Ukraine's boxer Oleksandr Usyk has produced a stunning finish in the eighth round at Manchester Arena and beaten Tony Bellew in the fight for the title of the world's absolute boxing champion.
The fight ended with a jab with a brutal left hook after which the Briton was unable to get back to his feet.
Read alsoUsyk: One reason we agreed to face Bellew is to get Joshua! – media
It was a very hard fight for both when the two boxers exchanged strong blows for all the seven rounds, but the Ukrainian calmly withstood Bellew's solid counter-punching.
The eighth round was decisive. "This was Bellew's last fight. Thirty wins, three losses, one draw. The Liverpool fighter will go down as a folk hero in British boxing and gave every ounce of skill, effort, heart and desire against a champion who is already rated in the top five pound-for-pound in the sport, and looks destined to go on to be one of the great champions the sport has produced. The victory eluded Tony Bellew, but it was a proud finish to a great career," The Telegraph commented on the event.
Usyk has retained IBF, WBA, WBC, WBO cruiserweight belts, as well as The Ring Magazine belt.
