BoxRec

Former WBC champion Tony Bellew is heading back to cruiserweight after his rematch with fierce British rival David Haye is completed in May.

The 33 year-old, who is still recognized by the World Boxing Council as the Emeritus belt holder, will be able to invoke his right to face the reigning champion - which at present in Oleksandr Usyk.

Bellew had hoped to challenge for a world heavyweight title in the summer, but with Joseph Parker facing Anthony Joshua and likely to lose - according to the 'The Bomber', a match-up with either is unrealistic.

"I believe Joshua will defeat Parker and I'm not touching the WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, no chance in this world. He's huge and I'm not going anywhere near Joshua. These modern-day heavyweights are just too big," Bellew told a BBC Sport podcast before outlining plans to move back down to 200 pounds.

"I still very much believe it is my division. I still see myself as a cruiserweight and there's a huge opportunity available for me there."

"This World Boxing Super Series has been a breath of fresh air," said the Liverpool man.

"Hopefully Usyk comes through the final and I am happy to face him. I am 100% certain I could find a way to beat him and it would be very hard," he added before pointing out his rights under WBC rules.

"If I say 'Usyk I want my WBC belt back', he has to face me or lose it. Whoever comes through the cruiserweights, I will face for all those belts.

"My (original) plan was to beat Haye and go for Joseph Parker, who I believed I could beat.

"Now I have to look past fighting the heavyweight champion of the world now, the dream isn't going to come true," Bellew stated.

I'll believe it when I see it - I would strongly expect all 4 of the WBSS cruiser semi-finalists to stop 'Bomber'! Bellew chased the money and secured himself a lucrative fight with Haye (nothing wrong with this, although the faux 'beef' was nauseating!) as well as an even more lucrative rematch (if Haye can stay fit enough to enter the ring!).

Wasn't Briedis his mandatory before he relinquished his title? If Bellew/Haye II goes through, I cant see him going back to cruiser to get beaten up by the fresher, harder hitting (than Bellew), more skilled fighters down at that weight for less money.

That said, I'd love to see Usyk toy with 'Bomber'!

I still think that even a beaten Parker is a better fight for Bellew than Usyk picking him apart.
Plus getting back to Cruiser for him will take a lot of motivation. How motivated is he now?

He's not targeting Usyk, is he?

mickey1975 wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 14:13 He's not targeting Usyk, is he?

He believes Usyk will win. He probably thinks because Usyk isn't the biggest puncher, he has a chance. Which is kinda what he said.

Haye will beat him in the rematch then what do we have?

A fvcking rubber match!!!?

lillywhite14 wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 15:01 Haye will beat him in the rematch then what do we have?

A fvcking rubber match!!!?

#forthefans

lillywhite14 wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 15:01 Haye will beat him in the rematch then what do we have?

A fvcking rubber match!!!?

I don't think they'll match the 800k ppv buys they got the first fight. I would like to see Haye complete a fight without injury as he was clearly winning before round 6..

wouldve really liked to see bellew in the super series. though id be surprised if he didnt get soundly beaten by whoever wins it. probably all the semi finalists have too much actually, but i think he wouldve kod kudryashov and probably beaten faded wlod

think he sparred with usyk before and he had very good things to say about him, he was almost deferential (?) in his tone

Doubt he could take Usyk, but I'd love to see him beat Haye again.

jamamb wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 15:09 wouldve really liked to see bellew in the super series. though id be surprised if he didnt get soundly beaten by whoever wins it. probably all the semi finalists have too much actually, but i think he wouldve kod kudryashov and probably beaten faded wlod

think he sparred with usyk before and he had very good things to say about him, he was almost deferential (?) in his tone

He was very complimentary indeed.

Bellew would sook a shite right out AJs bare hole!

Usyk would box Bellews head off man!

I still think Tony will continue at Heavyweight...there is a very easy route for a world title out there and potential good fights with the likes of the Browne White winner.

Bellew vs Charr is surely the way they will go should he beat Haye

stujones wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 17:42 I still think Tony will continue at Heavyweight...there is a very easy route for a world title out there and potential good fights with the likes of the Browne White winner.

Bellew vs Charr is surely the way they will go should he beat Haye

What is the easy route to a world title Stu?
I thought AJ, Wilder, and for a limited time only, Parker had all the belts.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 20:57

stujones wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 17:42 I still think Tony will continue at Heavyweight...there is a very easy route for a world title out there and potential good fights with the likes of the Browne White winner.

Bellew vs Charr is surely the way they will go should he beat Haye

What is the easy route to a world title Stu?
I thought AJ, Wilder, and for a limited time only, Parker had all the belts.

