WBO, WBA, IBF, IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua will be a very interested observer in the upcoming fight between his good friend Tony Bellew and undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

Bellew will return to the cruiserweight ranks to challenge Usyk for the IBF, WBC, WBA, WBO world titles on November 10th in Manchester.

Bellew's last two bouts took place at the heavyweight limit and saw him secure back to back knockout wins over David Haye.

Usyk is by far the huge favorite to win.

Usyk, who recently signed on with Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, is viewed as a future opponent for the unified heavyweight champion.

Joshua is scheduled to return on April 13 at Wembley Stadium in London. He has no problem with facing Usyk at some point in the future.

In terms of the Usyk's next fight, Joshua has advised Bellew to sharpen up as counter-punching - because the Olympic gold medal winner views that aspect as the sure path to knockout Usyk out. 

“I rate Bellew highly, I rate all British boxers highly and they’re all stepping up to the plate. It’s a fight that’s credible, and I respect Bellew, because after that David Haye fight it was a question whether he was going to retire or was he going to carry on?," Joshua told Sky Sports.

"He’s got to lose weight, put himself through a gruelling training regime and bring them titles back home. Good look to Bellew we are rooting for you. Usyk is like a perfect boxer, so I hope Bellew is working on his counter punching as well, because that’s the way to knock him out.

“Usyk is the favourite, straight talking, because he’s the champion, he’s done it at cruiserweight and he’s undisputed. Bellew does have it in his locker though. The time of the fight may have a big impact being here in the UK. That’s what I love about British boxing at the minute, all the fights are here in the UK."