OLEKSANDR USYK defends his WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO cruiserweight titles against Tony Bellew at Manchester Arena tomorrow night (Saturday November 10).
The pair weighed in at Manchester Central this afternoon (Friday November 9) in front of a packed, boisterous crowd.
Both men were under the cruiserweight limit of 14st 4lbs (200lbs). Challenger Bellew hit the scales first, coming in at 14st 3lbs 5oz (199lbs 5oz). Next up was Usyk, with the champion weighing 14st 2lbs 4oz (198lbs 4oz).
Usyk – with a Manchester City football scarf draped over his mouth and shoulders – and Bellew – with a snood covering the bottom half of his face – engaged in an intense close-quarters face-off afterwards, before respectfully shaking hands and embracing.
Bellew then strode to the centre of the stage and pounded his chest, passionately bellowing, “Come on!” to those in attendance.
Usyk responded by raising the flag of Ukraine, which led to boos from Bellew’s supporters, but chants of “Usyk, Usyk” from the vocal contingent of travelling Ukrainians.
Bellew said post-weigh-in: “I feel fantastic. Fat boy is in shape! Usyk is in the deep end. Tomorrow night, there will be war. He’s a formidable champion – one of the pound-for-pound kings of the world. We’re going to create madness tomorrow night.”
Undercard weights
Anthony Crolla (9st 9lbs / 135lbs) vs Daud Yordan (9st 7lbs 9oz / 133lbs 9oz)
Ricky Burns (9st 12lbs 1oz / 138lbs 1oz) vs Scott Cardle (9st 10lbs 7oz / 136lbs 7oz)
Josh Kelly (10st 11lbs 1oz / 151lbs 1oz) vs Walter Castillo (10st 9lbs 5oz / 149lbs 5oz)
Dave Allen (18st 5lbs 4oz / 257lbs 4oz) vs Ariel Bracamonte (18st 4lbs 9oz / 256lbs 9oz)
Sam Hyde (14st 3lbs 5oz / 199lbs 5oz) vs Richard Riakporhe (14st 1lb 6oz / 197lbs 6oz)
Dmytro Mytrofanov (11st 5lbs 8oz / 159lbs 8oz) vs Gino Kanters (11st 5lbs 2oz / 159lbs 2oz)
