Former world cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew feels that the legend from the past would get the better of the modern pound-for-pound king.
Bellew retired in 2018 with a resume that included wins over David Haye, BJ Flores, and Nathan Cleverly. Hanging up his gloves with a record of 30-3-1, he is considered a legend of British boxing.
Speaking about the current world heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk, Bellew wasn’t convinced that he would be able to outperform a legend from the past.
When asked if the two fighters were to compete in their primes, the modern great wasn’t favored by Bellew.
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Tony Bellew claims Lennox Lewis would defeat Oleksandr Usyk
When discussing the Ukranian’s accomplishments in recent years with Fightlens, Bellew feels that Usyk possesses such talent, that he would be successful in a lot of eras of boxing.
Speaking specifically about moving from cruiserweight to heavyweight, Bellew was asked if he thought Usyk could attain that success against anyone.
Although he agreed mostly with the statement, Bellew feels that Lennox Lewis may have been too much for Usyk.
“I struggle to have him [Usyk] above Lennox Lewis… Lennox, technically, was brilliant.”
Bellew would go on to add that his choice wasn’t necessarily based on skill, but size could have proved to be the deciding factor.
“It’s not that he [Lewis] would have figured him [Usyk] out, I think he would have just been too much. Lennox was the first of the ‘giant’ era. Lennox was the first big guy.”
However, Bellew was still full of praise for Usyk.
Listing the likes of Muhammad Ali and George Foreman as the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, Bellew included Usyk in his top-five list as well.
Bellew is not the only one who thinks that Usyk would be bested by the former champion. Lewis once explained how he would beat Usyk if the two fought in their primes.
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Tony Bellew faced Oleksandr Usyk in his final bout
When it comes to giving an opinion on Usyk, Bellew can draw on in-ring experience with the Ukranian.
Meeting in Manchester in 2018, Bellew challenged Usyk for his IBF, WBC, and WBO World Cruiserweight titles.
However, despite coming off back-to-back TKO wins over Haye, Usyk would defeat Bellew via stoppage.
Although the fight was closely contested for as long as it lasted, a sharp left hand from Usyk would put Bellew down in the eighth round. Unable to get up, it would spell the end of the contest.
The fight would be the last time fans would get to see Bellew perform in what was just his second stoppage loss.