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Tony Bellew dismisses Tyson Fury conqueror Oleksandr Usyk as the most talented fighter he has ever faced

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Tony Bellew has revealed the most talented boxer he has ever faced – and it’s not as high-profile a name as you might think. Bellew has faced some of boxing’s biggest names, including Oleksandr Usyk, but the Ukrainian is not at the top of Bellew’s rankings.

The 41-year-old admitted that his friend and colleague, boxer James DeGale, was the fighter who had the fastest fighting hands – even though he had never faced him in the ring.

Speaking to DAZN, Bellew said: “Usyk was up there, but I have to say my antique mate James DeGale. Me and “Chunky” were close throughout our career and I sparred with him when we were both amateurs and also when I needed a robust southpaw spar.

He added: “He could do anything in the ring and was as tough as anything. He has shown it in his career, look what he has achieved. A real quality player.”

Bellew, who held the WBC cruiserweight title from 2016 to 2017, retired from boxing in 2018 after a painful eighth-round knockout loss to Usyk.

He has fought some impressive names, including Usyk, David Haye and Nathan Cleverly, and the Ukrainian is currently recognized as one of the most prolific fighters in the industry.

Speaking about his fight with Usyk, Bellew said: “He solves the problem by being at work. That’s what’s so impressive. When I fought him, he never expected me to box him. He 100 per cent thought I was going in for a kill and I was going to try to take him out. And me boxing him set him back a bit and he didn’t know what to do then.

” But he figured it out after seven rounds. I had the advantage in the cards (68-65, 67-66 and 67-67) and in the seventh round he had me figured out. OK, it took him seven rounds, but he did it. And then he turned the screw. Fury he can’t change what he does.

“It’s not like he’s creating a completely different style. When I fought Usyk, I created a completely different counter-punching style. I have a good boxing brain and he’s the only dick who works me out.”

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UK Boxing

Tyson Fury’s brother urges Oleksandr Usyk to make rematch his last fight

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Usyk defeated Fury via split decision Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Shane Fury calls on his brother Tyson to retire after rematch with Oleksandr Usyk Photo Credit: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions
Shane Fury calls on his brother Tyson to retire after rematch with Oleksandr Usyk Photo Credit: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions

Tyson Fury’s brother Shane Fury has said he hopes the rematch with Oleksandr Usyk will be his last fight.

Fury will be looking to avenge his only loss to Usyk when he faces the Ukrainian for a second time on December 21 in Saudi Arabia.

The ‘Gypsy King’ will be 36 when he returns to the ring, although he is tempted by a long-awaited all-British clash. Anthony Joshua potentially in the works, Shane admits he doesn’t want his brother to box after the rematch.

“I think with the right instruction and the right preparation Tyson can do it,” Fury said IFLTV.

“But it won’t be straightforward at all, it’s number one and two fighting and I hope they manage to win.

Usyk defeated Fury via split decision. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Usyk defeated Fury via split decision. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

“It doesn’t matter if he wins, loses or draws, if he stops him in a round and looks great, or stops him in six rounds and looks great, or loses or draws in a great fight, as a brother I want him to say, ‘See you later in the boxing,’ because that’s all you can do.”

“God willing, if he fights a good fight, and both men shake hands, and both men come out of it fit and forceful, he can spend the money he earned, look back on his career and think, wow!

“Not many people, if any, can appreciate that when you look at the statistics, what happened and what he did.”

Usyk became the undisputed heavyweight champion by defeating Fury on points on May 18, but later vacated the IBF belt, which will be fought for by Daniel Dubois and Joshua at Wembley Stadium on September 21.

Fury endured a disastrous ninth round, with many feeling he was given too much instruction, with head trainer SugarHill Steward, former middleweight world champion Andy Lee and father John Fury all in his corner. Shane feels the same way.

“I agree 100%,” he added.

Fury and Usyk will face off again on December 21. Photo: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions
Fury and Usyk will face off again on December 21. Photo: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions

“My dad wants the best for his sons, and the best thing for his son, after being beaten and almost knocked out, is to facilitate him survive the fight, fuck boxing.

“You can get knocked out and not wake up.

“It’s his mentality because he wants the best for his sons, but sometimes when you want the best for someone, it’s not the best instructions.”

