Former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew is hoping that his close friend, heavyweight Derek Chisora, will pull off a shocker when he faces Oleksandr Usyk on October 31 in the UK.
Bellew's career ended in 2018, when he was knocked out in dramatic fashion by Usyk, who at the time was the undisputed cruiserweight champion.
Following that fight, Usyk made a decision to move up to the heavyweight division.
Usyk is coming back from a year of inactivity and it's only the second fight since defeating Bellew two years ago.
Chisora is likely in his last big fight opportunity - and a win over Usyk, who is currently the WBO's mandatory challenger, would bring him very close to a world title opportunity.
Bellew is backing his buddy in whatever way he can.
"He's my friend, he's like a member of my family. I'm backing him, I'm there for him whatever he needs, whatever he wants, I will be there. But believe you me, there is nothing I can do for him on October 31. He's going to have to do it all himself. Believe you me, he has it all to do," Bellew told Sky Sports.
"[Usyk] is the most avoided fighter probably in the world. An amazing fighter. If anyone can do it, when their back is against the wall and they are written off by everyone, then Chisora can. I'm hoping his big right hand lands, and he gets the job done. But this is a hard one. It will be very tough.
"I still think [Usyk is] a little bit open and can be caught. Watching his amateur fights, there was always a reaction from him when he got caught clean, but no one has exploited that so far in the pros. His chin is up in the air sometimes and if that continues then it might get caught one time."
