Round-by-Round: Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tony Bellew - 10 November 2018

[ThereByTheGrace]

That was great really enjoyed that. Well done usyk and tony can feck off and hopefully learn what humility actaully means. Its a big word for him!

[Lightsoot]

So the judges had Bellew 3 and 1 rounds up, and level on the other card. Other respected pundits, including Graham Houston, had Tony 1 up. But still some posters on Boxrec think they’re sufficiently elite enough to trash SKY at every available opportunity.

Mighty Warrior and others, I can pretty much guess what you’re going to post before you do it. It’s so fornicating boring to read. Can you not change the record for once?

[jamamb]

#justice4sky

[Controversial]

Tony definitely still feeling that punch, kept repeating himself after the fight, and kissing Usyk as many times as he could

Yep must've been mildly concussion still. Did you hear him ask what round it was, he was told round 8 and then about 10 seconds later he asked what round it was again.

[Noxy]

Tony definitely still feeling that punch, kept repeating himself after the fight, and kissing Usyk as many times as he could

Yep must've been mildly concussion still. Did you hear him ask what round it was, he was told round 8 and then about 10 seconds later he asked what round it was again.

Aye, I thought they stopped interviews in the ring for that reason. They‘ve obviously changed that rule

[JimStone]

So the judges had Bellew 3 and 1 rounds up, and level on the other card. Other respected pundits, including Graham Houston, had Tony 1 up. But still some posters on Boxrec think they’re sufficiently elite enough to trash SKY at every available opportunity.

Mighty Warrior and others, I can pretty much guess what you’re going to post before you do it. It’s so effing boring to read. Can you not change the record for once?

Good old Lightsoot trying to get an argument going. Nothing has changed in 20 years. Your record is on constant spin as much as the next man.

[DrDuke]

The first round was even, no one was doing something significant. In the 2nd and the 3rd Bellew surprisingly was able to land some good shots, he won those two rounds. But Usyk's computer was working in that time. By the 4th Bellew was figured out. Since that round Usyk was better, he was gradually breaking Bellew down, what led to that brutal stoppage. I don't give a damn about an "independent" Froch's score, he is in the biased team of Sky, but the official judges shouldn't do such things. Eddie bought them again.

[watsupdoc87]

First time I've ever turned off the volume during a fight. Wasn't commentary it was fukin cheerleading

[ewenhay]

Good fight. I had it even going into the 8th but Bellew had done his best work early and Usyk was starting to hunt him down. Nice shot to finish it.

Will be interesting to see how Usyk gets on at heavyweight once he bulks up a bit.

Will he have power? Not convinced. His speed will be an asset though.

[Nightmare Roy]

First time I've ever turned off the volume during a fight. Wasn't commentary it was fukin cheerleading

The radio was the same to be fair not quite as bad, looking forward to seeing it with us commentary

[Lightsoot]

So the judges had Bellew 3 and 1 rounds up, and level on the other card. Other respected pundits, including Graham Houston, had Tony 1 up. But still some posters on Boxrec think they’re sufficiently elite enough to trash SKY at every available opportunity.

Mighty Warrior and others, I can pretty much guess what you’re going to post before you do it. It’s so effing boring to read. Can you not change the record for once?

Good old Lightsoot trying to get an argument going. Nothing has changed in 20 years. Your record is on constant spin as much as the next man.

And the funny thing is you still haven’t got anything remotely interesting or constructive to say. At least i offer an opinion. You should try it.

[Counter-puncher]

I saw a comment on Twitter from one bloke, that had Bellew 4 points up

I think it's instructive that this bloke also said 'Tony my boxing nights are over now... nobody else will ever make me feel the same emotion as watching Everton'

[Lenny]

Bellew did better than I thought he would and landed some decent shots that, whilst not really troubling Usyk, made it slightly competitive.

There was only ever one winner though and any calls that this was Usyk’s toughest fight are wide of the mark.

Fair play to Boomer though, not my cup of tea but his career has been very decent and went out in the right way taking on the best. Most expecting him to choose an easier option and make it into a grudge match to sell it.

