiring against his Ukrainian opponent. 

Usyk, by contrast, swiftly grew in confidence after the shaky start, landing the killer blow in the eighth to end the contest.
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Sportsmail’s Jeff Powell did not see it that way, scoring the fight 68-65 to Usyk after seven rounds.

Of the final round, he wrote: ‘Bellew was being forced to play the part of counter-puncher and the end was nigh. Usyk finally unveiled the brilliance which puts him in the top five pund-for-pounder in the world. 

“A flurry of rights was followed by staggering left. As Bellew fall back the Ukrainian went for the finish. A massive left dropped the British challenger flat on his back. 

“With no hope of him rising fully the referee waved it off before finishing the ten count.’
After the fight, a tearful Bellew described his opponent as ‘exceptional’ and a ‘great champion’, also accepting that he fell short of truly matching him.

Buoyed by the high-profile victory, WBC, IBF, WBA & WBO cruiserweight champion Usyk may now attempt a tilt at the heavyweight division.

Bellew’s fellow Briton Anthony Joshua has been mentioned as one potential opponent for the Ukrainian should he choose to make the step up. 
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