Bellew shared his thoughts on this fantasy matchup in a recent interview with Sporting Talk. He believes Usyk's smart boxing and ability to adjust would be too much for even the most vicious version of Tyson.
Bellew explained that Usyk would use a similar strategy to the one he employed against Murat Gassiev. The Ukrainian would stay on the outside, peppering Tyson with shots while avoiding his power.
"Usyk would use the same game plan he used against Murat Gassiev. He'd stay away and pepper Tyson. Usyk knows how to tie people down and lock people up on the inside. He's adapted and learned strategies fight by fight."
Usyk's recent performances have cemented his place among boxing's elite. He's become a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion, with wins over Daniel Dubois, Anthony Joshua (twice), and Tyson Fury. His most recent victory came in mid-July when he stopped Dubois in five rounds.
Bellew pointed out that Usyk has shown he can handle tough moments, citing his battles with Anthony Joshua. While Joshua hurt Usyk, the champion's footwork and ring IQ allowed him to survive and ultimately win both fights.
Tyson, of course, was a force of nature in his prime. He became the youngest ever world heavyweight champion at 20 and stopped his first 19 opponents, 12 in the first round. He retired in 2005 with an impressive record of 50 wins (44 by KO) in 58 fights.
But Bellew thinks Usyk's style would neutralize even prime Tyson's ferocious attack. The Ukrainian's ability to clinch and grip on the inside would frustrate Tyson and prevent him from landing his devastating power shots.
Usyk's future looks bright, but he'll have to make a decision soon. He can either face WBO mandatory challenger Joseph Parker or vacate that belt to pursue other options. Whatever he chooses, boxing fans will be eager to see how the champ's skills measure up against his next opponent.