Tony Bellew believes he can upset the odds yet again when he challenges undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk at the Manchester Arena on Saturday.

Bellew was previously a long shot against David Haye in his back-to-back stoppage wins over the former heavyweight champion and also for his WBC cruiserweight title triumph against Ilunga Makabu in 2016.

Usyk is a short-priced favourite with the bookmakers against Bellew after dominating the previously undefeated Murat Gassiev in the World Boxing Super Series final in Moscow to become the first cruiserweight in history to hold all four recognised belts.

“Everyone asks why?” Bellew told Sky Sports. “I was on my honeymoon and, for one reason or another, I was watching Oleksander beat up Murat Gassiev on a mobile phone.

“When the fight stopped, my wife gave a look as it to say ‘we are supposed to be enjoying our night out on our honeymoon, why are you watching that phone?’

“Then he committed the ultimate sin – he said my name. It did not take long. As soon as he said my name I knew. The world is going to write me off and the more you write me off, the more I want to fight. So we will see.

“I’m going up against the monster, the man who no one really wants to fight, the man who just dismantles fighters and beats them easily.

“And make no mistake, he is looking past me already. He might say he is not be he is already asking Eddie [Hearn] ‘who am I going to fight at heavyweight?’ I know he is.”

Usyk, an Olympic, world and European amateur champion, has cleaned up in the 200lbs division after just 15 fights as a professional and is widely expected to successfully step up to heavyweight.

The 31-year-old previously shared a ring with the division’s kingpin Wladimir Klitschko while helping the former champion prepare for his title defense against Tyson Fury in 2015.

Johnny Nelson, a former cruiserweight champion turned commentator, recalls watching the sparring session with Usyk, who was then 8-0 after two years as a professional.

“It was the first time I’d seen him,” Nelson said in the Sunday Times. “He was more than holding his own with Klitschko; he was almost beating him up. He had speed, power and a southpaw’s awkwardness, everything a boxer might need.

“Three years on, he’s the kind of fighter you should stay away from.”

Despite sounding a warning about Usyk, Nelson still believes Bellew has a chance of causing an upset and being the underdog may help.

“Tony knows the fight game,” Nelson added. “He will give it his all. You cannot write him off because he’s clever, honest and is always underestimated.

“In fact, his best chance is that Usyk will underestimate him.”

Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images.