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UK Boxing

Shining Edwards booed after a terrible cut in her fight to come back from losing her world title

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Shining Edwards survived a horrific cut to win a comeback fight against Adrian Curiel after losing the IBF Flyweight title to Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez last December. The 28-year-old Briton slid around the squared circle, hitting Curiel with a string of punches as his opponent struggled to land.

The pair clashed heads, however, ending with a nasty uppercut from Edwards. The fight continued for a while, but was eventually stopped when the doctor advised the referee to stop the fight early. A technical decision was then made, which Edwards won unanimously by scores of 90-82, 88-84, and 87-85.

The scorecards were surprisingly close, with Edwards in control of the fight, and the Phoenix crowd wasn’t cheerful either, with boos audible from the Footprint Center. “I don’t know if the audience realizes what happened there.

“The doctor stopped the cut, I haven’t made a decision, I’m more nervous than any of the 10,000 fans here. I thought I had a clear advantage and I thought my opponent was slowing down. I thought I would get him out of there or win completely in the end.

“Twice in a row I managed to leave Arizona uglier than I arrived, so I want to apologize to the fans who took it personally, but I had nothing to do with the referee stopping it. Maybe I’ll come back and fight Curiel again, I don’t know what the fans want.”

Galal Yafai is one of the fighters hoping to face Edwards. Yafai was on the Rodriguez-Edwards undercard last December. “I expect to fight him next time,” he said.

“I think, ‘Yes, we will keep fighting,’ and if it doesn’t happen, then no. I’ll go further. If so, I’m here [already] expecting this. We’ll see what happens – we’ll see how he does.

“We are trying to make this fight next. It all depends on how he handles it. We’re trying to work it out, but it’s nothing set in stone. We see how much they will offer. From the way he talks, it sounds like he already got an offer.

“He would have a three-fight deal or something like that, so they’d say you get X amount, but my contract was three years, so it’s a fight-by-fight deal. ‘You’re going to fight this person; you’re going to fight this person.’

“We still haven’t resolved the matter yet, but we have had a few words with her [Matchroom chief executive] Frank Smith and the band, so we just get through it.

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UK Boxing

Tyson Fury Warns Oleksandr Usyk Over Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s Movie

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Fury is clearly ready to avenge his undisputed defeat to Usyk in May, when he told the Ukrainian to “get back to the gym” in a video alongside boxing boss Al-Sheikh. The two heavyweights will go head-to-head on December 21 after a rematch clause in their original contract was triggered.

The ‘Gypsy King’ broke his silence following the first defeat of his professional career as he calmed fans’ fears when he was spotted being led out of a bar in Morecambe. Fury posted a video on social media of himself in the gym exercising on a punching bag, telling Usyk he was coming to avenge his defeat.

Meanwhile, Usyk appeared to enjoy his triumph and capitalized on his fame by starring alongside Johnson in a film due out next year. “The Smashing Machine” tells the story of MMA and UFC star Mark Kerr, played by Johnson.

In a novel message to Usyk, Fury appeared with Al-Sheikh to send Usyk a clear warning, urging him to return to training and planning his camp plans for the end of 2024. “Usyk – stop wasting your time on ‘The Rock’ and movies, now we’re training,” Al-Sheikh called the camera to the Ukrainian, placing his hand on Fury’s shoulder.

“We are training for you, Usyk,” Fury said while shadow boxing. “Get well brother and see you in December for the gigantic KO! Great drama! Get up!” Al-Sheikh then added: “You’re wasting your time, Usyk. We’re making a map and a camp plan now, see you,” he concluded, as Fury chimed in: “Go to the gym, Usyk, go to the gym, son. We’ll be ready.”

Fury appears to be maximising his preparation after previously claiming he lost to Usyk because the fight was too “simple”. The 35-year-old lost by split decision after avoiding a massive ninth-round scare when Usyk scored a knockdown and Fury somehow managed to stay up until the bell, his legs looking exhausted.

“The Usyk fight was actually a lot easier than I thought it would be,” Fury told Furocity. “People say he’s challenging to hit. I was taking him down with three or four combinations, laughing at him. My problem in that fight was I was probably having too much fun. It was probably too simple. It was too simple at times. I felt like I was in there with a local amateur boxer.

“I just enjoyed it too much, fooled around and paid the ultimate price in round 9 where I got a 10-8 round and got cut. This is what happens when you have too much fun. And they always tell me: “Never combine your work with having fun.” I always give them the middle finger, but now it’s come back to me, right?”

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