I do wonder though, has there ever been a fighter with such a high profile (BBC columist, 5 live pundit, sky pundit, movie star, massive BEEF PPV with a Haye and Cleverly) but a relatively small fanbase?

[Cyclops]

I've watched it twice now.

Last night it looked Bellew was frustrating Usyk, that he was struggling to get off, struggling to time him to land, and that for the earlier rounds Bellew was the one who was able to get off more effectively and steal the round. There wasn't much in it, but Bellew's punches (when he did punch) seemed to have more venom. The crowd reacted to everything he did, sure, but he just seemed more authoritative and his little bits of clowning here and there and his talking to Usyk made it seem like he had some sort of mental edge. It was weird to watch. I thought to myself "Maybe Bellew IS a much better fighter than I thought.'

I kept on having to change stream too as they were all repeatedly pulled and I missed the final round. I was pleased Usyk had done it but surprised that he had found it so hard.

The second viewing was through different eyes. Usyk was consistently throwing out jabs and left hands well out of range while circling Bellew: there was nothing on these punches and so they weren't sapping much energy and they served to do two things:

1.) Bellew, absolutely on the top of his game, reacted in some way to every one of those little out of range punches that were thrown. Usyk, with his movement and activity (albeit ineffective) was making Tony work work work. Bellew is an emotional fighter and this was the big one for him. He had to be switched on for "da monster" and he was burning energy, reading every "punch", absolutely switched on, ready to "box the fight of my life and dat." Meanwhile Usyk looks like he's working harder, but in the rewatch he's not really even trying to land most of these punches. He's not closing distance enough. They're pawing, tentative. I think this was on purpose.

2.) It gave Bellew (and many viewers, myself included) the illusion that he was outboxing Usyk, that he might actually have a chance here. Bellew would occasionally stop letting Usyk chase him and go on the attack, hard, trying to find the big punch everybody including himself knew that he needed to land to win in the way that he had been dreaming of. More energy, more emotion. The crowd reacts big time. He's putting so much into it. He feels in control. Usyk meanwhile is still throwing scuffing punches without much on them.

Bellew, Matchroom, the crowd, the punters at home are well and truly suckered. Bellew has boxed out of his skin for six rounds but he's fucked now because Usyk just isn't burning the same energy. As soon as he actually turns it up, Bellew's gas tank has emptied and realises that "the success" he'd had early on was superficial and now he's sapped of energy. Usyk goes in for the kill and it's not even that hard for him to find it. Bellew is broken down remarkably fast and the KO (especially in slo mo) is brutal.

Just look at the judging, at Frog's scorecard (side thought: it's horrific how my boxing heroes from the previous generation, Haye and Froch, are both such dislikable bad-suited arrogant premiership footballer smug twats now; what a shame)... Usyk knew that there was no way he was getting a decision in Britain. This was always about getting Bellend out of there. ALWAYS. I'm surprised the knockout came as easy as it did. I thought there might be a knockdown at least first but no, as soon as he actually threw some genuine punches it came and it was a thing of beauty.

It was a fantastic game plan. He fornicating toyed with him, man.

Trying to find the knockout punch straight after on youtube, I found a few Americans were already posting their "expert opinions" on how they had "never seen Usyk before' but that they were "not impressed at all" and that they had "Bulloo" (the bear from Jungle Book, apparently) up by a few rounds. The world is full of simpletons: however American simpletons are the best in the world.

Brilliant bit of boxing.

[tony1234]

Bellew put up a good show but it looked only a matter of time before Usyk put him away, 2 really bad KO's on the night Bellew and Cardle and hope both are showing no ill effects this morning

[MightyWarrior]

So the judges had Bellew 3 and 1 rounds up, and level on the other card. Other respected pundits, including Graham Houston, had Tony 1 up. But still some posters on Boxrec think they’re sufficiently elite enough to trash SKY at every available opportunity.

Mighty Warrior and others, I can pretty much guess what you’re going to post before you do it. It’s so effing boring to read. Can you not change the record for once?

