The Ukraine’s Oleksander Usyk successfully defended his WBA, WBC, WBO and IBF Cruiserweight titles Saturday defeating former WBC Champion Tony “Bomber” Bellew of Liverpool in the UK Saturday at the Manchester Arena, in the UK, which was shown over DAZN (Zone).

Usyk, 16-0 (12), and Bellew, 30-3-1, almost spent two rounds feeling each other out with Usyk being the aggressor until about 10 seconds left in the second round when Bellew landed a lead right to the chin of the southpaw champion. In the third round Usyk countered Bellew with a solid left to the chin with a minute left in the round.

Halfway through the fourth round Bellew landed a pair of rights to the chin of Usyk. Another lead left on the forehead of Bellew made his knees almost give in. In the sixth round Bellew became more offensive landing a solid right to the chin of Usyk just prior to the bell.

In the eighth round Bellew was backed into a corner with Usyk landing a pair of straight lefts to the chin. With a little over a minute left in the round Usyk dropped Bellew with a solid left on the chin. In trying to use the ropes to get up Bellew couldn’t beat the count as the referee waved it off. Oddly enough Usyk was behind on two of the judge’s scores with one even.

“You are the greatest fighter I have shared the ring with, you are a great champion, you beat me fair and square,” said Bellew. Bellew announced his retirement after the loss. It’s expected that Uysk will challenge for the heavyweight title that Anthony “AJ” Joshua holds three of the belts and will be defending in April.