Tony Bellew didn’t hesitate when naming the hardest hitter he has faced – and it’s not Oleksandr Usyk

Tony Bellew has shared the ring with several big punchers but one stands out above the rest.

The loveable Liverpudlian competed 34 times (30-3-1) in the paid ranks during a career stretching from 2007 to 2018.

Usyk knocked out Bellew in 2018Getty

Bellew started off as a light heavyweight where he picked up the British and Commonwealth belts.

However, he failed to scoop a world title on two attempts against Nathan Cleverly and Adonis Stevenson.

He eventually became a world champion at the third time of asking after moving up to cruiserweight and winning the vacant WBC title in a shoot-out with Ilunga Makabu in 2016.

One year later, he relinquished the green and gold strap to face David Haye in a pair of memorable heavyweight collisions.

And despite winning both fights via stoppage and managing to remain on his feet for the 16 rounds they shared together, Bellew insists nobody hit him harder.

“Haye was the one who had the most power. I’m certain on that,” Bellew told DAZN.

“Stevenson hit me hard, but I was in there that night without much resistance because of the weight struggles. He could certainly punch. 

“I knew Haye’s power was going to be a problem from when I sparred him, and he really could bang.

“There’ll be many fighters who fought Haye who’ll tell you all about how much power he had.” 

Of Haye’s 28 career wins, 26 came via knockout so it isn’t a surprising pick.

Bellew insists nobody hit him harder than HayeGETTY

However, there are those who would have expected Bellew to choose somebody that stopped him.

Only two men were able to do that: Stevenson and Oleksandr Usyk.

The Usyk knockout was a particularly heavy one, with Bellew left sprawled out on the canvas in the eighth round.

But Bellew insists the Ukranian’s punch is more ‘stiff’ than ‘hard’.

“He’s not the biggest puncher,” he said. “It’s a stiff [punch]. He gets your respect.”