April 26, 2024

Eddie Hearn: Usyk-Bellew talks to begin soon

The promoter has already reached out to Oleksandr Usyk’s team.

Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn says that he’s already reached out to Oleksandr Usyk’s team about a fight with Tony Bellew, and that talks will continue this week.

”Bellew vs Usyk is one of the best fights that can be made right now. Tony has felt fantastic up around the 15st weight and I’m not sure he will make cruiser again but I know with Usyk’s desire to move to heavyweight that it certainly wouldn’t be a deal breaker. I spoke to Tony on Saturday night and he made his intentions very clear. I also reached out to Usyk’s team and we will continue the dialogue this week.”

Bellew (30-2-1, 20 KO) has won his last two fights against David Haye, both at heavyweight, coming in at weights of 213½ and 210¼. At 35, it seems unlikely he’d move back to cruiserweight, but as Hearn notes, Usyk (15-0, 11 KO) has designs on going to heavyweight and has already joked that he’ll eat more spaghetti to bulk up and fight Bellew in the heavyweight division.

So right now, things look good for getting this fight made. It would be an interesting heavyweight move for Usyk, a toe dipped in the water against someone who isn’t a natural heavyweight but can fight at the weight. If he wins and looks good and feels good, even bigger fights could await him in the division sooner than later.

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