WBA "oridinary" champion Manuel Charr - cleaned KO'd by a cruiserweight. Much easier prospect IMO than any of the WBSS semi finalists at Cruiser.

I also think Bellew fancies his chances against Whyte, I don't see Whyte as a huge heavyweight despite his official height being something like 6 foot 4..... Whyte is ranked highly with both the WBA and off course the WBC. Haye has a nice relationship with the WBA - expect the winner of Haye vs Bellew 2 to be ranked with them, Tony has a great relationship with the WBC. So I can certainly see a scenario where it will be Whyte vs Bellew for some kind of interim title (unless Bellew vs Charr doesn't happen).

Whyte vs Bellew is the fight that make sense financially, Bellew vs Charr is the fight that make sense for him to fulfil his heavyweight dream - I can see both happening before a return to Cruiserweight.

What a fvcking scam... why move up if you won't fight anyone? Go hard or go home. What legacy is that. Imagine Holyfield saying 'I'll only fight Moorer cos he used to be a light-heavy'

Stuarty wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 16:40 Usyk would box Bellews head off man!

I think he’d overwhelm him. Breidis, Gassiev and Dorticos would spark him. I’d pick all the semi finalists against a so called “prime Haye” at 200lbs.

i think he was probably at a level maybe above the quarter finalist losers but below the semi finalists. of course that's taking into account current form, because id rate prime versions of huck and wlod over him.

i also think bellew would have a good chance vs the current version of lebedev, who really looked faded last time and like he was feeling his age and the punishment of his gruelling fight with gassiev.

are lebedev and povetkin still with the same promoter? because if hearn has eastablished ties with povetkins side, as it seems he has, maybe they could pay leb some good money.

stujones wrote: ↑31 Jan 2018, 07:09

KiwiRider wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 20:57

stujones wrote: ↑30 Jan 2018, 17:42 I still think Tony will continue at Heavyweight...there is a very easy route for a world title out there and potential good fights with the likes of the Browne White winner.

Bellew vs Charr is surely the way they will go should he beat Haye

What is the easy route to a world title Stu?
I thought AJ, Wilder, and for a limited time only, Parker had all the belts.

WBA "oridinary" champion Manuel Charr - cleaned KO'd by a cruiserweight. Much easier prospect IMO than any of the WBSS semi finalists at Cruiser.

I also think Bellew fancies his chances against Whyte, I don't see Whyte as a huge heavyweight despite his official height being something like 6 foot 4..... Whyte is ranked highly with both the WBA and off course the WBC. Haye has a nice relationship with the WBA - expect the winner of Haye vs Bellew 2 to be ranked with them, Tony has a great relationship with the WBC. So I can certainly see a scenario where it will be Whyte vs Bellew for some kind of interim title (unless Bellew vs Charr doesn't happen).

Whyte vs Bellew is the fight that make sense financially, Bellew vs Charr is the fight that make sense for him to fulfil his heavyweight dream - I can see both happening before a return to Cruiserweight.

Ah yes, the 'regular' belt. Thanks Stu. That had slipped off my radar.
It doesn't seem to feature in anyone's radar either. As in, no one seems to be actively pursuing it.

maybe because they know charr has to fight oquendo. they might not want to get caught up in that oquendo legal mess, which will presumably be over once fres gets his shot.

id think with the ability to market a fighter as a world champ and get mandatory status for a big money fight there would be a decent amount of hws who have it on their mind, especially considering how beatable the champ is

I'd love it if Bellew knocks out Usyk. Nothing against Usyk, but I like Bellee and this forum would be hilarious.

Bellew-Usyk after the WBSS would be a good fight. Few stumbling blocks though.

If Bellew loses to Haye, the rubber match becomes a certainty, especially if it’s a entertaining or controversial fight.

Usyk has to win the WBSS. He probably will but it’s going to be a competetive final. He may get injured or cut that results a spell on the sidelines. Bellew hasn’t got huge time to wait.

As soon as the WBSS finishes there will be a huge clamour for a Usyk-Briedis re-match which the WBC might make a exception for.

But the biggest stumbling block will be- Imagine your Usyk. You’ve won the WBSS. Had thrilling fights along the way and sit pretty on the P4P lists.
The world wants you to move up to HW, and with your stock being so high the move makes financial and career-wise sense.
Is Bellew a big enough fight for him to stay at CW. The answer is NO.

Good fight in reason but too many variables.

BitPlayer wrote: ↑31 Jan 2018, 12:50 I'd love it if Bellew knocks out Usyk. Nothing against Usyk, but I like Bellee and this forum would be hilarious.

pretty clear from your posts that you tend to go against boxers the forum likes and for the ones they dont. its basically up to other ppl who you go for

of course the hype/hate can certainly get annoying though, so i can see what your on about