I didn’t listen to sky and I’ve got no quarrel with anyone for scoring, but I will forever call out sky boxing for being a shower of shite - and I don’t even need to watch it to know that —- and if you think otherwise you’ve got some bizzaro taste that’s for sure. I expect you even miss the days when Gary numbskull Norman was presenting.

[Counter-puncher]

I've watched it twice now.

Last night it looked Bellew was frustrating Usyk, that he was struggling to get off, struggling to time him to land, and that for the earlier rounds Bellew was the one who was able to get off more effectively and steal the round. There wasn't much in it, but Bellew's punches (when he did punch) seemed to have more venom. The crowd reacted to everything he did, sure, but he just seemed more authoritative and his little bits of clowning here and there and his talking to Usyk made it seem like he had some sort of mental edge. It was weird to watch. I thought to myself "Maybe Bellew IS a much better fighter than I thought.'

I kept on having to change stream too as they were all repeatedly pulled and I missed the final round. I was pleased Usyk had done it but surprised that he had found it so hard.

The second viewing was through different eyes. Usyk was consistently throwing out jabs and left hands well out of range while circling Bellew: there was nothing on these punches and so they weren't sapping much energy and they served to do two things:

1.) Bellew, absolutely on the top of his game, reacted in some way to every one of those little out of range punches that were thrown. Usyk, with his movement and activity (albeit ineffective) was making Tony work work work. Bellew is an emotional fighter and this was the big one for him. He had to be switched on for "da monster" and he was burning energy, reading every "punch", absolutely switched on, ready to "box the fight of my life and dat." Meanwhile Usyk looks like he's working harder, but in the rewatch he's not really even trying to land most of these punches. He's not closing distance enough. They're pawing, tentative. I think this was on purpose.

2.) It gave Bellew (and many viewers, myself included) the illusion that he was outboxing Usyk, that he might actually have a chance here. Bellew would occasionally stop letting Usyk chase him and go on the attack, hard, trying to find the big punch everybody including himself knew that he needed to land to win in the way that he had been dreaming of. More energy, more emotion. The crowd reacts big time. He's putting so much into it. He feels in control. Usyk meanwhile is still throwing scuffing punches without much on them.

Bellew, Matchroom, the crowd, the punters at home are well and truly suckered. Bellew has boxed out of his skin for six rounds but he's fucked now because Usyk just isn't burning the same energy. As soon as he actually turns it up, Bellew's gas tank has emptied and realises that "the success" he'd had early on was superficial and now he's sapped of energy. Usyk goes in for the kill and it's not even that hard for him to find it. Bellew is broken down remarkably fast and the KO (especially in slo mo) is brutal.

Just look at the judging, at Frog's scorecard (side thought: it's horrific how my boxing heroes from the previous generation, Haye and Froch, are both such dislikable bad-suited arrogant premiership footballer smug twats now; what a shame)... Usyk knew that there was no way he was getting a decision in Britain. This was always about getting Bellend out of there. ALWAYS. I'm surprised the knockout came as easy as it did. I thought there might be a knockdown at least first but no, as soon as he actually threw some genuine punches it came and it was a thing of beauty.

It was a fantastic game plan. He effing toyed with him, man.

Trying to find the knockout punch straight after on youtube, I found a few Americans were already posting their "expert opinions" on how they had "never seen Usyk before' but that they were "not impressed at all" and that they had "Bulloo" (the bear from Jungle Book, apparently) up by a few rounds. The world is full of simpletons: however American simpletons are the best in the world.

Brilliant bit of boxing.

Great post

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Pukka Cheese]

For those that havnt seen the KO yet...



Great fight.

[dookus]

I've watched it twice now.

Last night it looked Bellew was frustrating Usyk, that he was struggling to get off, struggling to time him to land, and that for the earlier rounds Bellew was the one who was able to get off more effectively and steal the round. There wasn't much in it, but Bellew's punches (when he did punch) seemed to have more venom. The crowd reacted to everything he did, sure, but he just seemed more authoritative and his little bits of clowning here and there and his talking to Usyk made it seem like he had some sort of mental edge. It was weird to watch. I thought to myself "Maybe Bellew IS a much better fighter than I thought.'

