By Norm Frauenheim-
The gap-toothed smile is Alfred E. Neuman-like. But the eyes are mad, full of enough menace to definitively answer that comic-book question:
What, me worry?
Yeah, Tony Bellew should.
Oleksandr Usyk is scary, more so than perhaps anybody in a business full of fighters who use fear as much as their fists. Bellew knows that, of course. He knows a lot more, too. He possesses clever instincts, has more experience and is still motivated by an inexhaustible love for a dangerous game.
“I just love to fight,’’ Bellew said a couple of months ago at a news conference.
It’s a love that’s bound to be tested, perhaps even exhausted by Usyk, who is favored Saturday in Manchester, England, to keep his unified title in what looks to be a cruiserweight stepping stone to heavyweight, perhaps against Anthony Joshua.
“He’s a monster,’’ said the engaging Bellew, who is coming out of retirement and moving down in weight – he lost 34 pounds – for a chance to become the first UK fighter to ever win a unified title. “I admire him.’’
But he doesn’t fear him. At least, no fear was evident in Bellew’s voice or gestures throughout the build-up to the intriguing bout, which can be seen in the United States on the DAZN streaming service (1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT).
There are reasons for Bellew’s confidence. He’ll have a loyal UK crowd in his corner. If it’s close, that could emerge as key factor on the scorecards. He also knows his way around the ring. Translation: He figures out a way.
“Retired or not, this fight had to happen,’’ said Bellew, whose record (30-2-1, 20 KOs) includes more than twice as many bouts and perhaps twice as many lessons than Usyk’s resume (15-0, 11 KOs). “I will find a way to win.’’
Maybe, but all of the momentum is with Usyk, who has rapidly emerged as a pound-for-pound contender. He’s No. 5 in The Ring’s current ratings, which has his Ukrainian Olympic teammate Vasiliy Lomachenko still at No. 1, ahead of Terence Crawford at No. 2, Canelo Alvarez at No. 3 and Gennady Golovkin at No. 4.
Usyk and Bellew look to be at a career crossroads. Bellew says he’ll retire after Saturday night. Meanwhile, Usyk, an Olympic gold medalist at heavyweight, appears to be just approaching his professional potential.
But Bellew believes he will introduce Usyk to adversity he has yet to encounter. Above all, Bellew said, it will be at the end of his power punches.
“When he feels my power, he’ll know,’’ said Bellew, who is convinced he his power will prove to be the edge in a bout that promises to take the snoozer out of cruiser, perhaps the best fight in a forgotten division since James Toney scored a decision over Vassiliy Jirov in April, 2003. “He doesn’t have my kind of power.’’
Bellew made the claim about his power when the fight was formally introduced during a news conference in September. When Bellew’s remark was translated into Ukrainian for him, Usyk flashed that gap-toothed grin.
“He’s kidding,’’ said Usyk, with eyes that clearly said he wasn’t.
