There were times for fun and games ahead of Oleksandr Usyk versus Tony Bellew, due to take place tonight at the Manchester Arena, with the Ukrainian trying to put the frighteners on the Englishman whilst the latter was engaged in an interview.
Former Olympic gold medalist Usyk is the first pugilist in history to hold all four major world championships at cruiserweight, and the odds are against Liverpudlian Bellew to take the belts tonight.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Bellew was distracted by the lurking Ukrainian who appeared menacingly from over a partition.
“He’s everywhere, you can’t help but laugh,” Bellew chuckled to the interviewer.
Usyk is undefeated in his career - 15 fights, 15 wins- with 11 of them coming from knock-outs. Bellew, has 30 victories, 20 by KO, in 33 fights.
This is the Englishman’s first match-up since beating David Haye in May, and his first new opponent in over two years - since his win over American BJ Flores - and the 35 year-old has promised to hang up his gloves regardless of the result tonight in Manchester, ending a 20-year career.
Bellew has been reported as saying he is ready to is ready to "shock the world and then do the greatest disappearing act" but this courageous last act is sure to test his physical and mental finesse as a boxer.
He is around 5/1 for the win, whereas Usyk is heavy odds on favourite at 1/6 (bet365).
You can view the footage below, and follow the fight live with The Sportsman using the link below.
