BoxRec

I don't think that Bellew deserves this opportunity (it would be very well paid, naturally), but I would like to see this match.
I feel that Bellew would be defeated by both - Usyk or Gassiev, but I would like to see this fight happen. What about you ?

bellew was a respectable cruiser and wouldve certainly deserved a spot in the tournament, though he opted out. i think it would still be a decent fight provided he doesnt lose badly to haye. personally i think the four semi finalists are above him but hes not bad.

i mean bellew was a recent cw title holder and beating him would further solidify that the wbss winner has no equals in the division and has cleared it out or come close to it.

plus if its usyk and he goes to the uk and wins his road warrior resume just grows even more.

I wouldn't mind seeing Bellew flattened by Gassiev or humiliated by Usyk.

also if the fights in the uk like it probably would be, the atmosphere would be great. so ya i wouldnt mind it.

jamamb wrote: ↑05 Feb 2018, 17:26 also if the fights in the uk like it probably would be, the atmosphere would be great. so ya i wouldnt mind it.

Great ppv in UK, too........

if he faces Gassiev he gets knocked out around rounds 6-8, if he faces Usyk then he loses 120-108, it's my prediction

I would rather see Bellew fight Lebedev, and then winner fight the WBSS Winner.

klitoris wrote: ↑05 Feb 2018, 18:41 I would rather see Bellew fight Lebedev, and then winner fight the WBSS Winner.

I feel that Lebedev has passed his prime, I am not sure if he is at top 10 CW list right now.

a few years ago he wouldve brutally kod someone like mark flanagan i think age and wear and tare caught up. fights like jones and gassiev were punishing

Thing is, Bellew has only mentioned Usyk. He has never mentioned Gassiev's name. I highly doubt he fights Gassiev. Only Usyk, as he isn't as big a puncher.

ValMar wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 01:12

klitoris wrote: ↑05 Feb 2018, 18:41 I would rather see Bellew fight Lebedev, and then winner fight the WBSS Winner.

I feel that Lebedev has passed his prime, I am not sure if he is at top 10 CW list right now.

He's passed prime, but he's still top 10.

Bellew vs. Lebedev would be decent. But win or lose, you can't lose a 'Emaritus' or 'champ in recess' status by losing a fight.

I don't think his heart is still in it. One last Hurrah against Haye and then it's pipe and slippers for Mr Bellew methinks. It's all about the money now.

boxing_rocks wrote: ↑05 Feb 2018, 17:26 I wouldn't mind seeing Bellew flattened by Gassiev or humiliated by Usyk.

What he said. I dislike Bellew. He is an idiot. Gassiev and Usyk beat him. He will look for this fight when he’s flattened by Haye (providing his body makes it to the ring intact).

well he keeps bringing it up i think, so maybe he does want it.

Why not? He was the champ and he had lost the belt due to moving up. I will not favour him, but nobody in the division can be favoured in the fight against the WBSS winner, be it Usyk or Gassiev.

If Tony Bellew loses his bout against David Haye badly, which is possible if the Hayemaker’s body manages to hold up, then I reckon the Liverpudlian will retire from the sport.

If the scouser emerges victorious against Haye (or is very competitive), then I suspect Bellew will try to headline his final Sky PPV against the eventual winner of the WBSS. He’ll be considered a live underdog against Gassiev or Usyk and will probably drop a decision to either of them.

He’ll be on the proverbial A-side against whoever he faces and will likely be rewarded handsomely for his losing efforts.

Let’s not forget a couple of important points though:

• Tony Bellew walks around at 236lbs (he weighed himself on the same scales used to weigh Joshua-Klitschko) and by the time he’ll be capable of facing the eventual winner of the WBSS, he’ll be 36 years of age and it would have also been more than two years since he last competed at 200lbs.

• By that time, Murat Gassiev would only be 25 years of age. And Oleksandr Usyk will be 31 years old. Both men would be nearer their physical prime than Bellew is, both men would make the weight easier and both would have been far more active (i.e. possess less ring rust).

Personally-speaking, I don’t like seeing bouts being scheduled between two fighters where the outcome is already a foregone conclusion.

If the Brit returns to the cruiserweight division, after his rematch against Haye, it’ll simply be a money-grab, an excuse for SKY/Matchroom to cover another PPV event, allow Bellew to boost his retirement fund with a huge final payday and also an opportunity to showcase the talents of the eventual winner of the WBSS using a sacrificial lamb that has a big name.

First of all, I am not convinced that Bellew -Haye fight will ever happen, it is a pretty long list of Haye's injuries.
Anyway, TB has several possibilities to get his retirement pay-day :

1. WBSS winner in UK (CW)
2. Joshua in UK (HW)
3. Wilder in UK (HW)
4. Povetkin, Russia or UK (HW)
5. Lebedev, Russia (CW)
6. T. Fury, UK (HW)

It might seem a little bit strange, but I think that Russian promoters and Hearn would be ready to make the deal and organize Lebedev-Bellew fight in Russia (the last match for both fighters, and very lucrative in the same time).

I'd rather see the Tournament winner fight Lebedev first, but Bellew would be fine by me as well.

I'm in the 'Don't Care' camp.

Bellew isn't that fussed about the CW division (which is fair enough, as there are so much more riches at HW), so I don't see why I should invest any emotion in wanting to see him fighting there.

DrDuke wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 04:51 Why not? He was the champ and he had lost the belt due to moving up. I will not favour him, but nobody in the division can be favoured in the fight against the WBSS winner, be it Usyk or Gassiev.

He won a vacant belt, with the actual champion becoming some kind of champion in recess/super champ because he was injured. Bellew was never ‘the champ’. He was a paper titlist in reality.

I think he’ll sack it off after Haye, if Haye turns up fit of course. If not, and it’s close, the rubber match will suit them both. More money with little risk ( Bellew is no real threat to Haye and Haye being completely shot and almost certainly injured reduces his threat to Bellew )

For what it’s worth, I can see Haye turning up 70% fit and knocking him out

Maybe Usyk as he is less of a puncher

I don't think you could pay Bellew enough to get him in the ring with Gassiev, or Breidis.

I think after Parker loses, they might feed him to Bellew or Whyte.
There were piliminary talks between both sides before the AJ fight got made and Haye pushed back the date on the rematch.

lillywhite14 wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 15:06

DrDuke wrote: ↑06 Feb 2018, 04:51 Why not? He was the champ and he had lost the belt due to moving up. I will not favour him, but nobody in the division can be favoured in the fight against the WBSS winner, be it Usyk or Gassiev.

He won a vacant belt, with the actual champion becoming some kind of champion in recess/super champ because he was injured. Bellew was never ‘the champ’. He was a paper titlist in reality.

"Champion in recess" sounds more like paper title. Because you either defend or you don't. And Drozd has never came back anyway. While Bellew has won the belt against the top contender of that time, when he hasn't been favoured by many. So he was the champion.