Gavin McDonnell believes that Tony Bellew will continue to defy the odds by dethroning the cruiserweight king, Oleksandr Usyk.
Bellew and Usyk are slated in to fight each other on November 10th, in Manchester, in what will be a huge bout.
The occasion will be the first time all four sanctioning body titles have been fought for in the UK.
Usyk is going into the fight as a massive 1/7 on betting favourite. But McDonnell, who has a unique insight into Bellew as a training partner, thinks different.
“I believe Tony only needs one punch. He has belief, don’t write him off. I genuinely believe he will put it off,” McDonnell exclusively told World Boxing News.
“95% of people will laugh but we know Tony and we know what he’s about and he will beat this kid.
“Especially when he’s the underdog, he’ll find a way. Just like we all do. I genuinely believe he’ll beat Usyk.”
HISTORY
It’s not the first time Bellew is going into a huge fight with the odds stacked against him, he was the betting underdog in both David Haye fights, as well as his WBC world title fight against Ilunga Makabu.
He won all three fights. He has the backing of a lot of Britain and his habit of upsetting the odds makes it hard to write the 35-year-old off.
McDonnell’s opinion that Bellew is going to win will not come as a surprise, as he’s his training partner.
When asked, aside from his allegiance to Bellew, what makes him think he will win, McDonnell had a clear answer: “The belief and the power, and just look at his track record.
“He’s been written off time after time, but he pulls it out the bag and he delivers when it’s time.
“The evidence is there: Tony Bellew delivers in big fights”
McDonnell is right, the evidence is there. But this a huge new challenge for Bellew, and Usyk is in his prime and his biggest challenge to date.
Just like Bellew hasn’t fought anybody like Usyk before, Usyk has never fought anybody like Bellew, either.
The odds may be stacked against the outgoing Scouser, but you get the sense that’s something he embraces and thrives off. It’s all set up to be a fascinating fight.
