Oleksandr Usyk produced a blistering performance at the Manchester Arena last night as the Ukrainian cruiserweight sensationally knocked out Tony Bellew with a crushing left-hand to win the eighth round.
However, Usyk was quick to tell the appreciative British public via an interpreter that he is eyeing up a monster heavyweight dual with Anthony Joshua in 2019. Now, what a fight that would be!
Usyk was tested by Bellew last night with the Liverpudlian getting the better of the early rounds, but as the now-retired Scouser began to tire as the fight went into the second half it was the younger Usyk that stated to take control and in the eighth round he unleashed a chilling left-hook that caught Bellew flush and the fight was over.
Unsurprisingly, Usyk was questioned about his move up to heavyweight - a division he won the 2012 Olympic Gold in London in - and the likeable fighter was quick to mention Joshua, who is flying high at the top of the heavyweight division.
Usyk's promoter, interpreting for his fighter, Alex Krassyuk was quick to lay the foundations of a 2019 monster bout with Joshua, which is sure to get the boxing world licking its lips at the thought of two of the best boxers in the world doing battle. Krassyuk said: “With Eddie Hearn we can make some great fights. Usyk definitely needs to fight Anthony Joshua."
Joshua has some mouth-watering bouts lining up for 2019 and he could look to unify his heavyweight belts in the first half of the year as he could do battle with Deontay Wilder for the WBC crown, but the American will have to dispatch of Tyson Fury next month, but the idea of the classy Usyk trying his hand against AJ is something that will get boxing fans jiggy in what will be one of the finest fights of the last decade.
Watch this space!
Here's a reminder of the power Oleksandr Usyk has after he knocked Tony Bellew out last night.
Not gonna lie that was hard to see being from the UK; especially with Bellew doing do well through 6 arguably being up or at least drawing.. 💯
#UsykBellew 🥊
