Tony Bellew has opened up on what the heavyweight division will look like when two-time undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk calls time on his career.
Bellew believes we will see a ruler of the division similarly to how Usyk has been so dominant since his move from cruiserweight.
In the last six years ‘The Cat’ has absolutely destroyed everyone in his path in the heavyweight division.
From early wins against Derek Chisora to multiple wins over Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Daniel Dubois, Usyk has been dominant.
Bellew spoke to Carl Froch’s Froch on Fighting and revealed how he thinks the heavyweight division will look once Usyk does fight for the last time.
“Oleksandr Usyk’s just going to walk away into the sunset, and he’s going to go ‘I’ve had enough.’
“When he does, you will find them all scavenged towards the belts, and then you will find lesser champions and then somebody else will come along.”
Usyk is now 38-years-old and his future remains unknown despite holding three of the four belts.
He has flirted with a return this year against former world champion; albeit a fighter who hasn’t look even close to his best days in Deontay Wilder.
Wilder came off of back-to-back knockout losses to Zhilei Zhang and Joseph Parker to beat Tyrell Herndon in his last fight.
A fight between the pair appears to be getting closer.
Former world champion Bellew named who he believes will pick up the titles but admits it will not be an easy run for the new champion.
“Hence, Moses Itauma, and he will clean up again. And then you will have a reigning, undisputed, unified champion again.
“But he will have to go through his first year of sh*t. And it will be sh*t.”
Itauma has shone ever since his professional debut back in 2023.
He remains unbeaten with 13 wins and 11 knockouts.
Last in action in August, Itauma secured a real statement win against former world level contender Dillian Whyte who he blew away just two minutes into their fight.
The 21-year-old returns to action in just a few weeks against the durable Jermaine Franklin.
Itauma-Franklin headlines the Co-op Live in what will be Itauma’s first time headlining in the UK.
Should he come through Franklin it is no secret he will begin looking at the titles.
Saudi Arabian boxing chief, Turki Alalshikh said he’d like to see Itauma face Usyk next for the titles after his win back in August.
I want to see Usyk against Itauma. This is the fight.
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) July 19, 2025
Against Usyk or not, Itauma and his team will hope to get closer to competing on the world stage in 2026.
