In a duel with a Ukrainian, Tony got up, but the referee did not allow him to continue the fight
Former world cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew frankly shared the nuances of his two defeats, including from the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk.
“I was stopped on my feet in a fight with Adonis Stevenson, I got up on the count of six or seven in a duel with Alexander Usyk. Fortunately, I was very lucky that two referees saved my life: one with Stevenson, and the second with Usyk. I got up after six or seven seconds and they could let me fight if they wanted to, but I was unable to continue the fight. I wanted it, but of course I shouldn’t have fought on.”
“I am sincerely grateful to these referees because they saved my life. The biggest damage comes from a hit you’re not ready for.”
Usyk faced Bellew in 2018 for the world heavyweight title. The Ukrainian won by technical knockout in the eighth round. After the fight, Bellew announced his retirement from professional football.
In his last fight, the WBA / WBO / IBF / IBO heavyweight champion Usyk defeated British Daniel Dubois. The Ukrainian knocked out the opponent in the ninth round.
Source: Sportarena
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
