Mauricio Sulaiman; the WBC president has announced on Monday that Tony Bellew is still the WBC ‘Emeritus’ champion for his previously held three World Cruiserweight titles ahead of his fight with Oleksandr Usyk.
Bellew is looking to challenge Usyk; the division’s undisputed champion in a fight that will take place on Staurday11th November at the Manchester Arena.
Bellew claimed his WBC Cruiserweight title back in May of 2016 after defeating Ilunga Makubu and also defended this title once against BJ Flores. After that, he was granted the ‘emeritus’ status after he moved toward heavyweight to have a clash with David Hayes.
Sulaiman said to media, “Tony Bellew is the WBC emeritus champion. We cannot forget the relationship between Bellew and WBC. When he lost his mandatory clash it Stevenson, he went down an interception. He went for the WBC Cruiserweight spot and WBC allowed it. He went against Ilunga Makubu. He came crashing down in the first round but got back up furiously to defeat Makubu to become the world champion.”
He further stated, “After that, he asked permission from WBC for a life-changing fight with David Haye. He not only made the money he dreamt about but also knocked out Haye not once but twice while representing WBC”.
“Now Bellew is to fight as ‘emeritus champion’ against Usyk, the ‘unified champion’; so yes we are in favor of this match and will do everything for the unification of titles.”
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