I kept on having to change stream too as they were all repeatedly pulled and I missed the final round. I was pleased Usyk had done it but surprised that he had found it so hard.

The second viewing was through different eyes. Usyk was consistently throwing out jabs and left hands well out of range while circling Bellew: there was nothing on these punches and so they weren't sapping much energy and they served to do two things:

1.) Bellew, absolutely on the top of his game, reacted in some way to every one of those little out of range punches that were thrown. Usyk, with his movement and activity (albeit ineffective) was making Tony work work work. Bellew is an emotional fighter and this was the big one for him. He had to be switched on for "da monster" and he was burning energy, reading every "punch", absolutely switched on, ready to "box the fight of my life and dat." Meanwhile Usyk looks like he's working harder, but in the rewatch he's not really even trying to land most of these punches. He's not closing distance enough. They're pawing, tentative. I think this was on purpose.

2.) It gave Bellew (and many viewers, myself included) the illusion that he was outboxing Usyk, that he might actually have a chance here. Bellew would occasionally stop letting Usyk chase him and go on the attack, hard, trying to find the big punch everybody including himself knew that he needed to land to win in the way that he had been dreaming of. More energy, more emotion. The crowd reacts big time. He's putting so much into it. He feels in control. Usyk meanwhile is still throwing scuffing punches without much on them.

Bellew, Matchroom, the crowd, the punters at home are well and truly suckered. Bellew has boxed out of his skin for six rounds but he's fucked now because Usyk just isn't burning the same energy. As soon as he actually turns it up, Bellew's gas tank has emptied and realises that "the success" he'd had early on was superficial and now he's sapped of energy. Usyk goes in for the kill and it's not even that hard for him to find it. Bellew is broken down remarkably fast and the KO (especially in slo mo) is brutal.

Just look at the judging, at Frog's scorecard (side thought: it's horrific how my boxing heroes from the previous generation, Haye and Froch, are both such dislikable bad-suited arrogant premiership footballer smug twats now; what a shame)... Usyk knew that there was no way he was getting a decision in Britain. This was always about getting Bellend out of there. ALWAYS. I'm surprised the knockout came as easy as it did. I thought there might be a knockdown at least first but no, as soon as he actually threw some genuine punches it came and it was a thing of beauty.

It was a fantastic game plan. He effing toyed with him, man.

Trying to find the knockout punch straight after on youtube, I found a few Americans were already posting their "expert opinions" on how they had "never seen Usyk before' but that they were "not impressed at all" and that they had "Bulloo" (the bear from Jungle Book, apparently) up by a few rounds. The world is full of simpletons: however American simpletons are the best in the world.

Brilliant bit of boxing.

Great post

x2. I did wonder why Usyk was clearly not committing to shots early on and thought it was something to do with rangefinding. This explains a lot more!

[jamamb]

man that was a sweet ko, right on the button and dropped bellew like a rag doll, was not expecting usyk to flatten bellew like that

with how hard bellew went down, he did well to even just stagger to a knee

[Counter-puncher]

For those that havnt seen the KO yet...



Great fight.

Lol did Froch say Bellew was still 'galliant' there?

Did my eyes deceive me or did I see someone complain about the stoppage last night? Bellew was fvcked.

[Ruthless-RKO]

man that was a sweet ko, right on the button and dropped bellew like a rag doll, was not expecting usyk to flatten bellew like that

with how hard bellew went down, he did well to even just stagger to a knee

Anyone else fall like that and ref usually stops it right away. Terry tried giving Bellew a chance.

[JimStone]

man that was a sweet ko, right on the button and dropped bellew like a rag doll, was not expecting usyk to flatten bellew like that

with how hard bellew went down, he did well to even just stagger to a knee

Anyone else fall like that and ref usually stops it right away. Terry tried giving Bellew a chance.

He did but then appeared to look out of the ring at someone and immediately stopped counting and waved it off, almost as if they'd granted him permission to do the right thing. No idea who like..?

Overall it was one of his better nights last night. Didn't see much of him.

[ShadrachSimmo]

For those that havnt seen the KO yet...



Great fight.

Wtf was Eddie all about. He was gonna try help him get back up?